Social Enterprise Grant Programme
The next round of the Social Enterprise Grant Programme – Realising Market Potential 2025/2026 will open on Monday 1st September.
The fund is designed to help social enterprises in the region grow their businesses and strengthen the local social economy.
With a total fund of £50,000 available, social enterprises will be able to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to support innovative projects that explore new markets, launch pilot initiatives, or expand existing activities.
All funded projects must start on or after 17th November 2025 and be completed by 13th February 2026.
Who can apply
The programme is open to incorporated social enterprises in Dumfries and Galloway, including:
- Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIOs)
- Companies Limited by Guarantee
- Community Interest Companies
- Cooperatives
- Community Benefit Societies
Organisations must have an asset lock clause in their governing documents and commit to paying at least the Real Living Wage for all staff and contractors delivering the funded activity.
What the grant can fund
Eligible costs include staff and volunteer expenses, training, events, market research, equipment, and project delivery costs.
The grant programme is managed by Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, with decisions made by an independent scoring panel of experts familiar with Dumfries and Galloway communities.
More details will appear on this page when the fund is launched at the start of next month.
The successful applicants in Round One were:
- Absolute Classics-Absolute Jazz – £5,000
Creating a three-year development plan that seeks to diversify the cultural offerings of the organisation and tap into new markets by broadening the range of musical genres featured in its events.
- Building Futures Galloway Ltd – A Community Model for Heritage Skills Training – £5,000
Funding for a temporary education assistant, to assist at a critical point in the development of their ‘skills centre’. This will allow the marketing and promotional materials to be updated and so increase awareness of the services on offer.
- Care Training and Consultancy CIC-E-learning Development – £2,900
Creating a blended approach to teaching by purchasing a Videotile Distributor package, enabling the design of online video-based training packages. This will increase the accessibility of online training for students. Also, by diversifying its model to become a delivery partner for an existing industry-leading e-learning and online video production company, it will increase the scope of the organisation.
- Castle Douglas Community Information Technology Centre – Refurbish IT – £4,525
Purchasing high tech equipment to repair technology. This will increase the profile of the organisation and allow them to expand their services across a wider geographical area, reaching more people.
- Creation Mill CIC-With Wool and Peat – £4,085.29
Researching and developing innovative new wool products, using sheep fleeces which would otherwise go to waste. They are also creating a brand package to promote these products and so realise their market potential.
- Galloway Food Hub / Propagate Scotland (CIC) – Galloway Food Hub -£4,948.71
Procuring office materials and accounting software to support the project becoming a standalone CIC. This will give better visibility to the activities of the organisation and help achieve more sustainable business growth.
- Glenkens Community and Arts Trust – Innovating the Cat Strand’s Cafe and Shop – £4,141
Purchasing a laptop to enable them to run software to analyse sales data, identify trends and opportunities for market development. Marketing materials to help promote the shop and café and a retail expert consultant to improve market potential.
- The Langholm Initiative – Langholm Initiative Eco-Learning Centre -£4,900
Developing market analysis and a marketing plan for an eco-learning business in Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. This will allow them to understand the potential of this business opportunity and assist them in orientating themselves to the most appropriate markets.
- Stranraer Millennium Centre Community Trust – Shout out Stranraer -£4,500
Part-funding an Events and Marketing Officer to develop an event plan throughout the year. This will ensure a diverse range of activities that cater to the interests of the local community and support the visitor experience.
- Stranraer Water Sports Association – Accelerating Water Sports Development in Stranraer – £5,000
Delivering market research and a marketing plan to maximise social enterprise revenue generation, in particular the event ‘Skiffle Worlds’ and the opening of new sporting facilities. This will increase footfall and raise the profile of the organisation within the water sports sector.
- The Whithorn Trust-Pilot Machars Archaeology Field School – £5,000
Supporting staff fees for project design, setup, training materials and health and safety. This will increase public engagement with archaeology through involvement of a wide community, including schools and creating content for their website. This combined with a social media campaign will help keep public interest alive in archaeology.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus