Connect with Funding

Carbon Neutral Islands Capital Fund 2025/26

Help

Current phase

Submit your Expression of Interest

To create a new budget investment you must sign in or sign up.

Process

Fund Information
Current phase Submit your Expression of Interest
Reviewing Expressions of Interest
Projects that Advanced to Application

Next phase

Fund Information

May 11, 2025 - May 13, 2025

The Scottish Government have launched the Carbon Neutral Islands Capital Fund.

We welcome expressions of interest (EOI) from community organisations for projects based on the Isle of Islay (the Scottish Government’s identified Carbon Neutral Island for Argyll and Bute) which support the Islay Community Climate Action Plan. The Action Plan was produced by the Islay based steering group for the Carbon Neutral Islands Project, which is supported by Islay Energy Trust.

Prior to submitting an EOI, projects are strongly encouraged to liase with the steering group and seek their feedback prior to submission.

Projects put forward will need to be ready to progress as funding needs to be committed before the end of the March 2026, project delivery can continue after this date.

The minimum value for grants will be £75,000.

Question? Investinargyll@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Carbon Neutral Islands Full Guidance for Applicants

Previous phase Next phase

Submit your Expression of Interest

May 14, 2025 - May 25, 2025

We are asking that any projects which wish to submit an expression of interest (EOI) do so by 25 May 2025.

EOIs will be submitted through Aspiring Places.

Groups are strongly encouraged to have discussions with the Islay CNI Steering Group before making the submission to ensure that it aligns with the Islay Community Climate Action Plan.

How to submit your EOI:

Register as a group on Argyll and Bute Voices and activate your account
Create and publish a project proposal on Aspiring Places- View project proposal guide
Once your proposal is published on Aspiring Places, go to 'My content' and view your project by clicking on the title
Click the 'Connect with Funding' button
Choose the 'Carbon Neutral Islands Capital Fund' from the drop-down list and click 'Next'
Choose the 'Carbon Neutral Islands Capital Fund' from the drop-down list for the 'Fund Group' and 'Funding Pot Heading'
Click the 'Connect with this fund!' button

Written guidance and a video tutorial on linking your project on Aspiring Places with the CNICF.

Previous phase Next phase

Reviewing Expressions of Interest

May 26, 2025 - June 24, 2025

What happens after you submit your expression of interest?

We will review submitted expressions of interest following the deadline and will take on board feedback from the CNI Steering Group with regard to alignments with the Islay Community Climate Action Plan. We will also look at whether the project is ready for delivery as this will need to commence over the autumn and winter. We expect that there will be a maximum of 3 applications submitted.

If a project is selected to proceed to make an application, the community organisation will be asked to draft the application, with the support of Council Officers. The application will seek confirmation of costs, match funding, timescales and mechanisms for delivery as well as demonstrating a need for the project. It is anticipated that applications will be submitted in July 2025 with notification of which projects are successful during the autumn. If successful, it will be the community organisations responsibility to manage project delivery and ensure that the funding is spent in accordance with the conditions of grant.

The decision on which projects receive funding will be made by the Scottish Government.

Previous phase