The Community Enterprise Fund helps community organisations to start trading or set up social enterprises in Scotland.
The Community Enterprise Fund is for you if your group wants to begin trading activities or set up a social enterprise so you can generate income, become more financially resilient, reduce reliance on grant funding and be better equipped to support your community.
Funding from CE cannot be used towards existing activities, repairs, or property improvements of a community organisation.
Your community group is ready to apply for a CE award if it can demonstrate:
- A strong business model- showing how the idea will generate income, so it does not rely on grants in the long term.
- A clear social impact– demonstrating that your group has identified a social or environmental issue they want to tackle.
- A determined and motivated team – SEF focuses on the people involved in the idea, so we want you to tell us about the skills, knowledge, and passion within their team for the issue they are tackling and how these will help to make the idea a success.
Who can apply?
To be eligible, your organisation must:
- Be based in Scotland
- Operate primarily for the benefit of people or communities within Scotland
- Be a constituted group (unconstituted groups are not eligible; if your group is not yet constituted, you may be better suited to the Start It programme)
- Have a bank account in the name of the group
- Not yet be trading on a regular basis
- Not be involved in political campaigning or the advancement of religion
How to apply
Click here to apply through the FirstPort website.
The closing date for applications is Friday 13 February 2026.
