Search

Buchan area funding

Find out about grants and funding available in the Buchan area:

Buchan Area Committee Grant Scheme 2025

The Buchan Area Committee allocated £20,500 for grants to promote the development of community-based initiatives. 

Examples of projects that may be eligible for funding:

  • Projects contributing towards community resilience, such as the repair or renovation of local facilities such as village halls, allotments, harbours
  • Contributions towards energy costs and climate issues, for example community or public halls
  • Skills development and engagement activities including transport costs
  • Start-up funding for groups where their aims are consistent with the council's objectives
  • Set up costs of a new recurring event or costs for a one-off event which is consistent with council objectives
  • Projects that improve access to the outdoors including paths, benches, signage
  • Professional services for projects that bring substantial local benefit for example feasibility studies

Please note applications for start-up funding and events would have to provide evidence of longer-term financial sustainability and provide evidence that all other avenues have been exhausted.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, 1st June 2025.

View the Buchan Area Committee Grant Scheme guidance (PDF 92KB) before applying. 

To apply please complete the application form, available in two formats:

Email the completed application form, along with supporting documents to buchan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

All eligible applications will be considered by the Buchan Area Committee on 24th June 2025.

If you need further information or guidance please email the Buchan Area Manager’s Team at buchan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Buchan Area Committee Small Grant Scheme 2025

We recognise that there are times when community groups may need a helping-hand to undertake a fairly small project. 

The Buchan Area Committee allocated £5,350 for this scheme, with a maximum grant of £500 per application.

Funding of up to £500 is also available to communities wishing to develop a Local Place Plan. Support could come in the shape of venue hire, software, advertising, printing, information boards, event materials, or consultant fees.

The Area Manager, with input from local Ward Members, will decide on the applications. Projects that are awarded funding need to be completed and copy of receipts/bank statements provided before the end of the financial year.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, 24th August 2025.

To apply please complete the application form, available in two formats:

Email the completed form to buchan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

If you need further information or guidance please email the Buchan Area Manager’s Team at buchan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Coastal Communities Buchan

A proportion of the income generated by Crown Estate Scotland is allocated annually to coastal local authorities including Aberdeenshire Council. Allocations are variable from year to year. Buchan Area Committee has agreed a commissioning strategy to target the distribution of this funding from 2022 to 2027.

In line with the council’s Crown Estate Scotland Framework, Buchan Area Committee has prioritised projects:

  • Supporting the development of active travel routes along, to and from the coastline
  • Developing the coastal economy, workforce and sustainable tourism
  • Creating or enhancing community, leisure, and recreational facilities
  • Safeguarding, restoring, or enhancing the coastal environment

Eligibility and priorities

The eligible area is based on the Buchan’s coastal zone and includes any settlement which borders this zone. You can view coastal zones information in the 2023 Local Development Plan. Settlements bordering the coastal zone in Buchan are:

  • Boddam
  • Crimond
  • Cruden Bay
  • Longhaven
  • Peterhead
  • St Combs
  • St Fergus

How to apply

Buchan Area Committee can consider grant applications for community led projects that meet the priorities of the programme and are in an eligible location. The size of the grant being applied for affects how the application should be made. 

Community groups with eligible projects are encouraged to email the Buchan Area Manager’s Team at buchan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk to discuss their project in the first instance.

Both small and standard applications will be assessed on a first come first served basis, as we receive them.

View the Buchan Coastal Communities fund privacy notice (PDF 134KB) to find out what we do with your information. 

Small grants of up to £1,000

View and complete the Coastal Communities Buchan Small Grant criteria and application form, available in two formats:

Please email the completed form to buchan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Standard grants of between £1001 and £5000

View the Coastal Communities Buchan Standard Grant criteria (PDF 322KB). Complete application form, available in two formats:

Please email the completed form to buchan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Grants between £5001 and £9999 will be considered in exceptional cases only and projects must be featured in a community led plan, such as a Community Action Plan or Local Place Plan.

Applications for £10,000 or more: express your interest

In most cases, community led projects on this scale would be expected to consider applying to the Coastal Communities Challenge Fund.

For grants over £10,000, applicants to the Coastal Communities Buchan fund must first complete an Expression of Interest (EOI). Expressions of interest can be submitted for consideration at any time and if approved applicants will be invited to apply for funding as it becomes available. If an EOI is approved the maximum grant award is £25,000.

Please read the expression of interest guidance (PDF 256KB) before submitting a form, available in to formats:

Please email the completed form to buchan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Aberdeenshire Charities Trust

Aberdeenshire Charities Trust (ACT2) administers charitable funds in Aberdeenshire and is a registered charity (SC045539). There are designated funds available to the council wards in the Buchan area that can be used for purposes set out by the trust.

View information about charitable trust funds in Buchan:

Eligibility

Individuals that live in any of the areas specified in the trust or who can demonstrate that they have a reasonable connection to these areas can apply for funding. The maximum grant available to individuals is £500.

In addition, companies, associations and other organisations who provide services, projects or facilities in the areas may apply for grants of up to £1,000. 

Applications can only be considered if they meet the purposes detailed in the trust.

Available funds

View funds available as at 31st March 2025.

Our Buchan Area Committee accepts applications for some of the local council wards:

There are no designated Aberdeenshire Charities Trust funds for Ward 6 - Peterhead South and Cruden.

Ward 4 - Central Buchan (Fetterangus, Longside, Maud, Mintlaw, New Deer, New Pitsligo, Strichen and Stuartfield)

Fund purposes Total Fund Revenue Capital
The prevention or relief of poverty £2,287.92 £2,287.92 £0
The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage

Ward 5 - Peterhead North and Rattray (Crimond, St Combs, St Fergus and Peterhead)

Fund purposes Total Fund Revenue Capital
The prevention or relief of poverty £742.78 £742.78 £0
The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage

How to apply

You can apply for funding by completing the appropriate application form, available in two formats:

Send completed applications to the Buchan Area Office.

What happens next

The Buchan Area Committee will review your Aberdeenshire Charities Trust funding application. Find out about how we deal with your application.

Contact

If you have any questions please contact the Buchan Area Office.