The CARES Community Buildings Fund provides grants to help community organisations reduce their building’s energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It does this by funding the installation of renewable technologies like heat pumps, battery storage, and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, as well as some energy efficiency measures.

CARES funding can be used to develop your project and install renewable measures in your community building. Examples include:

Development costs like building warrants, planning permission and grid connection applications Installation costs: the costs to install the ‘core’ renewable energy measures and the ‘add on’ energy efficiency and energy storage measures. The fund is primarily for renewable measures so the ‘development costs’ and ‘add on’ measures must be a minority part of the total requested costs.

The funding will decarbonise existing self-managed community buildings., i.e. you must install at least one of the following:

• a heat pump (air source, ground source or water source)
• a connection to heat network
• solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
• solar water heating.

In addition to installing a core measure(s), you can also apply for funding to install one or more of the following:

• energy storage
• insulation
• secondary glazing
• draught proofing
• appropriate energy saving controls that are linked to new installations to ensure they operate efficiently. Add-on measures must be a minority element of the overall funding requested.

Approved projects must be completed and all funding claimed by the end of February 2026.

Who can apply

• Constituted, non-profit distributing community organisations, including organisations with charitable status, that are set up and operating across a geographically defined community or faith group.
• You will need to install approved measures like air source heat pumps, solar PV panels, and energy-saving improvements, and be committed to decarbonising your building’s heating.
• The building you improve must be one you own or lease, that is used often and therefore has high energy costs.

When to apply

The fund is open to applications until the end of October 2026, or until funding is fully allocated, whichever is sooner.

Next deadline: 31 Oct 2026

How to apply

1. Read the guidance.
2. Fill out an expression of interest form.
3. Submit your application via the Local Energy Scotland CARES project portal.