The Edinburgh Airport Community Fund will award up to £140,000 to local projects throughout 2023.
The fund was established to ensure local communities share in the success of Scotland’s busiest airport. The fund provides financial support to community groups and charities committed to improving opportunities, facilities, and services available to local people.
Applications for November meeting are now open until Monday, November 13.
Offer meaningful support to local groups, organisations, and charities in communities impacted by Edinburgh Airport’s operations.
Make a positive difference to those who could benefit from additional funding and potential increased public exposure.
Fulfil the airport’s aspirational commitment to be a trusted neighbour that provides tangible benefits to its community.
The Community Fund consists of key representatives from Edinburgh Airport and the local community who each provide independent evaluations of applications.
Alex Cole-Hamilton – MSP (Chair)
Lucy Henderson – Head Teacher, Kirkliston Primary School
Esther Elliot – Workplace Chaplain, The Church of Scotland
Sandy Legget – Head of Technical Services, Air Navigation Services
Seonaid Gow, Talent and Inclusion Manager, Edinburgh Airport
Aaron McKeen, Sustainability Manager, Edinburgh Airport (Secretary)
Heather McCulloch - Student Representative, Edinburgh Napier University
Finley George - Student Representative, Edinburgh Napier University
Charities or community groups associated with members of the Community Board can still apply for funding, but the Community Board member must declare their involvement and withdraw from discussions and the decision-making process.
Meetings are triannual, occurring in Spring, Summer, and Autumn. The 2023 meeting dates are as follows:
Friday April 28
Friday August 25
Friday November 24
Funding applications will close two weeks in advance of each meeting date and reopen approximately 6 weeks later.
Payments for successful applications generally take 6 weeks to process and approve. Therefore, successful applications during the 25th August meeting will likely receive their payment on or before the October 15.
The fund will consider applications from Edinburgh, Falkirk, the Lothians, and Fife that support and reflect material issues and deliverables contained within one or more of the four pillars of Edinburgh Airport’s Greater Good sustainability strategy.
These pillars are:
Zero Carbon
Enhancing Scotland
Scotland’s Best Business
Trusted Neighbour
Please familiarise yourself with our sustainability strategy and the four pillars here.
Only non-profit organisations may apply (e.g. charities, community councils, local school groups, community interest companies). Priority will be given to proposals benefitting those living within the communities closest to the airport, or those most affected by aircraft noise and airport operations, and for initiatives relating to:
The mitigation against and reduction of the effects of a changing climate
The reduction of local, negative environmental impacts.
Supporting local biodiversity, rewilding, and/or restoration of the natural world.
The enhancement of local business, community groups and long-term sustainable partnerships in the airport’s surrounding area
Improving healthy working lives and increase upskilling and employment opportunities for the socially isolated, economically deprived, and/or otherwise disadvantaged persons.
Improving care, expanding opportunity, providing shelter, and enabling rehabilitation of vulnerable groups in the community.
Providing urgent, targeted, local support during the cost-of-living crisis.
The fund aims to support not-for-profit organisations on projects that will leave a lasting, tangible impact. Special consideration will be given to projects that may become self-sufficient as a result of the support. The fund does not support one-off-costs, staff salaries, utilities, stationary, or any other costs associated with administering an organisation.
All applications are judged on their merits against the criteria. Please ensure you consult this fully before making an application. There is a cap on funding of £7,000.
Each year we receive hundreds of requests for support, many of which come from local cultural events.
Gala days, Christmas events, local fairs, etc. are all eligible to apply to the fund. However, due to the volume of such requests, a cap of £750 is in place and applications will be judged based upon their proximity to the airport and how affected they are by airport operations.
Before proceeding, please familiarise yourself with the criteria below.
Community Fund Criteria Guidance
Applications for the November meeting are now open until Monday, November 13.
As there are a great number of applications to be reviewed for each meeting, we will only be able to provide feedback on the applications that meet our criteria - whether successful or unsuccessful - for their funding request.
Full eligibility details are provided within the application form. Please do not apply if your application does not meet the criteria. No feedback can be provided for applications that do not meet the criteria.
If you have any questions about the criteria or the application form please email community@edinburghairport.com where we will be happy to help.
