The Edinburgh Airport Community Fund will award £100,000 to local projects throughout 2022.

The fund was established to ensure local communities benefit from Edinburgh Airport activities. It provides financial support to community groups and charities committed to improving opportunities, facilities and services available to local people.

Applications for the November meeting have now closed.

Objectives of the fund

• 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 and a credible source of good in the community. 

Community Fund members 

The Community Fund consists of key representatives from Edinburgh Airport and the local community, and they provide independent evaluations of applications.  

• Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP (Chairman)  

• Lucy Henderson - Head Teacher, Kirkliston Primary School 

• Sandy Legget – Air Navigation Services 

• Mark Foster – City of Edinburgh Council

• Esther Elliot – Workplace Chaplain 

• Jessica Briggs, Head of Sustainability, Edinburgh Airport 

• Gayle Barclay, Senior Environment Manager and staff representative, Edinburgh Airport 

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.  

Community Fund meetings 

Meetings are held quarterly. In 2022, the dates of the meetings are as follows:  

• Friday 29 April 

• Friday 26 August  

• Friday 25 November  

Funding applications will close two weeks in advance of each meeting date. Any applications received after the cut off points will be kept for the next meeting.

Criteria for funding 

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

You can read more about our sustainability strategy and the four pillars here.

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 environmental impacts 

• 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 socially and economically deprived and disadvantaged persons 

• Improving care, opportunity, provide shelter and enable rehabilitation of vulnerable groups in the community. 

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 applications of £7,000.  

You can find out more about the criteria below. 

Community Fund Criteria Guidance

Applying for funding 

Applications are currently closed and will reopen in January 2023.

As there is a very high number of applications to be reviewed for each meeting, we will only be able to provide feedback to the applications who meet our criteria – whether successful or unsuccessful for their funding request.

As stated in the application form, please do not apply if you do not meet the criteria we have set. We will not provide any feedback for applications which do not meet the criteria. 

If you have any questions about the criteria or the application form, please email [email protected].