Community Heritage & Environment Grant

The primary purpose of this grant scheme is the protection and enhancement, promotion and understanding of the built and natural historic environment of the City of Stirling. 

The Community Heritage & Environment Grant scheme aims to assist community groups with projects in the public realm thus encouraging local communities to better understand their local heritage and assist them in its conservation for future generations.  It is hoped that through safeguarding and enhancing Stirling's historic natural and built environment the city will be a better places to live, visit and invest in.  Examples of previous projects can be viewed in the Trust's gallery.

Eligible Works

Projects must lie within the Stirling City boundary and priority will be given to a project within a conservation area.  Grants may be awarded to projects which involve the repair, enhancement or reinstatement of elements of the city's built environment or green space or a combination of both.   Educational projects, such as workshops, publications etc, may also be eligible either in combination with a physical works or in isolation.

In the case of repair or reinstatement work must match the existing construction methods and use natural or traditional materials, further details can be found in the Trust's Technical Advice Notes.

Professional fees, up to a rate of 50% of the total fee may be eligible.

Application Assessment

Grants awards will focus on those projects where proposed works will have the greatest impact on the environment within which they sit and how well it meets the aims of the grant.  Further information is available in the Trust's Community Heritage & Environment Grant Guidance Notes and Community Heritage & Environment Grant Application Form.

Grant Levels

Due to the potential variety of projects and availability of grant, the level of grant will be assessed on a project by project basis. Generally the following levels will be imposed:

Natural environment: Projects such as enhancing footpaths, access, biodiversity,  may attract a grant award of up to 75% of total eligible costs and in some exceptional circumstances up to 100%.

Built environment: Projects involving the built heritage such as the restoration of an historic landmark may attract a grant award of up to 50% of total eligible costs. Reinstatement works may attract an award of up to 75%.

Educational projects: interpretation, publication, training heritage days may attract a grant award of up to 100% of the total eligible costs provided that the applicant can demonstrate a contribution of help in kind.

The rate of grant given will be entirely at the discretion of the  Trust Board and will be based on the application score.

Statutory Consents

Grant eligible works may require Listed Building Consent, Planning Permission and/or Building Warrant.  These requirements are separate from the grant application process.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all statutory consents are in place prior to works being commenced on site.  Applicants are strongly advised to contact Stirling Council, Environment Services to check whether the works require consent prior to an application.

Grant will not be paid for works undertaken without the necessary permissions.

Pre-application Discussion

The Trust requires that anyone wishing to make a grant application must in the first instance contact the Trust to discuss the proposed project.