Grant Awards Programme (GAP)

Following a successful initial testing phase last year with a number of selected Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) organisations, we are pleased to launch our new online grants platform for (CVS) organisations across all nine Community Board areas in North Lanarkshire.  The new platform replaces the traditional paper-based application process.

Organisations must now apply for funding through our new online platform provided by Survey Monkey North Lanarkshire Council 

CVS registered organisations will receive an invitation email to register to the platform.  (Details of this and other improvements have been sent to all CVS registered organisations by email).

Organisations who have a CVS number from us only need to insert their allocated NLC number.

New organisations applying for the first time should contact us directly to register their organisation.

Before submitting an application, organisations should ensure they read the guidance notes and highly recommend you read the companion documents.  

For further information or assistance, please contact the Community Partnership Team (Grants Section).

We are offering you the opportunity to sign up for one of our information and advice sessions. The details of which are listed below:

If you would like to book a place, please email grantawardsprogramme@northlan.gov.uk to confirm the session you wish to attend.            

We provide annual funding through the Grant Awards Programme to community and voluntary sector (CVS) organisations contributing to the North Lanarkshire Partnership. We publish examples of these projects and further information in our Community Priorities section.

To apply you must be a: 

• Community and Voluntary Sector organisation operating in North Lanarkshire inclusive of registered charities and Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations.
• Company Limited by Guarantee / Social Enterprise or Community Interest Company (CIC) who are asset locked/not for profit with a board of directors elected by members (who predominately reside in North Lanarkshire) and have a minimum membership of 20 individuals and must have a dissolution/winding up clause which does not transfer any assets to private individuals or companies, and who have relevant objects related to community / social and charitable activities.  

if you have any queries please contact us.

You can apply for a grant funding up to a maximum of £10,000. There are three categories of funding which can be supported. Each category has an upper limit:

A maximum of £10,000 can be requested.

Funding cannot be requested for:

• Activities that started before the application being made.
• Items of equipment of a personal nature, or
• Repairs/improvements to premises.
• Any payment of any type to committee members, directors, or trustees.
• Food.
• Large pieces of equipment (requests for smaller items, with a value of £100 or less, may be eligible for consideration).
• IT equipment.

Please ensure you download and read the Grant Awards Programme (GAP) guidance notes before applying for funding.

The revised approach forms part of our wider programme of improvements and modernisation to community focused grants, approved through the Communities committee.

The new model introduces a staggered application timetable across locality areas between June and October 2026. This revised approach is intended to:

• improve overall programme management and planning
• provide enhanced pre-application support opportunities
• reduce administrative pressures during peak periods
• strengthen assessment, moderation and quality assurance processes
• improve communication and engagement with organisations throughout the process

Whilst application windows will now operate on a phased basis, the overall annual programme decision timetable remains broadly unchanged, with:

• scoring and assessment activity completed by November 2026
• moderation and final verification undertaken during early December 2026
• committee consideration continuing in February 2027
• award notifications issued thereafter

All CVS registered organisations are encouraged to review the new delivery timetable carefully and ensure that applications are prepared and submitted during the appropriate locality phase.

Further information, guidance materials, workshops and pre-application support sessions will be published throughout the year.

The indicative timetable below illustrates how the staggered delivery model would operate across the annual programme cycle.