Another partner in the SBSEC, we are an independent voluntary organisation, it’s our job to support, inform, represent and provide services in the Berwickshire District Area of the Scottish Borders. We’ve been helping community and voluntary groups since 1971 (now we’re really showing our age), so you can be sure we know our stuff.

OHSEP offers practical support to social enterprises across the Hebrides, and is a partner on the Western Isles Third Sector Interface – TSI Western Isles. We help the Scottish Government meet its national outcome, ‘that social enterprise develops and grows’. We do this by acting as a voice for social enterprises, providing one to one guidance to social enterprises and aspiring social entrepreneurs (e.g. sign-posting for business planning, feasibility studies, legal structures, sources of finance, marketing); and attending regular networking meetings to provide general advice and updates on current affairs to those managing social enterprises and signposting social entrepreneurs to specialist training, such as employment law, marketing, and other areas. ​​​​

Scotland Food & Drink are here to nurture, support and champion the people and products of Scotland’s food and drink industry to help deliver continued and growing success. They guide their members to realise untapped potential, to unlock new markets and maximise opportunities. They are committed to strengthening reputations, developing growth strategies and broadening networks which will deliver the competitive edge to members and continued success for Scotland’s food and drink industry.

The Scottish Civic Trust was set up in 1967, to help people connect to their built heritage and take a leading role in guiding its development. In its infancy, it successfully campaigned for the restoration of Edinburgh’s New Town, was instrumental in the revitalisation of New Lanark and can also claim credit for bringing Doors Open Days to the United Kingdom.

TSI Western Isles works to support, develop and promote the interests and work of voluntary and community organisations in the Western Isles. We are one of the Third Sector Interfaces funded by the Scottish Government to provide a single point of access for support and advice for the third sector.

Plunkett Foundation is a national charity that supports rural communities across the UK to tackle the issues they face through community business. Community businesses are enterprises that are owned and run democratically by members of the community, on behalf of the community. From shops and pubs to farms and woodlands and everything in between, the Plunkett Foundation’s small in-house team and network of advisers across the UK provide a helping hand to support groups from their first tentative steps, and continues to be there for them, year after year, as the business develops and grows.

Fife Historic Buildings Trust is a charitable trust working with Fife Council, community groups and others to find new users and funding to secure a long-term future for historic buildings at risk. We have helped deliver over £40m in historic environment regeneration projects in Fife, supporting town centres, businesses, tourism and local communities.

Our vision is for vibrant and connected rural and island communities which have control over their future, and which contribute to building a society that is inclusive, just and sustainable. We work with our members and partners at national, regional and community levels to build a grassroots-led rural movement in Scotland that connects rural communities with each other, politicians and decision makers, collaborate with seldom-heard groups to create platforms that enable their participation in the rural movement and collectively develop a cross-sectoral, locally informed understanding of rural Scotland’s economy, society and culture that shapes local practise and national policy.

Community Land Scotland represents Scotland’s new generation of community landowners, urban and rural; we work to inspire & support communities to own and develop land and assets and influence the public policies that can help them. We believe that we cannot create a more socially just Scotland without tackling land ownership issues – this means more of Scotland’s land in the hands of more of Scotland’s people. Whether you are at the early stages of thinking about land ownership as a community or you are an established community organisation already owning property, we look forward to hearing from you.

Highland Good Food Partnership is an initiative driven by local people who are passionate about creating a sustainable, local food system. Community food projects are one of our main areas of work; supporting projects with a social focus including allotments, food banks, community growing and community markets. When setting up a land based food initiative, access to land, access to funding and support with governance can be challenging and our Community Food group has the expertise to guide you through the process.

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is a registered charity, working since 1976 to promote the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. The AHF exists to help communities and other not for private profit organisations find enterprising ways to revitalise the old buildings they love. We help with advice, grants and loans. Our support acts as a catalyst for putting sustainable heritage at the heart of vibrant local economies. For over 40 years, we’ve been the leading social investor in creating new futures for historic buildings.


Project Viability & Development Grants

With support from Historic Environment Scotland, Project Viability Grants are to fund initial studies to look at potential new uses for a building and at its current condition, usually resulting in a Viability Report produced to a standard template. Project Development Grants help add detail to outline plans, assisting in getting projects to the point that they can apply to larger capital funders. It can fund professional fees or capacity building for organisations.

Tailored Support Fund Grant

With support from the William Grant Foundation, projects in Scotland may be eligible for the TSF. Projects applying are generally characterised by a community-led ethos, a desire to give new purpose to a building valued locally for its architectural heritage and plans that demonstrate strong social, economic or environmental benefits that meet local need. Projects that don’t fit well in other funding streams are particularly welcome to enquire and apply.

Social Investment Programmes

We can also support projects through loan finance, offering flexible and competitive terms to provide greater assistance to projects that will deliver local economic and community impact, as well as providing sustainable use of a historic building for future generations. 

What is eligible for the Social Investment Programme?

Loan finance can be used for building acquisition, plugging a short-term funding gap, for working capital during a project delivery phase or to support further growth of a social enterprise or other community business based in a historic building. Contact Asha Karbhari to discuss any queries.


The Melting Pot develops initiatives that stimulate and support social innovation, harnessing the power to ignite and effect social change by connecting people and supporting their ideas, passions and expertise. In turn, we help Scotland fulfil its economic, social, cultural and environmental potential. Our doors first opened in October 2007, after several years of development by a grassroots group of like-minded folk in Edinburgh.


Good Ideas

Good Ideas is a free incubation programme that helps people turn their good ideas into change, supporting them to realise their vision in the form of social enterprises, charities and campaigns. Making an idea happen can be a daunting prospect and exploring new ideas is challenging – we’re here to help people test their ideas and make change happen.

Consultancy Services & Products

We share our 18 years’ experience of supporting and stimulating social innovation via our consultancy services and products. Whether you’re setting up a new coworking space, building a community at your existing hub, or wanting to run a social business incubation programme like Good Ideas, we can help! Find out more about our coaching, training and Etools here.

Calton Road Coworking Hub & Venue Hire

After leaving our previous spot on Rose Street and using research from the Future of the Office report, we secured three floors of space (previously used by Foundation Scotland) right next to Edinburgh Waverley. As well as regular coworking memberships and one-off hotdesk facilities, we have meeting rooms and event space to hire. Find out more here.


Scotland’s Towns Partnership is Scotland’s national towns’ collective; representing and promoting the diversity of our towns and places, and supporting those organisations and groups that have an interest in or ownership of them. Our role is to act as a hub for relevant news & resources, knowledge and good practice, to support learning and community through our events, to influence and share policies that impact towns and to raise the profile of Scottish towns.

PAS is on a mission to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard in planning and placemaking. We offer a free, confidential and impartial advice service on planning issues, training on community engagement and the planning system, and support communities with developing action plans and place plans. 

At GCVS, we’re here to support community groups, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises with the help and training they need to succeed. By strengthening the voluntary sector, both citizens and communities can benefit. We provide free support in Glasgow for the essentials like fundraising, governance, measuring impact and climate friendly practice.  Our paid for services Scotland wide for Payroll, HR and Health & Safety provide in-depth expertise.