Common Good Funds

Total Value of Fund

Aberdeen City’s Common Good Fund had an available discretionary budget of around £247,000 for 2025/26 to support external organisations and community initiatives. The Common Good Funds consist of 17 individual funds (e.g., Banff, Peterhead, Stonehaven) with varied annual income estimates ranging from less than £200 up to about £45,931, depending on local assets, indicating the scale of available funds in each area. 
 

Amount that can be applied for

There is no set maximum grant amount across all Common Good Funds in Aberdeenshire, the amount you can request usually depends on the annual income or budget available from the specific fund you are applying to, and must be realistic given the size of that fund. The application process likewise does not specify a universal maximum but funds are limited by the budget available and the community benefit criteria for each year’s funding round. 
 

Percentage that can be applied for

Common Good Funds typically do not state a specific percentage of project costs eligible for award. Instead, councils expect applicants to justify the amount requested relative to available fund income and community benefit, awards may be for 100% of costs or a portion, depending on merits and the size of the local funds.

Who can apply

Aberdeen City’s Common Good Fund applications are open to individuals or groups that operate locally in Aberdeen City and whose projects benefit the wider community. 
• Individuals who live in the relevant former burgh area of the fund. 
• Non-profit, constituted community groups. 
• Partnerships of above groups. 
• Profit-making companies generally cannot apply.

Aims of the fund

Common Good Funds exist to use income and assets (land, property, investments) from historic burghs for the benefit of current local communities. Projects must:
• Provide direct community-wide benefit. 
• Relate to at least one of the criteria set out in the council’s Common Good policy (benefiting area inhabitants). 
• Activities excluded typically include those without community benefit or that promote political/religious objectives. 
 

Timing

Applications are processed on receipt, typically taking around two months, though longer for larger requests. 

The Aberdeen City operates annual application rounds, and the 2025/26 round has closed with future dates to be announced by the council. 

Many councils may require applications to be submitted well before scheduled Common Good Committee or area committee meetings for consideration.

Examples of successful projects

Common Good Funds are typically used for:
• Community events, local celebrations/features or festivals that benefit local inhabitants. 
• Repair and improvement of community facilities or historic assets. 
• Purchase of equipment for local community use. 
(Specific funded project listings are not regularly published centrally for Aberdeenshire; awards are generally reported via local council committee minutes.)

Contact info

• Email: Accounting@aberdeencity.gov.uk
• Website: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/communities-and-events/community-participation/common-good-fund