Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund

Total Value of Fund

• The Year 4 Participatory Budgeting (PB) Fund has £1 million available for 2025 to support community projects across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray. 
• Over the first four years (2022–25), the Fund has supported 37 projects with a share of £1 million in the 2025 funding pot, and in total has backed 181 projects with around £4.5 million in funding across the North-East and Moray.

Amount that can be applied for

Grants of up to £50,000 per project are available in the PB Fund for capital projects that align with the Just Transition aims.

Percentage that can be applied for

The PB Fund does not specify a standard percentage of project costs; instead, each project can seek up to the maximum cap of £50,000, and full funding may be awarded based on the community vote and eligibility.

Who can apply

• Applications are targeted at community organisations and charities located in or serving Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Moray. 
• Delivery partners for the Fund include ACVO TSI (Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations), Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action, tsiMoray, NESCAN Hub and Money for Moray, which support local applicants through development and delivery.

Aims of the fund

The Fund aims to:
• Empower residents in the Northeast of Scotland to shape a just transition to net zero, giving local people a direct voice in how funding is allocated. 
• Increase awareness and understanding of just transition issues, including climate change and low-carbon practices. 
• Support community-led sustainable projects that reduce emissions, promote inclusion, and improve quality of life. 
• Encourage participatory democracy, allowing residents to vote on which environmental and sustainability projects are funded.

Timing

• The Year 4 application period for 2025 opened in August 2025, with applications closing at 12 noon on 29th September 2025. Public voting for Year 4 projects was scheduled through late November into early December 2025, with results expected to be announced in early 2026.

Examples of successful projects

The Fund has supported a wide variety of community-led sustainability initiatives, including:
• Energy-efficient bakery upgrades: The Bread Maker in Aberdeen received ~£49,488 to install energy-efficient ovens, cutting emissions while providing skills training. 
• Community park improvements: Strichen Community Park in Aberdeenshire was awarded ~£41,044 to improve footpath accessibility. 
• Sustainable transport solutions: Keirans Legacy in Moray secured ~£50,000 to purchase an energy-efficient vehicle to extend delivery of defibrillators to rural communities. 
• Other funded projects have included community gardens, allotment support, EV transport initiatives, and energy-efficiency upgrades in communal spaces.

Contact info

• Website: https://www.jtpbfund.scot/

• Project support and queries are managed locally via delivery partners:

ACVO TSI (Aberdeen)
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (AVA)
tsiMoray
NESCAN Hub
Money for Moray