The fund supports local organisations to provide food and activities for children and young people from low-income families in Falkirk during the October school holiday (12 – 25 October 2026).

• You can apply for up to £750 per project.
• Projects must run for at least 3 days during the October holiday, and priority will be given to structured programmes.
• Each session must include at least 2 meals for participants (for example, breakfast, a snack, lunch or dinner).
• This year we're working with the Summer of Sports programme. Because of this, we're encouraging applications that include sport or physical activity. This can be part of your wider programme and doesn't need to be the main focus.
• Applications are open from 2 to 11 September 2026.
• The panel will review applications by 18 September, and outcomes and payments will be issued the following week.

The fund aims to support children and young people aged up to 16, with a particular focus on projects in areas of greater need, and families who belong to one or more of the following groups:

• Larger families (3 or more children)
• Lone-parent families
• Families from an ethnic minority background
• Families where mum is aged under 25
• Families where someone in the household has a disability
• Care-experienced young people
• Kinship care families

These groups are identified as being at greater risk of experiencing poverty and other inequalities, as recognised in our 'Building a Fairer Falkirk 2024 - 2029' anti-poverty strategy.

Fair Work First (FWF) is a Scottish Government policy to promote fairer working practices across the country. It applies to all public sector grants, procurement and funding decisions made after 1 July 2023.

As provider of grants, we need to ensure organisations we fund meet the key elements of the Scottish Government's Fair Work First policy. The mandatory criteria are:

• Pay at least the Real Living Wage (RLW) to all workers directly involved in delivering the funded activity; and
• Provide appropriate channels for Effective Worker Voice, which may be simple and informal for small organisations.

If you do not currently meet these criteria, then you can request an exemption. You will be asked about this as part of your funding application.

If you receive funding, you must:

• Provide receipts for any significant expenditure when requested
• Submit an End of Award report using the template provided

The End of Award report must be completed after the October activities. Failure to provide the required information may affect future funding applications.

A selection of activities is available to book for Autumn 2026, and a community transport project may also help lower transport costs.

Please email fairerfalkirk@falkirk.gov.uk for more details.

Once you submit your application:

• You will receive an automatic email confirming receipt.

If you do not receive the email within 24 hours, contact fairerfalkirk@falkirk.gov.uk as your application may not have been received.

Support is available to help you develop your application.

Completing your application

Email fairerfalkirk@falkirk.gov.uk for guidance on completing the form and reaching the target groups.

NHS nutrition resources

For menu ideas, portion sizes, training and nutrition resources, email fairerfalkirk@falkirk.gov.uk.

Organising activities

For support with planning and delivering activities for children and young people, email cameron.reid@falkirk.gov.uk.

Capacity building

For support with capacity building, event planning, or applications, contact:

• info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk