Grassroots groups receive more than £55,000 from the second round of the GRID Civic Grant Fund
Published: 13 November 2025
The funding will help 24 initiatives in their work to tackle some of the most urgent challenges facing our communities, from equipping young people with new skills to supporting community food initiatives - in areas often hardest hit by inequality.
Grassroots and community voluntary initiatives across Glasgow are receiving a share of more than £55,000 in funding from the second round of the University of Glasgow’s GRID Civic Grant Fund. This funding will help 24 initiatives in their work to tackle some of the most urgent challenges facing our communities.
From equipping young people with new skills and creative opportunities to supporting community food initiatives and promoting well-being through music and the arts, this year’s successful projects are helping to deliver lasting positive impacts - and in areas often hardest hit by inequality.
The GRID Civic Grant Fund is open to groups and charities within the G3, G11, G12 and G51 postcodes, offering grants of up to £5,000 alongside smaller grants of £850 - in recognition of Glasgow’s 850th anniversary this year.
This second wave of awards builds on the success of the Fund’s first year and now brings the total amount invested through the scheme to more than £125,000.
In total, 50 projects have been awarded funding to date, benefiting thousands of individuals across communities including Govan, Anderston and Partick. Together, these projects demonstrate the power of grassroots action in delivering community projects to help address national issues such as the cost-of-living crisis, climate awareness, skills provision, inequality and social exclusion.
Projects receiving funding in this second round of the GRID Civic Fund are as innovative as they are impactful. Among the recipients is Glasgow the Caring City’s Big ‘STEAM’ Project, which equips young people from marginalised backgrounds with confidence and career-ready skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths (STEAM).
Another, Halo Arts’ Typically Diverse initiative in Govan, creates a safe and creative space for neurodivergent people to express themselves, while Momentum Films Limited’s South Asians in Cinema Collective is breaking barriers in Scotland’s screen industry by celebrating diverse voices and stories.
Brendon McIlroy, Artistic Director at Halo Arts, said: “We're over the moon to receive this support from the University of Glasgow’s GRID Civic Fund. It means we can deliver this important project which gives voice to the experience of young people and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodiverse conditions living in G51.
“For our participants, having a consistent creative space where they don't need to mask their differences is invaluable. This vital funding allows us to offer something that's often missing in terms of provision, and by giving voice to those with often hidden disabilities we’ll be using the funds to empower ASD young people and adults within the community to feel happier, safer and more able to be themselves.”
Rakasree Basu, founder and producer, Momentum Films said: “For the South Asians in Cinema Collective, the GRID Civic Grant provides crucial early support as we begin building a sustained platform for South Asian screen talents and stories in Scotland. It enables us to spark new collaborations, deepen cultural exchange, strengthen audience engagement and contribute to a more globally connected, future-focused Scottish screen culture."
Uzma Khan, Vice Principal for Economic Development & Innovation at the University of Glasgow, said: “The University of Glasgow, at its very core, is a civic institution. Our impactful work in the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District centres on bringing new opportunities and positive change to our City and its local communities.
“We have once again witnessed an overwhelming demand for the Civic Fund which continues to empower and support a number of exceptional individuals and groups in our communities who are making a real and lasting difference. Congratulations to all that have been successful in this latest round.”
- Title image: One of the projects awarded GRID Civic Grant funding is Weekday Wow Factor, which is helping older adults and people with dementia stay connected through their Daytime Discos and Minibus Adventures.
First published: 13 November 2025