Fife groups invited to apply to University Community Fund
Monday 9 February 2026
St Andrews Men’s Shed, located at Craigtoun Country Park, received over £1600 from the University Community Fund
The University of St Andrews has opened a new round of applications to its Community Fund, marking the sixth year of the Fund supporting community groups and charities across the whole of Fife.
From today (Monday 9 February) community groups, voluntary organisations and charities from any part of Fife are invited to apply for funding to support projects that deliver meaningful benefits for local communities and strengthen engagement with the University.
The Fund offers grants of £250 to £3,000 to support activities and projects that reflect shared values of inclusion, sustainability and partnership, while creating positive social, cultural or environmental impact.
Since its launch in 2020, the University Community Fund has supported a wide range of grassroots organisations and community initiatives from across Fife. Funded projects have included initiatives that promote environmental sustainability, widen participation, celebrate local heritage, support wellbeing, and create opportunities for collaboration between the University and its neighbours.
Recent successful applications include Fife Beekeepers Association, which received £2,000 for its teaching apiary to provide hands-on education from hive to jar; Wormit Boating Club and Watersports Hub, which was awarded £780 to support community activities including Chat, Coffee and Cake sessions and a trial of a community fridge; and Fife Arctic Foxes Ice Hockey Club, which received over £2,600 to help purchase equipment and kit. Other awards supported St Andrews Men’s Shed, which received £1,625.12 for wood-turning lathes, and Edinburgh Yoga, which was awarded £1,500 to deliver Chair Yoga sessions in Methil.
Reflecting on the continued growth of the Fund, Heather Edie, Head of Campaign and Donor Relations at the University of St Andrews and a member of the Fund panel, said:
“We are delighted that the University Community Fund is open to donations from our alumni and supporters, and we have been fortunate to receive additional funding that has significantly extended the support we have been able to offer over the past five years.
“This generosity reflects a shared understanding that the wider Fife community is an integral part of the environment in which our students and staff live, work and learn. The Fund demonstrates how our donors and supporters recognise the importance of strengthening those connections and supporting initiatives that benefit communities across the region.”
The deadline for Round 1 submissions is Friday 13 March at 5pm. Full eligibility criteria, guidance and the application form are available on the University Community Fund webpage.
