Large grants programme extended to March 2026

Councillors have agreed to extend the current 2022/25 large grants programme for another year, to the end of March 2026.

Funding models to be compared

This will give a new, short-life working group, which will include representatives from the voluntary sector, time to compare different funding models.  The group will make recommendations for what the council’s future grants funding programme should look like.

Every three years

Large grants are currently awarded for three years, with the latest tranche ending in March 2025. 

No decisions made

At last year’s budget setting, no decisions were made on the future of large grants to give officers time to look at updating existing arrangements. 

Changes co-designed with third sector

Midlothian Council Leader Councillor Kelly Parry said: “Our third sector partners play a vital role in supporting our communities and it’s essential therefore any changes to the existing large grants programme are co-designed with them. While we consider all options, we need to provide surety to existing projects, hence the decision today to extend the programme for a further year. “