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CashBack for Communities

CashBack for Communities is a Scottish Government programme which takes funds recovered from the proceeds of crime and invests them into free activities and programmes for young people across Scotland.

Applications now open for CashBack for Communities funding

The online applications portal is now open for the next funding phase from April 2026 to end of March 2029.

The next phase of funding will provide up to £26 million from April 2026 to end of March 2029. Organisations can apply for between £150,000 and £1,500,000 in CashBack for Communities funding.

Funding will close to applications at 12pm noon on Thursday 7 August.

Applications now open for CashBack for Communities funding

£26m funding boost for CashBack for Communities

A new phase has been announced for the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities programme, with a significant increase in funding available.

The programme will strengthen communities across Scotland by supporting young people at risk of involvement in antisocial behaviour, offending or reoffending. The funding, which reinvests criminal assets recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, will provide the opportunities and the tools to support young people to make informed decisions about their future.

Funding will open to applications from Thursday 12 June and will provide up to £26 million from April 2026 to end of March 2029.

£26m funding boost for CashBack for Communities

What does CashBack deliver in your area?

CashBack for Communities funds activities and programmes for young people across all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities.

Check out our new ‘Activities in the Area’ resources to find out what we deliver in your local authority.

They highlight the impact the programme is having with young people and their families and communities, as well as the power of local partnerships in improving lives.

What does CashBack deliver in your area?

Women in leadership: Insights for the next generation

To mark International Women’s Day, we asked women in CashBack leadership roles to share their advice for the next generation of women leaders.

We are fortunate to have many talented women in leadership roles across the CashBack programme. Whether they are managing projects, steering whole organisations, or directly influencing and guiding young people, CashBack’s women leaders are making a difference in communities across Scotland.

We’ve asked them to share what brought them to where they are today, leadership qualities they value most, and advice for the next generation of women leaders.

Women in leadership: Insights for the next generation

Improving young people’s wellbeing: Adam’s story

This Children’s Mental Health Week, we’re showcasing an example of how CashBack projects support young people to improve their wellbeing.

Improving the wellbeing of young people most at risk of involvement in the justice system is one of CashBack’s key aims. Each of our partners achieves this in some way.

In support of Children’s Mental Health Week we’re featuring an example of Bethany Christian Trust’s approach and the difference it can make. Their CashBack project is a community-based early intervention support service for young people with mental health struggles.

Take a closer look at the impact this project has had with one young participant.

Improving young people’s wellbeing: Adam’s story

Listen up: Young participants share their views on CashBack

We asked young people participating in CashBack projects to share their views on the programme.

Young people are involved in every stage of the CashBack programme – from sharing day-to-day feedback with our partner organisations to taking part in funding decisions and programme evaluation.

We asked 12 CashBack-funded projects to gather small groups of young participants to hear their views on the programme – 69 young people ultimately took part.

They told us that support that makes them feel safe and respected makes the biggest difference.

Listen up: Young participants share their views on CashBack

CashBack supported over 15,000 young people across Scotland in last year

Supporting thousands of young people most at risk of involvement with the justice system towards positive destinations.

CashBack’s 2023-24 Impact Report shows strong performance in achieving the programme’s strategic outcomes, including 7,440 young people reporting positive changes in their behaviour.

The report covers the year April 2023 to March 2024 – the first of a three year funding phase which will run from April 2023 to March 2026.

CashBack supported over 15,000 young people across Scotland in last year

Aberdeen

Project spend 2008–2024

£377,766

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,336

Aberdeenshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£257,743

Young people supported 2008–2024

5,375

Angus

Project spend 2008–2024

£422,015

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,135

Argyll and Bute

Project spend 2008–2024

£105,463

Young people supported 2008–2024

1,471

Clackmannanshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£94,466

Young people supported 2008–2024

706

Dumfries and Galloway

Project spend 2008–2024

£200,657

Young people supported 2008–2024

2,419

Dundee

Project spend 2008–2024

£323,170

Young people supported 2008–2024

1,810

East Ayrshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£208,105

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,750

East Dunbartonshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£116,774

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,338

East Lothian

Project spend 2008–2024

£100,108

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,079

East Renfrewshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£109,026

Young people supported 2008–2024

1,633

Edinburgh

Project spend 2008–2024

£751,561

Young people supported 2008–2024

13,093

Eilean Siar

Project spend 2008–2024

£94,408

Young people supported 2008–2024

570

Falkirk

Project spend 2008–2024

£244,814

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,070

Fife

Project spend 2008–2024

£345,776

Young people supported 2008–2024

7,441

Glasgow

Project spend 2008–2024

£1,202,438

Young people supported 2008–2024

13,594

Highland

Project spend 2008–2024

£334,096

Young people supported 2008–2024

5,276

Inverclyde

Project spend 2008–2024

£159,962

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,100

Midlothian

Project spend 2008–2024

£88,132

Young people supported 2008–2024

2,657

Moray

Project spend 2008–2024

£105,967

Young people supported 2008–2024

969

North Ayrshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£114,301

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,959

North Lanarkshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£272,546

Young people supported 2008–2024

6,921

Orkney

Project spend 2008–2024

£42,106

Young people supported 2008–2024

2,199

Perth and Kinross

Project spend 2008–2024

£134,482

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,314

Renfrewshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£160,710

Young people supported 2008–2024

6,020

Scottish Borders

Project spend 2008–2024

£533,138

Young people supported 2008–2024

7,723

Shetland

Project spend 2008–2024

£42,284

Young people supported 2008–2024

1,358

South Ayrshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£108,039

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,329

South Lanarkshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£192,003

Young people supported 2008–2024

8,713

Stirling

Project spend 2008–2024

£255,459

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,254

West Dunbartonshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£74,057

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,461

West Lothian

Project spend 2008–2024

£131,229

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,763

Who we are

Since 2008, £130 million recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act has been committed to the CashBack for Communities Programme and other community initiatives. The programme has supported over 1.3 million children and young people.

Who we are

£130m

committed from the proceeds of crime

32

local authorities impacted

> 1.3m

young people supported

78%

of young people from the 30% most deprived communities since 2017

Applications now open for CashBack for Communities funding

The online applications portal is now open for the next funding phase from April 2026 to end of March 2029. Following a busy pre-application period, the CashBack for Communities fund is now open to applications. The next phase of funding will provide up to £26 million from April 2026 to end of March 2029. Organisations […]

12th June 2025

£26m funding boost for CashBack for Communities

A new phase has been announced for the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities programme, with a significant increase in funding available. The programme will strengthen communities across Scotland by supporting young people at risk of involvement in antisocial behaviour, offending or reoffending. The funding, which reinvests criminal assets recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, […]

7th May 2025