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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

£167,096

Young people supported 2008–2024

2,792

Aberdeenshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£110,877

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,118

Angus

Project spend 2008–2024

£133,259

Young people supported 2008–2024

1,764

Argyll and Bute

Project spend 2008–2024

£91,576

Young people supported 2008–2024

2,612

Clackmannanshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£81,905

Young people supported 2008–2024

1,543

Dumfries and Galloway

Project spend 2008–2024

£139,224

Young people supported 2008–2024

8,737

Dundee

Project spend 2008–2024

£199,359

Young people supported 2008–2024

2,389

East Ayrshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£205,418

Young people supported 2008–2024

2,989

East Dunbartonshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£99,836

Young people supported 2008–2024

1,748

East Lothian

Project spend 2008–2024

£108,043

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,385

East Renfrewshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£69,867

Young people supported 2008–2024

2,127

Edinburgh

Project spend 2008–2024

£363,805

Young people supported 2008–2024

8,676

Eilean Siar

Project spend 2008–2024

£77,860

Young people supported 2008–2024

981

Falkirk

Project spend 2008–2024

£162,294

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,423

Fife

Project spend 2008–2024

£259,300

Young people supported 2008–2024

6,808

Glasgow

Project spend 2008–2024

£644,310

Young people supported 2008–2024

17,515

Highland

Project spend 2008–2024

£349,474

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,144

Inverclyde

Project spend 2008–2024

£109,899

Young people supported 2008–2024

1,266

Midlothian

Project spend 2008–2024

£82,957

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,848

Moray

Project spend 2008–2024

£81,852

Young people supported 2008–2024

1,948

North Ayrshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£158,264

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,763

North Lanarkshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£249,667

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,821

Orkney

Project spend 2008–2024

£76,453

Young people supported 2008–2024

814

Perth and Kinross

Project spend 2008–2024

£102,507

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,325

Renfrewshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£135,002

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,918

Scottish Borders

Project spend 2008–2024

£149,575

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,857

Shetland

Project spend 2008–2024

£45,942

Young people supported 2008–2024

481

South Ayrshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£196,404

Young people supported 2008–2024

10,007

South Lanarkshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£263,775

Young people supported 2008–2024

7,768

Stirling

Project spend 2008–2024

£140,367

Young people supported 2008–2024

4,380

West Dunbartonshire

Project spend 2008–2024

£112,855

Young people supported 2008–2024

2,525

West Lothian

Project spend 2008–2024

£135,255

Young people supported 2008–2024

3,504

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