Meanwhile Use Fund

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The fund is now open for applications.

The Meanwhile Use Fund, part of the City Centre Improvement Grant Fund, is designed to help organisations and communities in Glasgow city centre make use of empty or vacant properties. The fund aims to support projects that improve the city's appearance and inclusivity.

The goal of the fund is to make the city centre more vibrant by activating ground-floor spaces that have an on-street presence. The fund will support projects that:

• Offer something new to the city centre
• Help reduce visual or physical damage in the area
• Reduce anti-social behaviour
• Strengthen the community
• Increase foot traffic
• Support small green spaces
• Have additional funding from other sources

Projects will be assessed based on how well they meet these goals. Applicants should refer to the Meanwhile Use Toolkit for guidance on the requirements of a Meanwhile lease.

Projects will also need to show how they align with the City Centre Strategy 2024-2030. The maximum grant available is £20,000.
Make sure to read the  City Centre Improvement Grant Fund Guidance before applying for more information.

Please read the City Centre Improvement Grant Fund Guidance ahead of applying for additional details.

Who Can Apply

The fund is available for projects within the city centre. Check the Map to confirm your project is eligible.
We welcome applications from both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including social enterprises, cultural groups, community councils, and other registered organizations.

If your organisation already has grant funding for other projects, you must mention it in your application. You can only receive funding once every 12 months.

If you already have match funding for your project, that will be seen as a positive indicator of support. If you're applying for funding as part of a larger project, the grant will only be given once all other funding is secured.

Your organisation is not eligible to apply if you are already operating from a building or unit in Glasgow city centre.

Be sure to read the City Centre Improvement Grant Fund Guidance before applying for more details.

How to Apply

Please complete the online application at the top of this page. After applying, you'll get a copy of your application as confirmation and will be contacted within 5 working days.

If you need to fill out a paper application, please complete the Meanwhile Use Application Form (Postal) and post to:

City Centre Strategy Team
Glasgow City Council
231 George Street
Glasgow G1 1RX

Checklist

Below is a checklist of the information you will need to provide as part of your application:

• Detailed outline of your project
• Details of how your project will provide a place-based benefit and improve the city centre
• Details of how your project will engage the community and the public, including through social media
• How much grant funding you are applying for
• Any other funding you will be receiving (if applicable)
• Any other grant funding you have received for other projects
• Project start date
• Itemised proposed costs, suppliers and dates
• Details of how you incorporated the relevant Health and Safety regulations
• Property details:
  • Address
  • Property owners' name contact details
  • Details of the lease including rental payments (if applicable)
  • How long has the property been vacant
  • What is the proposed end use of the property
  • How will the property's end use contribute to and benefit the city centre
• Details of your formal relationship with the intended suppliers (if applicable).

Related Content

Related Articles

• Glasgow City Centre Improvement Grant Privacy Notice

Documents

• City Centre Improvement Grant Fund Guidance
• Meanwhile Use Toolkit (PDF, 26 MB)
• Glasgow City Centre Boundary Map (PDF, 467 KB)
• Meanwhile Use Application Form (Postal) (Word doc, 235 KB)(opens new window)

Please note word documents will download to your download folder on your computer.