The Scottish Government’s Equality Unit's Equality Fund and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Fund is now open to applications for 2015

Multi-million pounds worth of funding has been made available to Scottish charities who aim to promote equality and end violence against women.

The Scottish Government’s Equality Unit is inviting applications to the Equality Fund and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Fund.

Managed by Voluntary Action Fund, the Equality Fund will make awards of up to £3 million and the VAWG Fund will make awards of over £3m.

Funding is offered for 12 months from April 2015.

The Equality Fund is open to applications from voluntary organisations who are registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and who work across the protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation.

The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Fund is open to organisations with projects that contribute to preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.

Applicants, again, will be accepted from voluntary sector organisations that are registered with OSCR. Partnerships which include third and public sector bodies can also apply, as can individual public bodies.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 5 December 2014.

Application forms and guidance notes, including full details of eligibility and how to apply for a grant, can be downloaded from the relevant pages on the Voluntary Action Fund website.