The Dunbar Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) has launched a Community Heritage Grant Fund.
The Fund has been set up to encourage local groups and organisations to apply for funding to undertake small scale community heritage projects in Dunbar, with the aim of supporting the delivery of activities or creative projects that improve the local knowledge, legibility and understanding of Dunbar High Street, its history, buildings, closes, and their stories.
Applications are sought from local community groups, organisations or in some cases individuals, who are keen to deliver heritage engagement activity that will benefit the local community.
Examples include projects that deliver community research, perhaps towards a walking tour or audio trail; development of a booklet, map or interpretation looking at the history and stories of the High Street; supporting the formation or continuation of a regular group project researching some aspect of the high street history; or the development of a creative response to the town centre with some creative output to showcase to the wider community.
The outputs may be virtual, digital, visual or physical, with each application being assessed to ensure they meet the aims of Dunbar CARS and support the continued regeneration activity within the town centre.
The Community Heritage Grant Fund will open for applications on Thursday 1 May with a closing date for submissions of Friday 30 May. Successful first round projects must be delivered by Saturday 20 December 2025. It is anticipated that there will be a second round of funding in early 2026. Grants are a maximum of £1,000.
The fund is a complimentary component of Dunbar CARS - a heritage led regeneration initiative with a focus on the repair of historic buildings within a defined town centre area and the delivery of traditional skills training to support future upkeep of the town’s rich historical building fabric.
To obtain a Dunbar CARS Community Heritage Grant Fund application pack and guidance notes, please email the team
As part of the promotion of the Fund, Dunbar CARS will be participating in the High Street Histories Celebration weekend organised by the Dunbar Traders Association, High Street Residents Society and Our Dunbar.
Dunbar CARS will have an information stall outside the Town House on Saturday 26 April and will also be delivering some community heritage activities spread along the High Street, to encourage people to find out more about their High Street History. You can find out more here.
Activities co-ordinated by Dunbar CARS this weekend are:
Dunbar High Street Walk and Talk with Dr David Anderson
Saturday 26 April, 12.15pm (FREE, 1 hour duration, booking required)
A walk and talk about the High Street, its buildings and closes with Dr David Anderson. Limited to 12 places, book here
Metalworking Demonstrations from local social enterprise Forge and Equip
Saturday 26 April, 11am - 4pm (FREE, drop in, no booking required)
Forge and Equip will carry out demonstration sessions outside the Museum and Town House on how to repair and look after rusty gates or railings, with continual drop-in sessions through the day.
A talk on metalworking will also take place at 1.15pm outside the Dunbar Museum and Town House
Dunbar High Street Historic Photo Flashmob with Dr David Anderson
Saturday 26 April, 2pm to 4pm (FREE, drop in, no booking required)
‘Ask the Expert’ with a Dunbar High Street history theme! Bring in your old photos of your historic building, close or whatever question you would like and ask David, our local expert on all things to do with your building’s history.
Hot Lime Workshop with Jamie Goodwin
Saturday 26 April,10am to 12pm & 2pm to 4pm (FREE, booking required)
This taster session will show how to point a wall using hot lime with Jamie from the Ridge. The sessions will run at taster Black Bull Close, High Street, Dunbar. Booking is essential.