funding
Coordinated support for child poverty
The Scottish Government announced it was bringing forward a new Scottish Child Payment, worth £10 
per week per eligible child under six, with the aim of lifting 30,000 children out of poverty by 2023-24. COSLA welcomed the news. In addition, a new Access to Childcare Fund will establish new projects across Scotland to deliver more affordable out-of-school care for low income families over a two-year period starting in April 2020.
Funding has also been confirmed for councils and charities to give children from low income families meals and a place to play during the school holidays. Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) will deliver this ‘Food and Fun’ programme locally working in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, AFC Community Trust, Sport Aberdeen and others. (Source: Scot Gov)
Local learning
Good news for those communities with a hankering to visit another community where something of particular interest to them is happening, the Community Learning Exchange is once again open for business. These small awards that pay for travel and subsistence and a host fee, have proved very popular and effective – low on cost, high on impact. What is certainly true is that there is very little that is truly new under the sun and there’s no point in reinventing the wheel. There’s also much to be gained from learning from your peers.
By SCA
The Community Learning Exchange is a fantastic opportunity for communities to learn through the exchange of ideas and the sharing of common solutions. When community groups make visits to other communities, the most valuable part is often meeting new people with similar interests and gaining new insights and perspectives on shared challenges. Visiting groups come away armed with new ideas and approaches, and host organisations have the opportunity to explain their project to a new and interested audience, often seeing their own projects afresh through new eyes.
What will the exchange fund?
The Exchange will fund up to 100% of the costs of a visit by members of one community to another community project up to a limit of £750, including a host fee. In exceptional circumstances (where travel distances are greater or certain aspects of the visit are particularly expensive) this limit can be increased. Similarly, visits out with Scotland, but within the UK, will be considered where a similar project does not exist in Scotland.
The Exchange will also fund follow up support between organisations. This might be as a result of a learning visit when it is recognised that more specific and on-going help, support, or advice is required. This can be through face-to-face meetings, by phone, e-mail, or skype. Funding for this kind of additional support will need to be negotiated separately.
How to apply
The Exchange operates primarily through the networks that comprise the Scottish Community Alliance. The exception to this rule are Scotland’s community councils. Since the demise of the Association of Scottish Community Councils, there has been no umbrella body for community councils.
Applications to the Exchange are processed through one or other of the networks’ designated members of staff. The exception to this rule are community councils who should apply directly to the Exchange Coordinators. Applications can be made at any time for visits throughout 2019 and up until March 2020. Funding is limited, and once it has been committed no further applications will be accepted.
For guidance about the Community Learning Exchange click here and an application form click here.
Please remember, applications must be endorsed by a network that is a member of SCA unless your organisation is a community council.
The Big Green Footprint Scheme
Fife Council have come up with an innovative way to invest in their landscape, wildlife, culture and heritage, the Big Green Footprint scheme.
Interested, read on to find out more!
Visitors should be able to enjoy the landscape, wildlife, culture and heritage that Fife has to offer today, without compromising the ability for people to continue to enjoy all that Fife has to offer tomorrow and into the future. Each year Fife draws millions of visitors to the coast and countryside for adventure and quiet enjoyment. However with so many footsteps on paths and wheels on roads some impact on our natural environment is inevitable. It is all about finding a balance between encouraging recreation and tourism to support local livelihoods and protecting and conserving the environment.
The Big Green Footprint scheme is a way of offering visitors the opportunity to give a little something back to the places they love and providing a mechanism for collecting those small contributions which, collectively, add up to a significant amount of funding.
The Big Green Footprint scheme is not a one-size-fits-all type of scheme, but that is one of its great strengths. It is creative, flexible and multifaceted and works in many different ways across a wide range of businesses. Indeed any business which has guests or customers can operate ‘The Big Green Footprint Scheme’.
Businesses can gain Big Green Footprint accreditation in a number of ways, for example, Cafés and Restaurants can name an item on the menu the ‘Coastal Path Loaf or the East Lomond Slice’ and add a small fee to the item to contribute to the work of the Trust in your area, retailers – why not select an item of stock and advertise that part of the proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Coastal Path?
Want to know more, click on the link http://fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/Support-Us/Big-Green-Footprint-Scheme_9.html
Fancy a Trip Underground?
Some beautiful and unusual buildings and land are in community ownership.
A growing number of groups are getting together to rescue much-loved places from redevelopment or demolition – from castles and piers to public toilets.
Could your community take ownership of a local space? To inspire you, over the next few weeks we would like to share with you some of these. First up, The Burrow, Devon. 
The Burrow in Exbourne is a community-owned shop with a difference – it’s underground. Like something from The Hobbit, this little shop, café and post office is built underneath a field in the centre of the village, and is the UK’s only underground shop.
In December 2001 the village shop and post office in the parish of Exbourne with Jacobstowe in rural West Devon closed and was sold as a private dwelling. This meant that villagers would have to make a journey of at least 5 miles each way to reach the nearest town for shops and services.
Early in 2002 following a public meeting to discuss the closure of the community’s only store and post office, the Exbourne Community Initiative Committee was formed. The original mandate of the organisation was to try and re-establish a shop – a community-run shop – possibly with additional facilities alongside it. The great importance of such activities in safeguarding the quality of village life was keenly recognised and the initiative was supported by the vast majority of local residents.
The Association quickly established a temporary shop, cafe and post office in Exbourne’s Village Hall, opening 2 mornings a week and run (with the exception of the Post Office section) by volunteers.
The shop has grown and grown and with the support of local growers, plus a lot of hard work, they have managed to get together an exciting range of products, from fresh vegetables, canned food and even some hardware items. Each shop day freshly baked bread is locally sourced.
Grassroots Giving 2017
Small local groups across the UK who are not registered charities can apply to the Skipton Building Society for £500. 162 winners will be chosen by the public. Applications should show a real commitment to the local community, be volunteer orientated, and used to relying on minimal funds and the good will and generosity of members. Successful applicants will offer ‘the greatest chance to progress ideas and activities with a lasting impact.’ Deadline is 31st July. For more information, visit: https://www.skiptongrg.co.uk/
Scottish & Southern Energy Networks Resilient Communities Fund
Scottish & Southern Energy Networks Resilient Communities Fund – North of Scotland: £285,000 of funding available in 2017 
The fund is open to constituted community groups, not-for-profit organisations and registered charities working in our north of Scotland network area. The fund will support projects that:
- Protect the welfare of vulnerable community members through enhancing their resilience and improving community participation and effectiveness.
- Enhance community facilities, services and communication specifically to support the local response in the event of a significant emergency event.
To discuss a potential application, or for general information and advice about the fund, please contact the Community Funds Manager: Lindsay Dougan on 0141 224 7729 or email: lindsay.dougan@sse.com. Deadline: 15th June 2017.
Innovation in cycling and walking funding
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £470,000 for innovative proposals that encourage more journeys by bicycle or on foot. The Department for Transport (DfT) will fund up to £470,000 for innovative projects that lead to more walking and cycling. Proposals will tackle current barriers and encourage more journey stages to be made by bicycle or on foot. Innovations may include, for example, technology, infrastructure, manufacturing or behavioural change. Deadline: Wednesday 7th June. For more information, visit: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/15/overview.
Two Great Opportunities for Young People
See below for information on a brand new young people’s funding stream connected to the 2018 Year of Young People.
Developed by EventScotland and Young Scot, the Create18 funding programme is open to groups of three or more young people, aged 8-26, from all across Scotland to stage their own events. Create18 will distribute £42,000 of funding through grants of up to £1,000 for each event.
Event ideas could include film festivals to gigs, theatre and dance performances to art exhibitions, sports competitions, fashion shows and nature trails. The fund will be administered by Young Scot and decisions will be made by a panel of young people with support from Young Scot and EventScotland.
The Year of Young People 2018 is the next in the series of Scotland’s Themed Years. It aims to inspire Scotland through its young people, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contributions to communities and creating new opportunities for young people to strive for success. For more information including a full press release – click here
To apply for Create18 funding, visit young.scot/YOYP2018
Great Places Scheme
Recently launched in Scotland, the Great Place Scheme has been designed by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and partners to ensure intelligent investment in place-based regeneration. It offers funding for greater collaboration between cultural, community and civic organisations in tackling issues such as poverty and inequality, employment, education and health. Placing heritage at the heart of joined-up thinking, the scheme responds to specific Scottish needs including:
- “The Great Place Scheme is a challenge to local leaders to work together to put culture right at the centre of their local plans.” Ros Kerslake, HLF Chief Executive
- Creating new dynamic networks and partnerships to maximise community benefit
- Devising new ways to include both the built and natural heritage in the provision of local education and health services
- Addressing inequality, involving young people and providing opportunities for training
- Researching and demonstrating the contribution made by heritage to the local economy
- Exploring and piloting new ways to finance cultural organisations.
- Building on initiatives and partnerships already in place
Expressions of interest must be submitted by June 8th. More here: https://www.greatplacescheme.org.uk/scotland
Your Voice Your Choice Kincardine & Mearns
There is still (just!) time to apply to this fund if you have a project which will enhance health, wellbeing or community links in Inverbervie, Gourdon, Benholm, Johnshaven or St Cyrus. Forms and FAQs are available from Aberdeenshire Council, Viewmount, Stonehaven, the KDP office 42 – 46 Barclay St, Stonehaven, and What’s On Inverbervie shop, 75 King St, Inverbervie. The closing date is next Friday 26 May, so don’t delay, apply today!
Your Voice Your Choice Kincardine & Mearns is nearing the end of this year’s application phase!
Do you have an idea for a project which will help make a positive difference to health, wellbeing or community links for Inverbervie, Gourdon, Benholm, Johnshaven or St Cyrus?
If so, you could apply for up to £10,000 from a total available fund of £30,000. There is still time to submit an application for this year’s funding before the deadline of Friday 26th May.
Application forms are available from:
Aberdeenshire Council, Viewmount, Stonehaven
KDP Office, 42-46 Barclay St, Stonehaven
What’s On Bervie Shop, 75 King St, Inverbervie
You can also download the form from the website: www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk/Application-Form-South-Mearns-2017
What is this?
This is an exciting initiative where decisions on which projects get funding are made not by politicians or officers but by the people who will benefit the most – the people who live in the Coastal Strip villages of Inverbervie, Gourdon, Benholm, Johnshaven and St Cyrus. ‘Participatory Budgeting’ as this process is known is all about removing barriers and getting communities directly involved in local decision-making – putting the power in the hands of the local community.
Who can apply?
Anyone who has an idea that will benefit people living in the eligible Coastal Strip villages above. This can be any community group (including informal groups), voluntary or non-profit organisations.
Where can I get further information?
If you would like some advice or support with making an application, please get in touch – we have a team of advisors who would be delighted to help.
Email: yourvoiceyourchoiceKandM@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: Aberdeenshire Council Community Planning (01569) 768327
Your Voice Your Choice Kincardine & Mearns
Community Planning in Kincardine & Mearns and partners have been delighted to hear lots of great ideas for this project to date. Not-for-profit groups in Inverbervie, Gourdon, Benholm, Johnsh
aven and St Cyrus are invited to bid for up to £10k from a total pot of £30k to improve health, wellbeing and community links. Community members decide which groups receive the funding at ‘The Big Event’ which will be held on 24 June. The deadline for applications is 26 May, so there is just a fortnight left to get your bids in! Plenty of advice and support is available – see the Facebook page for more details https://www.facebook.com/Your-Voice-Your-Choice-Kincardine-Mearns-1682423285392707/ and please Like and Share widely.
K&M Communities 