Scotland’s £11.5m community fund open for applications

Community groups and projects in Scotland can now apply to the new £11.5m Investing in Communities Fund to help tackle disadvantage, poverty and inequality.

It’s hoped the fund will encourage community-led development and sustainable local solutions that address local issues, circumstances and aspirations, such as out-of-school provision, activities and workshops, community cafes and improved job opportunities.

Grants of up to £250,000 are available over three years and the deadline is June 14.

Scotland Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: ‘We know that the best people to decide how to tackle local challenges are the people who live and work in the area.

‘The introduction of this flexible, multi-year fund is the result of listening to the views of people in many different communities. It will enable community groups to make sustainable and impactful changes by providing them with the resources they need, when they need them.

‘It will empower communities to have more control over of their own affairs and take forward more of the activities they have identified as being vital to their local area.’

The Scottish Government says a key component of the fund is the availability of multi-year awards for groups who wish to apply for funding over more than one year, which they hope will provide stability for community-led activity which often requires longer-term planning and support to unlock the complex issues associated with poverty and inequality.

They also hope the flexible design of the fund will help communities reduce the ‘administrative burden’ of applying to multiple funds.