Adapt and Thrive Programme
The Scottish Government has confirmed additional investment will allow the Adapt and Thrive Fund to continue for another three months, from 31 March to 30 June 2021.
Charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, and social enterprises based in Scotland whose work has been significantly disrupted due to the pandemic can apply for specialist advice and funding to help them make the necessary changes to move forward.
The funding includes:
- Grants of between £5,000 and £75,000 to make the changes needed to operate sustainably.
- Flexible, 0% interest loans from £25,000 to £250,000. All loans recommendations will be based on an assessment of the organisation’s ability to service debt.
- In some cases, a blended approach of both grant and loan may be recommended. When this is the case, the minimum loan ‘portion’ that can be offered is £25,000.
The funding is intended to be flexible and will be awarded on an unrestricted basis. Organisations will be able to adapt and divert the funding to what their organisation needs if circumstances change (for example in the case of a local lockdown).
Examples of the types of costs that can be funded include:
- Costs associated with adapting premises for re-opening (e.g. PPE, perspex, glass).
- Staff salaries (e.g. bringing back staff who have been furloughed so they can support the implementation of the recovery plan).
- Consultancy or short-term contracted staff.
- Contributions towards capital expenditure.
- Stock or materials required to support the implementation of the recovery plan.
- Changes to services if these changes directly support the recovery plan.
- Essential overheads and other fixed costs.
Priority will be given to organisations that fall within one or both of the following categories:
- Those operating in areas or with individuals who have suffered disproportionately from the effects of COVID-19, and where ongoing support is needed to ensure they are part of and benefit from the recovery efforts.
- Those working with people who have protected characteristics or the most vulnerable.
The deadline for applications has been extended from 31 March to 30 June 2021.
https://scvo.scot/support/coronavirus/funding/scottish-government/community-recovery/
Vaccine Information Fund
Funding for charities and constituted community organisations to provide information about Scotland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, especially for minority ethnic communities.
The Scottish Government wants to ensure that all people in Scotland have equal access to information about the Covid-19 vaccines. To this end, it is providing funding to enable communities to hold engagement sessions about the vaccine programme and develop information resources that can be used for different communities with particular interest in reaching asylum seekers, multi-generational minority ethnic groups, newer migrant individuals and communities, and African and Black communities which have their own specific issues that need to be addressed.
Grants of up to £1,000 are available for activities taking place between March 2021 and August 2021.
The funding could be used to:
- Raise awareness of the vaccine and the vaccination programme
- Run online engagement sessions to discuss the vaccine
- Create written or visual information resources in members’ mother tongues
- Overcome and dispel misinformation about Covid-19 and the vaccine
Other creative ideas are welcome.
Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:
- Hosting a series of online events for the community to raise awareness about the vaccine and vaccination process and ask questions.
- Develop a mother tongue resource that can be used to help share information to the community and others who share the same language.
- Using an ongoing service or event to enable people to have an open discussion about the vaccine in any language that is best.
All activities must comply with all relevant COVID-19 social distancing rules as set out by the Scottish Government.
The programme is being managed by BEMIS, the national Ethnic Minorities led umbrella body supporting the development of the Ethnic Minorities Voluntary Sector in Scotland and the communities that this sector represents.
No application deadlines have been published.
Armed Forces Covenant Trust – Force for Change Programme 2021
Funding for local projects that help Armed Forces communities across the UK reduce isolation and promote integration as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Armed Forces Covenant Trust announced today that the Force for Change programme is once again offering grant funding to registered charities and Community Interest Companies that have substantial experience supporting Armed Forces communities.
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for local community projects that can start within a month of being awarded a grant and be completed within a year or less.
Projects should address one of two main themes:
- Empowering Armed Forces communities to become more engaged in their local area.
- Providing opportunities for isolated members of the Armed Forces community to take part in activities that improve general wellbeing.
Funding can be used for a wide range of projects. The following are some examples of the types of projects that might be prioritised:
- Projects that encourage veterans and Armed Forces families to be less isolated.
- Projects supporting children and young people from Armed Forces families who found lockdown challenging. This might include play projects, sports or arts projects and projects encouraging friendships and interaction with children and young people from local civilian communities.
- Projects supporting parents from Armed Forces families with pre-school aged or very young children.
- Projects that will have a positive impact on wellbeing for veterans or carers of veterans, or Armed Forces families.
- Projects that help local Armed Forces charities or CICs to keep delivering help to local Armed Forces communities, where COVID has made this more challenging.
The grant can be used to pay for most things needed for the project or activity, such as:
- Staff time for the fixed-term project, including time-managing volunteers that may be involved in the project.
- Purchasing items that provide practical support, or that can enable activities to take place.
- Purchasing items that are needed to provide support, such as additional telephones or laptops.
- Reasonable costs for storing and transporting items, including wear and tear on private vehicles.
- Reasonable overheads that reflect the cost of delivering the project.
To be eligible to apply, organisations must be one of the following:
- An established registered charity or community interest company (CIC) with substantial recent experience of supporting Armed Forces communities.
- An Armed Forces unit or base.
- A local authority.
- A school.
There will be three application rounds in 2021.
The deadline for the first round is 12 April 2021 (midday).
https://covenantfund.org.uk/programme/armed-forces-covenant-fund-force-for-change-programme/
Arrnold Clark Community Fund
The Arnold Clark Community Fund is currently open to charities and community groups who require assistance due to the pandemic. Up to £1000 can be applied for and the deadline is 31 May. Applicants from unregistered charities and community groups will be required to provide a bank statement, letter of constitution and a letter from their local councillor/MSP/MP. For more information please go to –
Three Towns Locality Partnership Meeting Papers – 17 March 2021