Simplified application process will ‘support activity which puts people in the lead at the heart of their communities’
Big Lottery Fund Scotland has opened a new five-year £250 million funding scheme. With a focus on helping people and communities most in need, groups across the country can apply to share these life-changing funds. Continue reading New multi-million Lottery fund open for business
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – #VOTEGYC
We promised you big news – and here it is! We’re delighted to announce that Granton Youth Centre is one of the finalists for the RBS Skills and Opportunities Funding. Continue reading Granton Youth Centre needs your help!
Funding will support communities to reduce and prevent sectarianism across Scotland
Community projects tackling sectarianism at a local level will benefit from £3 million of funding for the year 2015/16, the Scottish Government has announced.
Following on from the Scottish Government’s investment of £9 million over three years this latest round of funding will be used to support a wide range of projects committed to tackling sectarianism at a grassroots level throughout Scotland.
Among those to receive funding is Leith’s Pilmeny Development Project, who will use their £20,000 allocation to ‘help challenge community tensions and encourage better integration of the religious groups that make up the Leith community’.
Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Paul Wheelhouse, announced that £2.3 million is to be allocated to 38 community projects throughout Scotland – and the Scottish Government is currently identifying further activities to benefit from the remaining cash.
Mr Wheelhouse said: “The Scottish Government is committed to tackling sectarianism. We have already invested £9 million over the last three years to support, among other things, community-based efforts in dealing with sectarianism and this additional £3 million of funding will allow the issue to continue to be addressed at a local level.
“No one should have to face discrimination or prejudice in any form in 21st century Scotland. It is never acceptable and it will not be tolerated.
“We welcome the fact that religiously aggravated offending is falling and is now at its lowest level in a decade – last year alone there was a 15% decrease. However we will continue to do all that we can to address the issue of sectarianism in Scotland.
“Communities are at the heart of our work to tackle sectarianism and that is why we have committed a further £3 million to support this agenda and to continue to work with, and in, local communities to tackle this issue in the most appropriate way.
“We are confident that these projects will help us to continue to reduce sectarian attitudes and behaviours and help to finally rid Scotland of the prejudices of the past.”
For a full list of projects to receive funding see below:
NOTE: Police are investigating an incident of sectarian graffiti sprayed on a West Lothian church at the weekend. St Andrew’s RC Church in Livingston was plastered with anti-Catholic messages between 7pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday morning.
Dunedin Canmore and Port of Leith Housing Associations among projects t0 receive People and Communities Fund awards
Projects which promote healthy eating, IT skills and household budgeting will receive more than £690,000 funding to tackle poverty and inequalities in Edinburgh, it was announced this morning.
Fourteen projects from across the city have secured a share of the Scottish Government’s People and Communities Fund (PCF) to change disadvantaged communities by providing advice, training or voluntary opportunities.
These include Port of Leith Housing Association’s Canny Budgeting which will receive £35,000 to offer advice to residents on tackling fuel poverty, more than £10,000 for Dunedin Canmore Housing Ltd’s Digital Skills for All for IT workshops and £23,000 for Broomhouse Health Strategy’s healthy eating classes.
The 20 More project, will receive £37,000 through PCF to empower local people and help households save £20 a week, through training opportunities which will allow them to gain skills and qualifications in community development, and benefits and energy advice, at the project’s community shop.
Speaking on a visit to the 20 More Community Shop and Serenity Café which is also operated by Comas, Community Empowerment Minister Marco Biagi said: “Every community in Scotland has different challenges and aspirations and there is no one-size fits all approach to tackling poverty.
“That’s why our People and Communities Fund is giving communities in Edinburgh the power and confidence to shape their own futures.
“With household budgets under pressure, it’s great to see a project like 20 More looking for ways to save 600 of the area’s most vulnerable families at least £20 a week and helping to ease some of the stress of paying their bills.”
Ruth Campbell, Chief Executive of Comas said: “We are so pleased that the Scottish Government is focusing on empowering communities, as sustainable change must be community-led and start from the grassroots. This grant enables us to put local people in the driving seat and builds their capacity for community-led action.
“Training local people in benefits advice and energy saving will directly impact on wellbeing in this community. It will also help some residents gain employment in these growing sectors, so the grant will have a strong ripple effect.”
See below for the full list of projects to receive PCF awards:
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/community/pcf/awards
‘An interest in science at an early age can last a lifetime’ – Dr Stephen Breslin, Glasgow Science Centre
More than 3 million people have visited Scotland’s science centres in the last five years, Science Minister Alistair Allan announced yesterday as he committed £2.75 million for the coming year. Dr Allan made his announcement on the eve of the programme launch for this year’s Edinburgh International Science Festival.
The Minister announced increased funding in 2015-16 for all four Scottish centres – Satrosphere in Aberdeen, Dundee Science Centre, Glasgow Science Centre and Edinburgh’s Our Dynamic Earth.
More than 658,000 people visited the centres in 2014, an increase of 12.6% compared to 2010‘s visitor numbers.
Highlights in the past 12 months included the opening of Scotland’s Time Lords galleries at Our Dynamic Earth and the Ice Station Antarctica exhibition, which travelled to Dundee from the Natural History Museum in London.
Speaking after a visit to Glasgow Science Centre yesterday (above), Dr Allan said: “I am absolutely delighted that the many new activities, exhibits and revamped galleries have delivered a great year for our science centres and continued to build up visitor numbers.
“This increase is a tribute to the staff and their efforts to encourage more people of all ages to visit the centres. Our schools will always encourage children enjoy the science they are learning, but there is so much more that families and adults can experience at the science centres with engaging exhibitions and events that stimulate debate and discussion around science.
“This year Scotland has a key role to play in the international celebrations for Year of Light 2015 as one of our finest physicists James Clerk Maxwell is remembered. This means that there are even more events on offer and I would urge all parents, young people and everyone with a spark of curiosity to look and see what is taking place near them and get involved.”
New attractions planned this year include a major new exhibition Powering the Future that will open in Glasgow in the Autumn and an exhibition at Our Dynamic Earth on the work of CERN and its Large Hadron Collider.
Our Dynamic Earth’s Chief Executive, John Simpson, said: “We are thrilled to hear that funding for Scotland’s science centres has been confirmed by the Scottish Government for the year 2015-16. This will allow us to expand and deliver events which engage with local Community Groups and Schools across Scotland who would otherwise be unable to come to the Centre. In addition to our Charity Golden Ticket, which gives free access to Dynamic Earth for 25 Lothians based charities, the scheme has now been extended to include five local primary and secondary schools.
“Looking to the year ahead, Dynamic Earth will be bringing new films to Scotland’s only fully digital 360° planetarium cinema, hosting a dynamic exhibition on the work of scientists in Cern using the Large Hadron Collider, introducing visitors to new, as yet un-tamed, arrivals in our Rainforest, and allowing guests to race against our very own dinosaur to find out if they will become a winner or dinner!
“Our ability to make such investments and to be able to engage with young and old on the wonders of our Planet in such a way is only possible thanks to the ongoing support of Scottish Government.”
Dr Stephen Breslin, Chief Executive of Glasgow Science Centre, said: “An interest in science from an early age can last a lifetime, and this funding will help us to bring science to life in an interactive way through our education programme. We want to inspire our young people to be excited and stimulated by the opportunities that science offers and for them to study and achieve qualifications in science, technology, engineering and maths in the future.
“We are excited about the year ahead and the enhancements we will make to our visitors’ experience through redeveloping exhibition spaces in the Science Mall, creating new education and public programme and working with our partners from academia and industry. We are thankful to The Scottish Government for supporting our mission and helping us to promote science and technology through thought-provoking and exciting experiences.”
The funding package announced today includes revenue funding of £2,500,000 plus £250,000 to support school visits and community engagement. They will receive:
Satrosphere, Aberdeen £250,150 (up from £226,010 last year)
Dundee Science Centre £340,800 (up from £312,220 last year)
Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh £926,350 (up from £869,090 last year)
Glasgow Science Centre £982,700 (up from £922,680 last year)
Edinburgh’s Science Festival programme is launched today. Go to http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/
Deadline for applications is THIS FRIDAY (30 January)!
Postcode Community Trust has launched a Community Grants programme, through which charities can apply for anything between £500 – £20,000 to deliver projects that positively impact on their local community.
Funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, applications for £2,000 or under are open to organisations that are not registered charities (although registered charities may apply for this smaller amount if they wish). Applications for between £2,000 – £20,000 will be open to registered charities only.
The Community Grants Programme will be accepting applications for projects that meets one or more of the following funding themes:
All regions in Scotland and Wales are eligible to apply for funding in each funding round. However, only certain areas of England may apply – please see the website below for full details.
For more information on how to apply, visit the Postcode Community Trust website.
LOCAL CHARITIES INVITED TO COME AND TALK FUNDING
Charities working in and around Edinburgh and the Lothians are invited to come and have a face to face chat about funding opportunities with Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland.
An advice surgery will be held all day on Tuesday 10 February at the Foundation’s offices on Gorgie Road in Edinburgh. The Foundation is particularly keen to hear from grassroots charities which benefit disadvantaged people and who need funding to continue their work.
Unlike many other funders, the Foundation’s Henry Duncan Awards programme will contribute towards staff and running costs, as well as new projects and services. And charities which have had a grant before can also apply again. The advice surgery gives charities the chance to find out if they meet the funding criteria and to get tips on how to fill in the application form.
Fiona Duncan, Chief Executive, said: “Our next deadline for applications to the Henry Duncan awards is 23 March so this is the perfect opportunity for groups to get some face to face advice before they apply.
“We want to give our money away to good causes doing great work in their communities to make a difference to people’s lives. So we’ll be as helpful as we can, explaining the application process and whether their work fits with what we fund. I’d encourage all community based charities in Edinburgh and the Lothians working with disadvantaged people to book an appointment.”
Appointments are held at Riverside House, 502 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, EH11 3AF. They last for 45 minutes and can be booked by calling 0131 444 4020 or emailing enquiries@ltsbfoundationforscotland.org.uk
Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP) has received £2000 from the STV Appeal 2014. The funding is welcome news for the local project and will support PY’s clubs and groups throughout the year.
The STV Appeal team’s Natalie Wright called in at The Greenhouse last week to present the cheque and met children from PY’s P5 – P7 Club.
PYCP provides a wide range of services and activities – from open clubs and groups to community and school-based individual support in North Edinburgh. Each provision is designed to meet the needs of a particular age and peer group, and activities are tailored to meet these needs in consultation with the children and young people involved.
PYCP carry out open access youth work plus promotion of good health and well being. The project offers targeted and referred support work to children and young people in need. There is also a Preventative Opportunities Programme which supports young people by engaging their whole family in activities, outings and workshops together.
The STV Appeal is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and young people living in poverty in Scotland. Across the country, 220,000 children live in poverty and figures from the Campaign to End Child Poverty show that in Edinburgh it’s actually 21.1% of children. Pilton Youth and Children’s Project is one of the projects the STV Appeal is supporting in Edinburgh.
Since launch in 2011, the STV Appeal has raised over £8.2 million with 297 big and small grants distributed to projects across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, providing much needed support to over 37,000 children. The money raised is distributed to provide practical help like food and warm clothes; create opportunities for training and employability; and enable social and emotional support for those who need it most.
PYCP youth and children’s worker Mark Hunter said: “As someone who has been part of PYCP for the past ten years, I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact that the project has made in the lives of so many young people, their families and the community around them.
“I think PYCP is unique in the way that it is there for children when they start their school career aged five and continues to be there for them until they are 18 and beyond. It is really important that we can provide opportunities for all children and young people in Pilton to have fun with their friends and take part in organised activities, all free of charge.
“Because of that we are ideally placed to offer additional support to those who want it and support all young people to reach their potential. Being part of PYCP has been immensely rewarding for me and I’m excited to see how the next ten years pans out too.”
Rob Woodward, STV CEO and trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “The money donated to the STV Appeal remains in Scotland and will help bring about a positive change to the lives of vulnerable children and young people on our doorstep. With the help of the extraordinary fundraising efforts taking place in communities across the country we have raised an incredible £2.6m in 2014 allowing us to make grants to 297 projects. We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported this year’s Appeal.”
Sir Tom Hunter, trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “Yet again the people of Scotland have cast their vote – end child poverty. Through the STV Appeal we are attempting to deliver sustainable solutions to do just that. It is simply unacceptable in modern Scotland to still have young people debilitated by poverty, through this project and many more the people of Scotland are doing their level best to combat poverty.”
Sir Ian Wood, trustee of the STV Appeal, said: “The generosity of the people in Scotland who provide such great support to the STV Appeal is incredibly encouraging and heart-warming. However, it is deeply concerning that there continues to be a significant requirement across Scotland for financial support for child poverty.
“Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, a commission I chaired recently, has the overarching aim to enable Scotland’s young people to move into sustainable employment upon leaving education. But how can they achieve positive destinations if they have a less than adequate start in life?
“I sincerely believe that the grants donated by the STV Appeal can have a significant impact on the lives of Scotland’s young people and make a real contribution to eradicating child poverty in Scotland.”
The STV Appeal 2015 is now well underway with an exciting line-up of fundraising activities planned. Watch this space!
“Our parents often refer to our family sessions as a real lifeline, and we are very grateful for this support.” – Celine Sinclair, The Yard
Children and families across Scotland are set to benefit from funding awards totalling almost £15 million, announced by the Acting Children’s Minister today.
The funding has been awarded to 132 voluntary organisations which aim to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for children and young people across Scotland and their families and communities that support them.
Confirming the funding allocations for 2015-16, Acting Minister for Children and Young People Fiona McLeod said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to creating a fairer Scotland and reducing inequalities, and supporting families is key to achieving that aim. I’m pleased we can invest further funding in these organisations to continue their fantastic work supporting children and families across Scotland.
“From vital childcare and youth work projects, to counselling and learning support, the work of these organisations is wide ranging, helping ensure our children get the best start in life. I’ve visited the Yard Adventure Centre in Edinburgh and have seen first hand the excellent work they do to support families.”
The funding is allocated through both the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund (TSEIF) and Strategic Funding Partnerships which began in 2013.
In the first year of the TSEIF alone, more than 3,500 families facing challenges were supported through project work.
The Yard Adventure Centre in Edinburgh is one organisation which has received funding through the TSEIF. It provides supported play and recreational activities for children with multiple and complex additional support needs.
Since the TSEIF grant began, there has been an increase in the number of new families using the centre and the funding has enabled them to increase their opening hours at the weekend.
Celine Sinclair, Chief Executive of Scotland Yard Adventure Centre said: “We are delighted to receive funding from the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund for a further year. The funds will support our weekend and holiday family sessions which provide both emotional and practical support to families with children with additional support needs. The sessions run every weekend and throughout the school holidays and give children and young people a safe and dynamic play space that meets their needs.
“Our parents often refer to our family sessions as a real lifeline, and we are very grateful for this support.”
Earlier this year the Scottish Government established a short-term working group to advise it on how the current funding arrangements supporting the Third Sector could be refined in the future.
The Third Sector Early Intervention Fund was launched in December 2012 with awards beginning from May 2013. It was originally intended to operate for two years, but has been extended to March 2016.
A Strategic Funding Partnership (SFP) is an agreement between the Scottish Government and a third sector organisation. The agreement is focused on the delivery of one or more Scottish Government outcomes, where the organisation is uniquely placed to assist with delivery and improve outcomes for children, young people, adults, families and communities. SFPs were also extended until March 2016 earlier this year.
Organisations receiving funding under the SFPs are:
Birthlink
British Association for Adoption and Fostering, Scotland
The Mentor Foundation UK (Mentor)
Genetic Alliance UK
Hearts and Minds
Article 12 in Scotland
Capability Scotland
The Alliance Scotland
Sense Scotland
Sleep Scotland
Scottish Youth Parliament
Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
Dyslexia Scotland
Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)
Lead Scotland
Learning Link Scotland
Scotland’s Learning Partnership
Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC)
Scottish Community Development Network
Workers’ Educational Association
Girlguiding Scotland
John Muir Trust
LGBT Youth Scotland
Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs
Scottish Environmental & Outdoor Education Centres Association
The Boys’ Brigade
The Girls Brigade in Scotland
The Iona Community
The Princes Trust
The Scout Association
Woodcraft Folk
YWCA Scotland
Care and Learning Alliance (CALA)
National Day Nurseries Association
Comann nam Pàrant (Nàiseanta)
Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
Families Need Fathers Scotland
Fathers Network Scotland (FNS)
Parent Network Scotland
Working On Wheels
Family Service Unit Scotland (Circle)
Relationships Scotland
The Spark (Previously Scottish Marriage Care)
Asthma UK Scotland
Partners in Advocacy
Organisations receiving funding under the TSEIF are:
Action for Sick Children Scotland
Adoption UK in Scotland
Afasic Scotland
Befriending Networks
Black & Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland – BEMIS Scotland
Child Bereavement UK
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland
Children in Scotland – Working for Children and their Families (CiS)
Community Care Providers Scotland – Coalition Of Care And Support Providers In Scotland
Community Law Advice Network
Contact a Family Scotland
Down’s Syndrome Scotland
Edinburgh Cyrenians
Enable Scotland
Families Outside
Fast Forward
Govan Law Centre (Education Law Unit)
Home-Start UK
Mellow Parenting – Fathers & Parents with Learning disabilities
Mellow Parenting Very Early Intervention Project for Parents to Be
NSPCC
One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS)
Parents Early Education Partnership (PEEP)
Play Scotland
Quarriers
Rape Crisis Scotland
Re-Solv
Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (Children 1st)
Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children RSSPCC – Parenting across Scotland (Children 1st)
Save the Children
Scottish Child Law Centre
Scottish Childminding Association
Scottish Families Affected by Drugs- Strand 1
Scottish Mentoring Network
Scottish Out of School Care Network
Scottish Pre-School Play Association
Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum (STAF)
Scottish Women’s Aid
Smart Play Network
Stepping Stones for Families
The Breastfeeding Network (BfN)
The Children’s Parliament
The Church Of Scotland CrossReach – Children, Young People and Families Directorate
The Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Fostering Network (Fosterline Scotland: Early Intervention through Advice, Advocacy and Mediation)
The Fostering Network Scotland
The National Autistic Society
The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights)
Who Cares? Scotland
YMCA Scotland
Youth Scotland
YouthLink Scotland
3D Drumchapel
Aberlour and Quarriers: Growing2gether – Early Years/Early Intervention Service
Aberlour Child Care Trust (Aberlour Bridges Glasgow: evidence-based early-intervention model)
Action for Children (Family support volunteering project)
Action for Sick Children Scotland
Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis
Barnardo’s Scotland – You First
Care and Learning Alliance (CALA)
Childcare First Limited – Ready, Steady, Restore
Drugs Action – Families First
Edinburgh Young Carers Project
Families Outside – Addiewell Prison Visitors’ Centre
Kindred Advocacy
Midlothian Sure Start
MindMosaic Counselling and Therapy – Providing Therapeutic support for children and young people.
One Parent Families Scotland (Supporting Scotland’s Children and Fathers)
Open Secret
Play Alloa: STEP UP Project
Positive Help-Children & Young people’s (C&YP) Services
Quarriers (Opt-In Early Years Project)
Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre Perth & Kinross
Saheliya
Scotland Yard Adventure Centre (The Yard – Families Project)
Scottish Childminding Association
Scottish Spina Bifida Association (“Be All You Can Be” Project)
Sense Scotland (Early Years Advisory Service)
St Andrew’s Children’s Society (SACS) – SafeBase Parenting Programme
The Butterfly Trust – Social Support for people affected by Cystic Fibrosis
The Church of Scotland Social Care Council – Daisy Chain Early Years Project
The Church of Scotland Social Care Council – Postnatal Depression Services, Lothian
The Moira Anderson Foundation
The National Deaf Children’s Society (Your Child Your Choices)
Tourette Scotland
Waverley Care (African Health Project Children and Families)
Charity to close after 46 years – eleven staff face redundancy
Castle Terrace based charity Caledonia Youth Services is to close in the New Year due to ongoing funding difficulties.
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Trustees, a spokesperson said:
“It is with great regret that we must announce the forthcoming closure of Caledonia Youth. Our Edinburgh-based charity provides a variety of specialist preventative interventions to support young people under 25 in Scotland through challenges associated with their transition to adulthood, helping them develop their social and emotional capabilities and reduce negative risk taking behaviour.
“Now, after 46 years, we find ourselves unable to sustain our charity following an erosion of funding in recent years. While the team have worked hard to secure new sources of income and been successful in doing so for many years, like other colleagues in the third sector we have faced a constant reduction in statutory funding. For us, this culminated in the termination of our contract with NHS Lothian earlier this year to deliver a specialist clinic in Edinburgh, which had served young people in the region since 1968, along with our school-based programme to help increase knowledge.
“Having exhausted alternative funding avenues vital to the sustainability of our charity, the Board of Trustees have made the difficult decision to wind up Caledonia Youth. We are in the process of applying to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) to formally do so and the last day of operation will be 31 March 2015. Obviously we are hugely disappointed to be faced with what is the only option left open to us, which will bring redundancy for 11 highly skilled people.
“We would like to take this opportunity to say how very proud we are of our extremely dedicated team here at Caledonia Youth who have developed and delivered many ground breaking programmes. They have proved great advocates for tens of thousands of young people, particularly the more vulnerable, disadvantaged and disengaged in our society today.
“Caledonia Youth’s enterprising and adaptable approach has impacted upon our young clients by helping to change long term behaviour, giving rise to both direct and indirect positive outcomes including their enhanced employability and opportunities to enjoy full and rewarding lives.
“While we wish we could do more, the focus now is on ensuring our young clients are supported through the closure, as there is a dearth of service provision. We too experience waiting lists for our services. We will do our utmost to ensure they are connected with an appropriate organisation, although that will possibly mean a different level of assistance.
“On top of this, we will be doing everything in our power to help our team secure alternative employment as quickly as possible.
“Our thanks go to those who have helped us sustain Caledonia Youth – funders, partner organisations and those who make referrals to us – and to all the young people we have connected with and supported over the years.”
