Opportunity knocks for funding bids

Greener and cleaner communities are among organisations being encouraged to put in bids for council funding in the New Year.

 

Argyll and Bute's Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) opens on January 11, with a number of new changes to make it better for applicants and their neighbourhoods.

 

Grants of potentially up to £2,500 for the voluntary sector, community councils and parent councils will be available with help of a criteria tick list.

 

The council has sought feedback from previous years’ applicants to improve the help the fund gives and the process organisations have to go through first.

 

Resilient, greener and cleaner and creative communities are all eligible to apply for SCF awards.

 

In addition, applicants awarded funding will have more time to complete their project, extending the timespan to 18 months instead of 12.

 

And the council will explore a fast track process for applications of less than £1,000, for the financial year 2022-23

 

Good practice from funded projects in addressing inequalities will also be reported to the council’s Equalities Forum for more help where appropriate.

 

One of the SCF's previous successful bids came from Oban Youth Café to start up a new club for young people with support needs.

 

Councillor Mary-Jean Devon, policy lead for community development said: 'Local organisations do great work for their communities with the help of the council’s Supporting Communities Fund.

 

'We listened to what people told us and have made changes to ensure that funding continues to match communities’ needs, and to support groups in turning funding into effective action.'

 

The closing date for bids will be the end of March, with details of how to apply being released on the council’s website and social media channels soon.