Funding & Training Focus - 04 October

  
The Renfrewshire Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is now open for applications. Engage Renfrewshire will once again be administering this fund on behalf of Scottish Government and any interested groups are invited to submit an application before 5pm 24 November 2023.
 
The Fund has a strong focus on prevention and early intervention and aims to support grass roots community groups in tackling mental health inequalities and address priority issues of social isolation and loneliness, suicide prevention and tackling poverty and inequality. There will be a continued emphasis in Year 3 on responding to the cost of living crisis and on those facing socio-economic disadvantage.
 
Community groups and charitable organisations with an annual income of less than £1 million are invited to apply. The fund has been significantly over-subscribed in previous rounds. The decision panel work to ensure a broad reach across communities and we therefore recommend groups apply in the region of £10,000. We anticipate that a small proportion of bids up to the maximum value of £30,000 may be supported. Unconstituted groups may apply for up to £2,000.
 
Full guidance can be found on our website: https://engagerenfrewshire.org/engage-support/community-mental-health-wellbeing-fund.html


Renfrewshire Council Winter Connections
Renfrewshire Council’s Winter Connections programme encourages people to come together this winter to take part in activities that will improve health and wellbeing, reduce isolation and provide people with advice and support if they need it. There is £85,000 of funding available for the Winter Connections programme. The Fund opens on Friday 22 September 2023 and Local community and voluntary organisations based in Renfrewshire can apply for a grant of up to £2,000 to run or expand a free activity. (This could be increased if you are co-ordinating several events in partnership with a range of local groups).
Renfrewshire Council wants Winter Connections activities to be available in every neighbourhood in Renfrewshire, available at different times and for residents of all ages. Applications that will run activities during the festive period are also welcomed. You can apply online for the Winter Connections Fund and all details about the fund, the guidance on what types of activities are eligible, how decisions on funding will be made and much more is here https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/article/12902/Apply-for-the-Winter-Connections-Fund. Any queries about the fund or applying should go to Andrena Faulkner at andrena.faulkner@renfrewshire.gov.uk
 

Tesco Stronger Starts
Funding from your local Renfrew Tesco Stronger Starts
We are currently looking for applications to the Renfrew Tesco store to their Stronger Starts / blue token voting funding initiative.
Do you have or know of a project, ideally involving young people, that could benefit from up to £1,500 in the city centre?
We are looking for applications submitted by 20 November to the Jan – March customer vote with awards in May ‘24
Applicants need to be a not-for-profit organisation (this includes charities, CICs (over 2 years old), community or voluntary groups) and need a constitution or some form of governing documents (for local authority applications a copy of a letter heading/school handbook cover is acceptable).
Groups are awarded 1^st - £1,500; 2^nd - £1,000 and 3^rd - £500 after the vote results are counted.
This is also a great opportunity for groups to promote the good work that they do locally.
More info can be found here Apply for a grant – Tesco Stronger Starts and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with tamara@greenspacescotland.org.uk or phone 07825 671968 with any queries and application support.
 
 
Grants Available for Christmas Activities for Older People
UK charities and community groups can apply for grants of up to £1,000 to run activities for older people over the Christmas period.
The funding is made available through the McCarthy Stone Foundation Christmas Connections 2023 grants programme, which aims to helps people over 65 to feel connected and supported over the festive period.
Activities must take place between 01 December 2023 and 02 January 2024.
Only organisations with an annual income of less than £250,000 are eligible to apply. These grants are part of the foundation's commitment to supporting initiatives that address the social well-being of older individuals, particularly during the holiday season.
Find out more

 
£100,000 Fund for New Technologies to Advance Fashion’s Circular Economy
Applications are now open for the eBay Circular Fashion Fund, which offers support for small UK businesses specialising in circular fashion solutions and sustainable practices.
The Fund will enable innovative tech start-ups, social enterprises, charities and small businesses to invest in and bring new technology and services to the market that can help people think and shop differently, with a particular focus on areas such as customer experience, circular inventory and services, and social commerce.
Successful applicants will receive up to £25,000 in funding, bespoke mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Applicants should have an established business that has been trading for a minimum of six months and a maximum of six years.
The funding is delivered in partnership with the British Fashion Council.
The closing date for applications is 20 October 2023.
A shortlist of ten businesses will be invited to pitch to a panel of industry experts, who will then choose the six overall recipients of the funding.
Find out more 


Magic Little Grants Programme
The Magic Little Grants programme for 2023 is now open for applications. The programme provides grants of £500 to local charities for projects that promote social inclusion and improve health and well-being.
To be eligible for a grant, organisations must be in their first year of operation or have an annual income of less than £250,000.
Funding can be used to support new or existing projects, or cover core costs associated with ongoing work.
The Magic Little Grants programme is open to organisations and their projects located in England, Scotland, or Wales. Schools can apply if they are a registered charity, but groups in Northern Ireland are not eligible to apply. Each group can only apply once in 2023 for a grant.
Groups may only apply once in 2023 for a grant.
Applications can be submitted at any time until 31 October 2023.
Find out more


Funding for Youth Groups in Rural Areas
Youth groups operating in Scottish rural communities can apply for grants of between £100 and £750 to provide more and/or better youth work opportunities for young people.
The funding is being made available in response to the challenges which rural youth groups are facing in funding the delivery of community-based youth work.
The funding is provided through the Youth Scotland Rural Action Fund, and is supported by the Gannochy Trust.
The next deadline for applications is 12pm on 20 October 2023.
Find out more


Grants for Community Recycling, Biodiversity & Public Amenity Projects
Not-for-profit organisations such as registered charities, community councils, community groups and local authorities can apply for grants of between £2,000 and £40,000 to fund community recycling and biodiversity projects as well as improvements to public amenities, parks and historic buildings.
To be eligible most projects must be within 10 miles of an eligible licensed landfill site or transfer station.
The funding is being made available through the FCC Scottish Action Fund.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on 06 December 2023.
Find out more

 
Grants of up to £70,000 Available for Film Festivals
Organisations based in Scotland can apply for a grant of between £10,000 and £70,000 to support the development and delivery of film festivals, screening programmes and/or exhibition activity in Scotland. The grant aims to support a diverse range of festivals and programmes that reflect the diversity of Scottish audiences.
Activities supported by the fund should increase the reach, impact and diversity of film screenings and events for communities throughout Scotland and meet Screen Scotland’s Audience Development priorities.
Although the focus of this fund is on in-person events, we recognise that some activity may also take place on digital platforms when this is the best way to reach specific under-represented audiences.
The application deadline for the next round of funding is 12 October 2023.
For more information and to apply.

 
Funding to Support the Education of Young People with Physical or Learning Disabilities
The John Watson Trust awards grants for educational purposes to children and young people under the age of 21 who have a physical or learning disability or who are socially disadvantaged.
Whilst the Trust operates primarily within Edinburgh and the Lothians, it may also award grants Scotland-wide to eligible individuals and organisations that include schools, established charitable organisations and other groups supporting disadvantaged young people.
The next closing date is 27 October 2023.
Find out more


Shared Care Scotland - Shirt breaks fund
The programme provides 12 month grants to third sector organisations to develop and deliver short breaks projects and services for children and young people with disabilities (aged 20 and under), and their carers (adult and/or young carers). Closes 16 November 2023.
Find out more

Training

Introduction to digital inclusion
Are you thinking about digital inclusion but not sure where to start? SCVO are running ‘Introduction to Digital Inclusion’ session again on 05 October at 11am. This session is for those at the beginning of their digital inclusion journey. Visit SCVO website to register your place.



Last few places - Digital Art Workshop




Money Counts training for Renfrewshire: Promoting a cash first approach to food insecurity

Wednesday 08 November 11am-12pm
The Renfrewshire 'Worrying About Money?' leaflet is a straightforward resource for people facing financial crisis and support workers to quickly see available cash first support options and which local agencies are best placed to help.
 
Now more than ever, it is vital that people facing money worries are linked to cash first advice and support at the earliest opportunity. This one-hour online training session is designed for frontline staff and volunteers in Renfrewshire who may have brief conversations with people about their money worries or financial struggles as part of their work.

Please book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/money-counts-training-for-renfrewshire-online-tickets-715912713197?aff=oddtdtcreator
 
This training session will be led by Emma Österberg of the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN), and includes input from Citizens Advice Renfrewshire.
 
You can find out more about 'Worrying About Money?' cash first referral leaflets at www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/cash-first-leaflets.
 
If you have any questions about these sessions or if you face any difficulties signing up to attend, then please contact Emma Österberg at emma@foodaidnetwork.org.uk.