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Perth and Kinross

Grants Direct

A one-stop-shop to access funding in Perth and Kinross

CORPORATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY/VOLUNTARY SECTOR

This guide describes the priorities, eligibility, standard conditions, and mechanisms that fall within the remit of the Corporate Financial Assistance to the voluntary/community sector.

Priorities for investment:

Grant applications are assessed against the Council’s strategic priorities as stated in its Corporate Plan (2007-2010) and expected outcomes (the Corporate Plan is available on www.perthshire.com – Your Council or by phoning 01738 475046).

The Council aims to target its own funding via the Corporate Financial Assistance budget in an “investment focussed” manner. We aim to providing a more supportive environment to attract funding, that will bring about investment and sustainability for organisations and projects. It means focusing on an approach which seeks to take a longer term view on investment in community capacity that will build stronger local communities through partnership. It means looking for social and environmental returns from our investment in time and funding. It means more negotiation, more contact and more involvement. It means focusing on results and outcomes.

To deliver this approach, the Corporate Financial Assistance Budget will invest in voluntary/community organisations in two ways:

Investment in growth and development

Investment in grass-roots activities

Who can apply?

The Council awards grants from its Corporate Financial Assistance budget to voluntary/community organisations. The definition of a voluntary/community organisation is a body which is led by volunteers, is non-profit distributing, legally independent of the state, and is dedicated to a public good (CoSLA/SCVO 1998).

The funding criteria contained in this guide apply to all local voluntary/community and national voluntary organisations and umbrella organisations requesting financial support from the Corporate Financial Assistance Budget.

Applicant organisations would have to demonstrate that they are open to all regardless of religion, race, gender or disability.

What is eligible?

There are two areas Perth and Kinross Council will invest in:

Investment in growth and development

Support to the long term development of and continuous improvement in the Voluntary/community sector including capital grants. The Council might consider 3 year funding agreement with voluntary organisations committed to continuous improvement and demonstrating the use of quality assurance systems.

Support to enterprising communities and interest groups via seed-corn funding and provision of specialist advice to assess the feasibility of new ideas, to develop new approaches, to visit and learn from others or access learning opportunities (see below specific notes).

Support to optimise access to External Funding (eg National Lottery, European programmes, Trusts & Foundations, Scottish Executive funds) via the development of a network and information/advice/expertise resources.

Investment in grass-roots activities

Support to small groups such as village halls, sport and arts clubs, bloom committees, adult education associations, youth groups, local rural partnerships, etc

Support to small events/competition/festivals. The Council might also at its sole discretion offer grant assistance in certain circumstances towards losses incurred in respect of the operation of an event, competition or festival.