COVID-19 Funding

The free CVS Falkirk Funding Portal is available via our website to help third sector groups and organisations of all sizes with their funding searches.

The portal is powered by Grantsonline, the UK’s most comprehensive and up to date UK grant funding information service. Once registered, users will be able to search for a range of different funding opportunities, across local and national organisations.

The regular Funding Insight bulletin is also available for portal users, produced by Grantsonline.

To access the portal, or for further information, please visit the CVS Falkirk website.

Alternatively, or further information on the portal or funding support in general, contact CVS Falkirk by email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk

Earl Gate Energy Centre Limited has launched their new Community Fund, to help as many third sector organisations in the local communities as possible.

The Community Fund is open to organisations in 5 specific Falkirk Council wards (Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst; Grangemouth; Falkirk North; Lower Braes; Bo’ness and Blackness), and aims to help organisations build stronger communities, reduce social isolation amongst vulnerable people, and strengthen community partnerships and local facilities.

Organisations can apply for up to £1,500.

The deadline for applications to the first round of funding is 5pm on Sunday 31^st October; organisations can re-apply if they are unsuccessful in a previous round.

For further information, including full eligibility criteria, please view the full web article.

The Volunteer Expenses Fund 2021-22 has been set up to support community groups and voluntary organisations operating in Falkirk and District whose volunteers provide support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed directly to volunteers in order to reduce organisational time and resource. Travel expenses should be claimed weekly, and paid monthly in arrears for the period of Thursday 1^st July 2021, until Monday 31^st January 2022 (at which time the end date may be reviewed in line with Scottish Government guidance relating to COVID-19).

Applications can currently be made at any time up until Monday 31^st January 2022.

To apply, or for further information, please contact our team by email: info@volunteerfalkirk.org.uk

The NHS Forth Valley Health Promotion Service has relaunched its COVID–19 Response Grants Scheme for 2021-22.

Applications for up to £500 will be considered from organisations and groups across Forth Valley which support and connect communities to respond to COVID-19. Applications must cover one or all of the following points:

• delivering a range of health and wellbeing activities
• piloting new ideas and initiatives, or adapting previous activities
• supporting the development and training
• purchasing equipment

Applications from diverse communities and grass-root organisations, especially those that aim to deliver new and innovative COVID-19 responsive activities, are particularly welcomed.

For further information, including how to apply, please view the full web article.

In September 2020, the National Lottery (TNL) Community Fund Scotland announced their current funding programmes would remain open for an extra 18 – 24 months, though they will be adapted as needed.

They believe it is important to ensure third sector organisations can access their funds, to support them to respond and recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. By remaining open for applications, they hope they can better support the third sector through COVID-19 and recovery.

Some grants and funding will remain unchanged, while others will be adapted to be more focused on recovery, with shorter grants and quicker turnarounds.

Headlines:

• the National Lottery Awards for All and Young Start funds will remain open and unchanged
• the Improving Lives grants remain open, but will be shorter, quicker to access, and will fund a wider range of work focused on recovery from COVID-19
  • from Thursday 1^st October 2020, the maximum grant will be £200,000, from on year up to 3 years, with a single stage application.
• Community-Led Activity grants remain open; the team are reviewing these now to make sure they are relevant to the current situation, and will make any changes before the end of 2020.
• COVID-19 responses are still prioritised across all funds, but they remain open to non-COVID-19 related work too
• apart from the review and amendments highlighted here, there will be no other large-scale changes to our main grants until at least 2022

‼️ As of September 2021, the funds linked above are all still open for applications.

For all fund updates, including links and deadlines, please view the full article.

The Foyle Foundation’s Small Grants Scheme has re-opened to applications from registered charities with a turnover of less than £150,000 per annum. Charities can apply for between £1,000 – £10,000.

The scheme has been revised as a result of COVID-19, and will provide one year grants to cover only core costs or essential equipment, enabling ongoing service provision, homeworking, or delivery of online digital services to charities that can show financial stability.

The Foundation’s priority is supporting local charities still active in their communities who are currently delivering services, either directly or through online support. Applicants must show how any grant will make a significant difference to their current work.

Charities must illustrate ongoing financial viability over the 12 months from the date of their application; those who cannot demonstrate this are likely to have their application declined.

There are no deadlines for submission. Online applications can be received at any time, but it may take up to 4 months to obtain a decision from Trustees.

For further information (including how to apply), please read the full web article.

Crowdfunder has announced that, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the work being done to support people across communities, they have now made all their funding platforms FREE to use.

The free platforms are available for charities and other third sector organisations (with a dedicated section for foodbanks), businesses (including social enterprises) and communities, and can be used to raise funds to (amongst others):

• supplement income lost through fundraising events, donations or services
• increase resources to support people using their services

For further information, please visit the Crowdfunder website.

Charity Bank has put together a list of emergency funds for charities, social enterprises and other third sector organisations experiencing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.

The list is updated regularly, with sections on UK-wide funding as well as those funds specific to each country, and those which are available internationally and regionally.

To view the full list, please visit the Charity Bank website.

Scottish Government has a number of updates on support for business available via their website, including:

• supporting businesses through the pandemic
• supporting workers beyond the pandemic
• £360 million through 2 new funds for those newly self-employed, close-contact businesses and driving instructions
• a new £3 million fund to help promote tourism
• funding to help the food and drink sector recover, through promoting local produce
• self isolation rules and exemption of critical staff

In addition to the Scottish Government funding and support, you can find out the latest information on funds and other support for local businesses on the Falkirk Council website, including:

• I am a Falkirk town centre business, who do I go to for help?
• What support is there for tourism businesses?
• I have to introduce Contact Tracing – how do I go about this?

There are a number of support funds through Falkirk Council themselves, including the Business Adaptation Fund, the Business Resilience Fund, and the Business Restart Loan.

For further information, including how to apply for any of these funds, please visit the Falkirk Council website.