Community Grants Scheme has closed for 22/23

The Community Grants Scheme supports local organisations and community groups across Forth Valley to reduce health inequalities and improve mental health and wellbeing.

Since June 2020, it has provided funding and wider support, including PPE and hygiene products, to 132 organisations such as schools, nurseries, community groups and sports clubs.

In the past two years the scheme particularly focused on supporting organisations to address Covid-19 Recovery. Funding was allocated to organisations that found new and innovative ways of providing services and support to a wide range of individuals and groups at an extremely challenging time.

There is now a return to the Community Grants Scheme that welcomes applications from organisations whose aim it is to reduce health inequalities and improve mental health and wellbeing. We also particularly welcome applications from organisations with a focus on addressing the challenges raised by:

• Fuel poverty or cost of living crisis
• Domestic abuse
• Homelessness
• Being part of a minority group e.g. LGBTQ, BAME
• Refugees
• Gypsy and travelling communities
• Living with a disability
• Tobacco and Substance use

Applications will still be considered from organisations that support and connect communities responding to Covid-19.

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Application Form

Applications can be completed online below or by downloading and emailing an application form to fv.hpgrants@nhs.scot.

• Download application form here

Further guidance on how to complete the application can be found in the Guidance Notes section below. Support can also be provided to those who require more assistance in filling out their application by emailing fv.hpgrants@nhs.scot.

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Guidance Notes

Applications will be considered from organisations across Forth Valley which support and connect communities to respond to Health Inequalities and Mental Health and Wellbeing. Health inequalities are the unjust and avoidable differences in people’s health across the population and between specific population groups. Further information on these can be found via the links below:

• Health Inequalities
• Mental Health and Wellbeing

How much money can be applied for?

There are limited funds available and funding will support many groups across the Forth Valley area, so please be realistic about what you need. Funding decisions will be made by the Health Promotion Service.

• Grants can be applied for up to a maximum of £500.
• To apply for a grant, groups must have a bank account in the name of the group with two signatories on all payments.

Application support

If you require any specific support with your application, we would encourage you to email us prior to applying for the grant at fv.hpgrants@nhs.scot.

Applications can be made by completing an application form and emailing it to fv.hpgrants@nhs.scot or by submitting an online application above.

Applications for the 22/23 financial year are closing 5pm Monday 12 December.

Note: You may wish to gather your information on a word document prior to applying online, as no save option is available.

Payment will be made by B.A.C.S. to the organisation’s bank account and cannot be paid to a personal bank account. Successful applicants will be required to submit an invoice on your organisation’s headed paper. Financial records must be kept detailing all expenditure as you may be asked to provide receipts.

Inclusion criteria

Grants can be used for:

• A range of sustainable activities with the aim of addressing health inequalities and/or improving mental health and wellbeing of the community in Forth Valley.
• Piloting new ideas and initiatives or adapting previous activities.
• Development and training of employees, volunteers or clients directly relating to the work of the programme.
• Equipment which directly relates to the work of the activity.
• Previous applicants must demonstrate how they plan to build on previous activities to create sustainable projects.

To find out more information on what activities have been funded previously, see the Case Studies section below.

Exclusion criteria

Please note that the grant CANNOT be used for:

• The sole benefit of one individual.
• Organisations that have previously been awarded in this financial year.
• Activities promoting religious or political beliefs.
• Private companies, sole traders or those making a profit from the activity.
• Purchasing food for an event or food bank, unless directly related to a health improvement activity.
• Staff wages or expenses.

Timescale

The Health Promotion Service will consider applications every four weeks. Applicants will be informed by email of the outcome within two months of their application. Feedback on unsuccessful award outcomes can be provided by specific request, by emailing fv.hpgrants@nhs.scot.

Activity review

As a condition of your grant award, you are required to provide feedback on how the grant has been used and what difference this has made to your service users or community. A member of the grants team will support you to review your activity and your feedback will be collated into a case study. We will then showcase your valuable work on our website and social media platforms.

In any publicity associated with the project, the support of NHS Forth Valley, Health Promotion Service must be acknowledged. For Facebook and twitter publicity, please use @NHSForthValley and mention the ‘Health Promotion Service’ in your tweet/post.

Data Protection Act 2018

The information you provide on the grant application form shall be kept in a secure, electronic filing system and not shared with any other parties. We may use the information for anonymised statistical data reporting.

Where appropriate, we may share your information with other Health Promotion colleagues or external partners, so that they can inform you of relevant programmes/activities that may be of interest to your organisation. If you are happy for us to do so please tick the consent box in the grants application form.

Organisations/groups who are limited companies with charitable status

To apply for the Community Grant the following criteria must be met.

The company must have:

• An up-to-date governing document with an asset lock.
• Non-distribution of profit clause.
• A verifiable company number.
• A verifiable Charity number.
• A bank account in the company name with two unrelated signatories.

The company must not:

• Arrange remuneration for trustees, committee members or directors.

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