First Minister opens new £29m fund for communities and third sector

Community and third sector projects that try new ways to tackle poverty and improve people’s lives can now apply for a share of £29 million ‎funding.

The Scottish Government will direct £18.9m into a new Aspiring Communities Fund to help organisations find new, long lasting community-led solutions to poverty, by increasing economic activity or enhancing services to meet local needs.

‎The £9.7m Growing the Social Economy Programme will enable third sector organisations to try new ideas and approaches by collaborating with research organisations or supporting people to improve their skills.

Funding of between £30,000 and £250,000 is available for applications.

The £29m funding over the next two years, £12m of which comes from the European Social Fund, supports the Fairer Scotland Action Plan which was published last October.

Announcing the fund, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “We are doing everything possible to create a more equal Scotland, and our Fairer Scotland Action Plan features 50 concrete actions to tackle poverty and inequality. This funding of £29m will support communities and the third sector in developing new ways to help people overcome disadvantage.

“Over the next two years, the investment in these two Funds will deliver positive and innovative approaches to improve people’s lives through boosting skills or delivering new services to meet community needs - and crucially, giving people the power to take charge and make changes in their own communities.

“Almost half of this funding comes from the European Social Fund which promotes inclusive growth and supports those who are disadvantaged - and the best way to continue that support beyond 2020 is by maintaining Scotland’s relationship with Europe.”