A new tool designed to help local voluntary groups, charities and community organisations access free support from businesses delivering contracts for the council is now online.

The Community Benefit Request Form makes it easier for community organisations to share their needs directly with suppliers, helping to match them with potential offers of assistance — from materials and labour to sponsorship or donations.

The initiative is part of Fife Council’s ongoing Community Benefits and Wealth Building programme, that aims to promote inclusive growth and strengthen connections between local organisations and businesses.

Specific requests for support can potentially be met through suppliers’ community benefit commitments or voluntary contributions and may include:

• Provision of labour or materials
• Sponsorship
• Donations
• Other forms of assistance to help groups make a greater impact in their community. 

Fife Council’s spokesperson for communities and leisure services, Councillor Linda Erskine, said: “Fife Council is committed to providing real, tangible community benefits through its procurement process. We’re encouraging partnership and engagement from voluntary organisations, communities, residents and local businesses to generate more community-led ideas.

“The form is an effective way to tell us what your community group’s needs are and we will try and work to match this with our suppliers as part of our contracts.” 

She added: “It’s a way of connecting community organisations, allowing us to record details of their ongoing projects and sharing this information with potential tenderers, contractors, and procuring officers. 

“Whether you are part of a local voluntary group, charity or other community organisation, we’d encourage you to submit your request. This is about building connections, supporting inclusive growth, and making sure public contracts deliver wider community value.” 
 
The council aims to facilitate matches wherever possible but cannot always guarantee that every request will be fulfilled.

Groups are already benefitting from the initiative. Over 100 requests have been logged from a variety of organisations across Fife’s third sector including: 

• Friends of Craigtoun (North East Fife Area) requested support to replace the workshop roof
• Glenrothes Camera Club (Glenrothes Area) requested a donation of a laptop
• Kirkcaldy Parks Running Festival (Kirkcaldy Area) requested financial support/sponsorship
• Headwell Community Council (City of Dunfermline Area) requested benches and planters
• CLEAR Buckhaven and Methil (Levenmouth Area) requested a financial donation to support the purchase of plants and garden/litter picking tools
• EATS Rosyth (South & West Fife Area) requested financial donation to support its community larder
• Lo’gelly Lunches requested financial donations and transit van hire.

Projects show how focused supplier engagement can deliver real social value — enhancing key community assets, strengthening local partnerships, and contributing to Fife’s wider community wealth building goals.