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Community Solutions Grants Of Up To £5,000 Available For Cumbernauld And North Area Proposals: Apply Now
Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) organisations with ideas for proposals which contribute towards delivery of key identified health and social care outcomes in Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and the Northern Corridor are being invited to submit a small grants application to the North Area Locality Activity Fund (LAF) for consideration ahead of 31 March 2024.
The funding is available through Community Solutions, an innovative, community-led health and social care investment programme operating across North Lanarkshire. It operates as the local CVS’s arm of Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire, the statutory Scottish Government-appointed health and social care partnership for the local authority area.
Not-for-profit community groups (including but not exclusively charities, SCIOs, social enterprises and unincorporated associations) operating or providing services within Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, the Northern Corridor and surrounding villages can apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to deliver a proposal which advances the Community Solutions agenda locally.
The purpose of Community Solutions is to improve and maintain health and wellbeing, strengthen social connection and support and reduce isolation and loneliness amongst adults, carers and children, young people and families in North Lanarkshire.
Decisions on which proposals are awarded funding are made by Cumbernauld and North Area Community Solutions Consortium, a network of local CVS groups, statutory agencies and people who use local services. Mary McNeil, Development Manager at Cornerstone House Centre and Chair of the local Consortium, commented:
“Cornerstone House Centre is the appointed ‘locality host’ organisation which leads on directing, supporting and overseeing Community Solutions activity in Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and the Northern Corridor. A key role within this sphere is facilitation of a multi-agency Community Solutions Consortium for the local area.
“During 2023-24, the Community Solutions Consortium is responsible for managing and administering £60,360 of public funds which will contribute towards the achievement of key targeted local and national health and social care outcomes.
“Some of this funding is still available and Consortium members are keen to ensure that all moneys are disseminated by the end of March 2024 to ensure that optimum outcomes can be achieved within local communities.
“This Locality Activity Fund is designed to be dispersed via small grants enabling CVS organisations across Greater Cumbernauld to deliver proposals which support overarching aims and objectives of Community Solutions.”
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HOW TO APPLY FOR FUNDING TO THE LOCALITY ACTIVITY FUND (LAF) BY MARCH 2024
The current Locality Activity Fund (LAF) for Cumbernauld and the North Area is being rolled out from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 with a view to funding multiple community activities and projects which seek to support, strengthen and improve the local area and its people in relation to health, social care and related themes. It is overseen by Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (the local Third Sector Interface) and facilitated locally by Cornerstone House Centre on behalf of the Cumbernauld and North area Community Solutions Consortium.
Organisations wishing to submit a proposal are initially required to express interest to the local Community Solutions Consortium through emailing locality.host@cornerstone-house.org.uk or phoning 01236 739220. Thereafter, applicants will be asked to complete and submit a short Locality Activity Fund Application Form.
Whilst £5,000 is the maximum award available, most grants are awarded at a lower level. To be eligible, proposals should meet at least one of the specified Community Solutions programme outcomes. These are adults and carers feel more connected safe, included and fulfilled, improved health and wellbeing amongst adults and carers, local citizens feel more informed and aware, carers are more able to have a life outside of caring responsibilities, children, young people and families become more resiilent and are able to achieve goals, and family relationships are strengthened.
All Locality Activity Fund proposals submitted are discussed and reviewed in some detail by members of the Consortium, with decisions made via an agreed and vetted transparent and democratic voting process.
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Meanwhile, Lanarkshire’s new Climate Action Hub has received funding from Scottish Government to run demonstrator projects with community groups in the North Area between now and the end of March 2024.
If your group or local community has ideas that Our Greenspace Collective could help you develop or you would like support with identifying which carbon reduction activities would benefit both people in your area and the planet, please email claire@ourgreenspace.org for further information.
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Click Here to Express Interest in Applying for a Grant Through the Locality Activity Fund
