Details

The Argyll and Bute Resilience and Transformation Fund will support Argyll and Bute’s Third Sector Organisations (TSOs), specifically those who can be classified as community anchor organisations, to transform the way they work at a time of significant financial challenge. 

Community Anchor Organisations are defined as those TSOs that are judged by the reviewing panel to be of critical importance to civic and community life in Argyll and Bute.  A key test would be to assess if a group were to be allowed to dissolve would others seek to establish a similar group serving a similar community.  In this way this fund seeks to protect community investments and assets already in operation by providing short term funding and/or transforming the business operating model.

The fund has initially been derived from the CLLD grants process which is administered by the Argyll and Bute LAG.  There are four fund priorities:-

• Eradicating child poverty 
• Growing the economy 
• Tackling the climate emergency 
• Improving public services 

The Argyll and Bute Resilience and Transformation Fund will support organisations that work in the above areas as their core activity and will:

• Seek to support Argyll and Bute’s community anchor organisations;
• Provide limited funds for anchor organisations to bridge through a temporary crisis in funding;
• Provide consultancy support to develop a plan to transition from crisis to recovery;
• To support community anchor organisations to transform their existing business model to avoid a funding crisis;
• identify opportunities for partnership working across the region to ensure that Argyll and Bute has a cohesive approach to supporting essential community anchor organisations who play a vital role in the life of our remote, rural and island communities.

At this stage there is up to £50,000 available up to £10,000 though more may become available in the coming months which may come from other partners in Argyll and Bute.  You can apply to one of two funding routes, and you will be asked to select one that best applies to your organisation:-

a. The Resilience Fund – This fund is suitable for groups who are currently facing a funding shortfall.  Up to £2,500 will be spend on specialist support and consultancy to change the focus of your business model and reduce costs to a sustainable level in the short term.  The balance up to £10,000 (including the £2,500 on specialist support) can be used to fund interim operating costs to ensure your organisation’s continued solvency and survival.

b. The Transformation Fund - This fund is suitable for groups who are likely to face a funding shortfall within the next 12 months but have time to explore a new approach to their sustainability.  Up to £2,500 will be spend on specialist support and consultancy to change the focus of your business model.  The balance up to £10,000 (including the £2,500 on specialist support) can be used to fund costs that will help to facilitate your organisation’s transformation towards a sustainable business model.

As this fund derives from the Scottish Government’s CLLD fund your organisation will need to fit within one of the following priority areas:-

• Eradicating child poverty – examples could include improving children's wellbeing and life chances.
• Growing the economy  – examples could include projects which aim to alleviate issues caused by the cost of living or cost of doing business for third sector/community organisations. 
• Tackling the climate emergency – Potential project areas could include nature restoration with community benefits, nature awareness, green skills, empowering community climate action, developing community resilience and efficiency, adapting historic or community assets to mitigate against future climate change, addressing climate anxiety, and existing activities already underway that support transition to net zero. Projects could also offer potential for future delivery of these activities.
• Improving public services - examples could include helping rebuild community capacity, including (re)mobilising volunteers. Support for mental health and wellbeing provision. 

We’re open to applications from community councils, trusts, organisations and groups, as well as charities and Community Interest Companies in the Argyll and Bute area.

We cannot accept applications for the grants from schools. We would advise partnering with a community group or get in touch for more information to explore how this could be done.

Criteria

The fund criteria set outs out the broad parameters for how funding should be allocated to community organisations. However, this is intended to be flexible in order to allow local partnership groups to identify their own priorities for spend within the terms of the fund criteria and in line with their local CLLD funding plan.  Funding decisions should reflect the broad principles of the fund criteria as well as local priorities.

We’re open to applications from community councils, groups, trust and organisations, charities and Community Interest Companies in the Argyll and Bute area.

The ethos of the Resilience and Transformation Fund is to promote the development of sustainable and resilient community anchor organisations solutions however where possible goods and services should be procured as near as possible to the beneficiary community or population. 

All offers of grant are subject to compliance with guidance, auditing and compliance rules as set out by Scottish Government and Argyll and Bute Council as accountable body for the Local Action Group (LAG). This document is guidance, and the LAG reserves the right to use its discretion where issues arise not covered here.

If you’re not sure where your project fits, talk to us about it. We’re here to show you what’s possible and help you figure out what works best for you.  Then we can work together to make positive change happen. If your grant application is successful, you can ask for our help in designing and delivering your project.