Argyll Funding Platform

Details

The Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network (ABCAN) Hub is supporting Argyll and Bute residents to face the challenge of climate change through seed funding. 
 
Climate change is a lived experience across our community. Argyll and Bute is the second largest local authority by land area in Scotland and includes 23 inhabited islands. Travel routes are long and public transport is poor. Our infrastructure is weak and is regularly disrupted by the weather. Our communities are already working to mitigate the effects of climate change. 
 
The new Hub will give a voice to community-led climate action, help to coordinate activities and support our community as we work towards a net zero Argyll and Bute.
 
Thanks to Scottish Government funding, and overseen by a collaboration between ACT, Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface and Time for Change Argyll and Bute, the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network Hub will establish a network of engagement officers, based in each locality, to coordinate and build on our current climate activities. 

The Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network seed fund, funded by Scottish Government, is offering seed funds of between £250 and £1,500 to community organisations whose projects have one or more of the following aims:

• Making your community more aware of climate change and its effects
• Building climate-focused partnerships between community groups
• Helping your community come up with new ways of taking action on climate change
• Giving local people a stronger voice in calling for climate action
• Supporting your community in creating a fairer, more sustainable future.

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 seed grants directly from schools. We would advise partnering with a community group or get in touch for more information to explore how this could be done.
 
You can apply online any time between 20 December 2023 and 10 February 2024. All funding must be used by 31 March 2024.
 
If you’ve got an idea, but you’re not sure where it fits or how to get started, come and have a chat. We can show you what’s possible and help you figure out what works best for you.
 
E-mail jamie@act-now.org.uk for an informal conversation about planning your climate fund activity. If you would like support in setting up your group in terms of governance, legal structures and finance please contact the Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (TSI) at info@argylltsi.org.uk.

Note: If you're looking for a smaller grant, there are two micro funds running.  The first running between 20 Dec to 12 Jan and the second between 13th Jan and 10th Feb - these are for grants up to £250.

Guidance Notes can be found here.

Criteria

The intended outcome of the funds is to promote action, understanding and awareness about climate change and fund ways to tackle and mitigate against its impact on our communities and our environment.

In your application you will be asked to select which of the following outcomes are most pertinent to your project:-

• Widening participation by engaging new communities and strengthening existing activity.
• Increasing community led climate change mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity projects, driven by communities themselves, contributing to a fair and just transition to net zero.
• Increasing community resilience and knowledge of how to respond to climate change;
• Strengthening and increasing collaboration and knowledge sharing across and between community groups, public, private and 3rd sector partners leading to an acceleration in community action                           
• Supporting minority and disadvantaged communities to be visible, confident and active in taking part and leading climate action activities.
• Increasing community climate literacy, which directly leads to a 5 - 15% reduction in participant’s carbon footprints.
• Increase in involvement in policy setting, decision making and local place planning with climate lens by communities.

Applications will be evaluated using some or all of the following metrics:-

1. Number of Participants/Beneficiaries: Keep track of how many people are involved or benefit from your project.
2. Engagement with Climate Activities: Note how many people are new to or have limited experience with climate-related activities.
3. Grant Spending: Confirm if you used the grant money as you described in your application.
4. Positive Stories and Lessons: Share any success stories and lessons you've learned during your project.
5. Reflections for the Future: Mention any changes you'd consider if you were to do a similar project in the future.
6. Impact of the Seed Grant: Reflect on how the seed grant helped you in taking climate action and explain how.