Funding
Moray Federation of Community Halls & Associations
Funding for Village Halls
We are all finding it increasingly difficult to find levels of funding support to enable us to repair or maintain the structure of our Village Halls, but there are funds still available to help, the following information may be of help to you.
LATEST FUNDING NEWS
Scottish Rural Development Programme - LEADER
At the beginning of November Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead announced that:- “Rural community groups across Scotland are invited to come forward to apply for the latest round of funding to support and grow the rural economy”
Mr Lochhead went on to state: “This £5 million will empower rural communities to take action to revitalise and revive remote areas, in line with the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting sustainable economic growth.
Just how much of this money will be available to Moray is not yet known, but for more information on these funds contact Eleanor Stratford 0131 244 2018
AWARDS FOR ALL
Lottery funding through the Awards for All programme is still available in Scotland, applications for funding between £500 & £10,000 is still available.
More information is available from this website:- http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html
ARGOS IN THE COMMUNITY
Argos has developed a new charity policy to meet growing needs of charities and associations, which contact the company for donations. Support is given only to registered charities and non-profit making organisations—not trusts and foundations.
For further information, please contact : Media Relations , 489-499 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 2NW or send an email to— MEDREL@argos.co.uk
B&Q have a significant influence on the communities in which they operate, not least because of the employment they provide and the contribution they make through local projects and strategic partnership initiatives. B&Q are committed to involving its stores in building upon these benefits, and in working to avoid or minimise any negative impacts. Their aim is for all their stores to be welcomed as 'good neighbours' in the communities that they serve.
Supporting community projects
B&Q have been involved in thousands of great community projects up and down the country. Many of them start with donations of waste materials such as timber and paint, however, they also recognise that sometimes these projects need additional support to help get them started.
B&Q One Planet Living (OPL) Grants
Since 1997 B&Q has supported the Better Neighbour Grant scheme, offering funding, in the way of B&Q materials, to projects that involve and have long-term benefits to local communities. In 2008 the scheme was re-launched as the B&Q One Planet Living Grants.
The One Planet Living Grants offer between £50 and £500 of B&Q materials for projects supporting at least one of the following themes – environment/energy saving, natural habitats/wildlife and local culture/heritage.
Each store has a 'limited' budget and may not always be able to offer help should their budget be exhausted. However, through making contact, if stores are unable to help on the first occasion, they may be able to help in the future or be able to offer assistance through waste donation.
How to apply: The One Planet Living Grant is for local organisations to apply directly to their local B&Q store. They are launched every January.
For more information visit— www.diy.com/awards
For 2008 it might be worthwhile keeping your eyes and ears open with regard to Land Management Contracts, administered by SEERAD, as it seems likely that these funds could be used to support individual Village Halls. More on this when I get the full story.
Village Halls website has a very useful publication which takes you through the process of applying for funding. For regularly updated information on funding opportunities for Community Halls follow this link.
Funding Opportunities
Rural Development Small Awards
Fund and details are on the website
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/rural-policy/16780/6554
Application forms and leaflets are also available at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1113/0022068.doc
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1113/0018125.pdf
they even give the marking criteria
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1113/0019084.doc
Details can be found at
Rural Development Small Awards Fund, Scottish Executive, Mailpoint
1D, Pentland House, 47 Robb's Loan, Edinburgh, EH14 1TY.
tel: 0131 244 3885
Fax: 0131 244 3101
and by email at rdsaf@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Unfortunately it talks about the scheme ending at the end of
2007, so people may need to be quick.
The Mary Salmond Trust
It is aimed at community and youth organisations in the North
East, including Moray. The Mary Salmond Trust (after his mother)
covers the Gordon constituency which includes the part of Moray
covering Keith, Newmill, Mulben, Grange, Rothiemay, Knock and
Drummuir. The only contact given was by post to: The Mary Salmond
Trust, Messrs McColl and Associates Ltd, 11 Burns Road, Aberdeen
AB15 4NT.
The Body ShopThe Body Shop have introduced a
novel way to fundraise and establish a social opportunity, as
Donna Gray explains:"A Body Shop event involves
me coming along to your venue, arranging a display of products
from The Body Shop (more
details here) it is really just as you would have a party
in an individuals home only on a larger scale. Hosts of parties
normally receive gifts for holding their parties but when we
do a fundraiser we give a donation to funds instead. Usually
this is 10% of sales, if we have a particularly successful party
then we can give a little more.
Once the display is set up and the guests have arrived, I demonstrate
the products, guests get to sample, smell and feel the products
working usually on the back of their hands. It is really a very
sensory experience. Then once the demo is finished about 20
minutes after that once they have selected the products they
would like to purchase and I've had a chance to help them with
their order. They can then have a refreshment and then we usually
do a prize draw or the hall does perhaps a raffle (again adding
more funds) Products are then delivered to a nominated person
for them to distribute to their customers. Commitee members
or anyone wishing to help raise funds can also have catologues
before hand and collect orders outwith the actual event from
friends/family/neighbours. As all sales count towards the total.
You can sell tickets for a ladies night (more funds) or you
can just put up posters and tell everyone that The Body Shop
is bringing the store to their door that afternoon/evening."To contact Donna either ring her
on 07729183957 or email her here