Voluntary groups in Scotland will benefit to the tune of £3.2 million from Direct Grants, aimed at promoting job opportunities and community regeneration.
The funding matched by contributions from Europe, Communities Scotland and Scottish Enterprise, is aimed at smaller organisations which have not benefited recently from European money, lottery or other public funding.
Since September the programme has awarded almost £1 million to small voluntary and community groups to support new activities combating exclusion.
The Direct Grants Programme demonstrates how the voluntary sector, the Executive, the general public sector and Europe can work together to regenerate communities and empower individuals.
Direct Grants look beyond the jargon to see how the programme can make a difference to Scotland’s communities by delivering improvements to the range and quality of the services they use in their everyday lives.
Ultimately, the programme is not about pound signs and rows of zeros. The programme will be judged on how the money has been spent to improve people’s lives: the jobs found, self-confidence gained, and the lives changed for the better.
Direct Grants are not intended to replace mainstream European funding but the programme enable those who might otherwise ‘slip through the net’ of European funding.
The funds assist those organisations which would probably not apply directly for European funding. This gives smaller organisations the confidence and skills to ‘think big’ and go on to access European funding.
The key to the success of the programme is that it is based on partnership – between voluntary and public sectors, between local and national activity and between Scotland and Europe.
Local organisations will have the opportunity to apply for funding under the Direct Grants Programme and applications will be assessed by local selection groups.
The delivery of the programme is a case study in partnership working. SCVO has retained a clear separation between its development support to potential and successful applicants, its management and monitoring responsibilities and the determination of applications.
This has resulted in the involvement of the widest range of players with an interest in supporting the voluntary sector to participate in the vital work of regenerating local communities.
Local
At the local level each council for voluntary service (CVS) is fully involved in providing pre-application advice to applicants and undertaking appraisals of submitted applications.
In addition, SCVO has awarded regional development support contracts to the South of Scotland Network of CVS, Glasgow CVS and Aberdeen CVO.
The work of these contractors has allowed SCVO to concentrate its efforts across the centre of the country, where delivery can be achieved with some efficiency from its west of Scotland base.
By engaging with local partnerships the programme can more effectively react to local needs and issues of relevance and the out-lying regions can be directly represented when considering all aspects of the programme delivery.
As well as the CVS, all the local enterprise companies and local councils are enthusiastic partners in the promotion and appraisal process.
Direct grants feed into their community and economic development strategies, supporting other initiatives, such as the social inclusion partnership and, increasingly, participation into the community planning process.
Keith Wimbles, Direct Grants programme manager, believes the programme has enabled cross-sector co-operation which has become integral to the process.
“Without the commitment and enthusiasm from voluntary and public sector partners we would be unable to deliver this ambitious and wide-ranging grants programme. The model is an effective and less bearaucratic approach to releasing European funding to support excluded individuals and disadvantaged communities.”
Appraisal
The whole Direct Grants appraisal process is undertaken using electronic communication. Applications forms, which have been trimmed down to collect only the information relevant to the appraisal process, are stored in an e-bank located in SCVO’s website.
Here they can be viewed or retrieved by nominated appraisal panel members.
The appraisal response form is set-up as an automated email, completed online and returned at the touch of a button.
This system of continuing and direct contact with locally based appraisers has resulted in average turn-round times being reduced to a targeted eight-week period.
Applications
Applications are dealt with on a rolling programme with no application deadlines. It is intended that applicants should know the outcome of their application within 6 weeks of submission.
Most applications will be dealt with by small local selection groups on a delegated basis, but larger applications may be considered at regular meetings of the full local selection group.
The final date for approval of grants to projects will be Spring 2004. All successful projects will need to spend their grant within a specified period after notification of the award.
Full details on Direct Grants at http://www.scvo.org.uk/direct_grants/default.htm
Case Study one
Jedburgh Community and Arts Centre is an integral part of the local community used by a number of groups and organisations, including an out of school club.
Secretary Margaret Robinson says the £9,300 awarded to the centre by Direct Grants has proved to be a lifeline.
“The money has been essential in helping us set-up the centre and in turn for the community to profit from its activities.”
Since the money arrived last November the JCAC has been busy allocating the cash to much needed structural improvements to the centre as well as taking on a part time janitor.
“The money has enabled us to hire an architect to upgrade the disabled toilets and also increase security. We have also done some very detailed costing studies on how we can use our resources more effectively.”
But the grant has also enabled the centre to pursue other funding sources. With funding from the Lloyds TSB Foundation, the Robertson Trust and the Jedburgh Common Good Fund, the cash is now starting to flow. And Robinson says they have commissioned a feasibility study to bid for Heritage Lottery funding – a source of cash previously unexplored.
“In some ways the award from Direct Grants has acted almost like match funding. Being in receipt of a Direct Grant means other funders look upon us favourably and has given us the impetus to chase other funds.”
Case Study Two
The Galloway Hill Search and Rescue Team was founded in 1975 by a group of local volunteers, based in the south-west Scotland town of Newton Stewart.
The team provides search and rescue assistance to the public in an area covering over 80 miles from Stranraer in the west to Dumfries in the east, and 40 miles from the Solway Coast to the South Ayrshire Hills.
The GMRT, which consists entirely of volunteers, is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond to emergencies at the request of the Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary.
Funding from Direct Grants has helped the organisation maintain its reputation as a highly professional outfit, able to respond to the most dangerous emergencies where people’s lives are directly at risk, says Ian Howie from GMRT.
“It costs between £4,000 and £5,000 per year to run the team effectively, Much of this total is spent on equipment which includes maintaining the fully equipped mountain rescue Land Rover, trailer and our support vehicle.
“With our funding from Direct Grants we are now able to equip front-line members with quality clothing and equipment to ensure their safety, as well as that of any casualty, while on a search and rescue mission.”
Case Study three
Fife Men’s Project aims to promote the health and well-being of men who have sex with men. It aims to help gay men and other men, to stay healthy and avoid infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The project, funded by the Executive, is responsible to the Fife Health Board. Although based in Kirkcaldy, they are glad to work with men throughout the Kingdom and surrounding rural areas.
An award from Direct Grants has enabled the organisation to concentrate on its core activities of information, advice and gay and bisexual men’s health support, says FMP’s Frank Watson.
“Funding is always and issue for any voluntary group but small awards such as the money from Direct Grants go further for smaller organisations. The money has enabled us to concentrate on the issues affecting men’s sexual health in the community and to build a more secure foundation for the project.”
FMP has also benefited from a growing professionalism which has meant volunteers are becoming more aware of its work and are willing to give up their free time in support of the project.
And with a comprehensive website offering advice and information on men’s sexual health related issues, the project is becoming increasingly popular throughout the kingdom of Fife
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