Deadline: 21-Apr-23
The University of Edinburgh has launched the Community Grants Scheme to fund projects that will have a positive social impact for local communities.
Purpose
The purpose of the scheme is to:
- Have a positive social impact for people living somewhere in the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, Scottish Borders and/or Fife by contributing to one or more of these United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: 1 No Poverty; 3 Good Health and Wellbeing; 4 Quality Education; 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth; 10 Reduced Inequalities; 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
- For larger grants ONLY (this point does not apply to the micro-grant scheme), develop positive relationships between the University and your community organisation. Having a positive social impact is given greater weight when applications are reviewed.
Funding Information
- This scheme has about £55,000 to spend each year.
- You can currently apply for up to £4,500, inclusive of VAT.
- Duration: They wouldn’t usually expect a project to last more than six months.
Eligibility Criteria
- They are more likely to fund your project if it scores highly against the two purposes of the scheme, plus:
- Takes appropriate steps to look after the safety and wellbeing of all the people involved.
- Is realistic, with a clear plan for delivery.
- Has an itemised budget which considers value for money.
- Is clear about how local residents are likely to benefit.
- You can apply if your organisation has had funding before.
- Applicants may only receive one grant per project
Ineligible
The aim of the scheme is to fund stand-alone projects. They will not fund:
- Standard for-profit organisations.
- Organisations with an annual income of more than £1 million.
- Individuals.
- Statutory bodies, including schools. They will fund organisations that work with statutory bodies and activities happening on the premises of statutory bodies (e.g., activities at after-school clubs). They will also fund Community Councils as these are voluntary organisations (albeit set up by statute).
- Organisations without an organisational bank account.
- Companies without a governing document. Governing documents must be supplied along with your application if you’re a company.
- Applications led by members of staff from any university, including the University of Edinburgh. Students from any local university can apply but must do so through an organisation (e.g., student society) and must be working with and for local residents, including residents who are not currently students.
- Organisations whose only charitable objective is the promotion of religious or political beliefs. They check this against your OSCR registration, not what’s on your website.
- Staff time that isn’t specifically for delivering the project in question, i.e. they will not fund staff involved with the general day-to-day running of your organisation (e.g. receptionists, janitors, cleaners). They will fund staff already employed by your organisation for any time being spent delivering the project. You are also welcome to recruit new staff.
- General running costs of a building or organisation, e.g. rent, utilities.
- Straight continuations of projects funded under a previous grants round. You can apply again if your project has been changed in some major way, i.e. you’re genuinely trying out something new.
- Renovations or other building work.
- Applications where there isn’t evidence of a will to engage positively with the University of Edinburgh.
- Organisations in financial difficulties.
For more information, visit University of Edinburgh.