Deadline: 4-Sep-23
Applications are now open for the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund to empower the residents of Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Moray by giving a crucial role in shaping the just transition to a net zero future in the North East of Scotland.
The Fund is an opportunity for communities to put forward projects that match local needs and priorities and will enable them to create a greener region with residents invited to have the final say over which initiatives are funded through a public vote.
ACVO TSI, Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action, TSI Moray, NESCAN Hub, Money for Moray and Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) are working in partnership to deliver the fund and will be actively engaging with everyone in the region to contribute ideas and be an active part in determining the discussion over community priorities in relation to the just transition to net zero.
This social capital fund aims to empower local people to shape a Just Transition to net zero, in a way that reflects their local needs and priorities, by:
- Supporting Scotland’s communities in achieving a Just Transition to net-zero
- Increasing the awareness and understanding of climate change, Just Transitions and associated issues and activities related to the reduction of carbon footprints.
- Encouraging a shift in local attitudes towards climate change/Just Transition, raising awareness through simple messages and the provision of beneficial and desired capital projects.
- Presenting opportunities for people who want to be part of a Just Transition and the climate change solution to turn their sense of joint responsibility into a real purpose.
- Reducing carbon footprints and contributing to the net zero agenda for Scotland whilst improving the health and wellbeing of both local people and their communities.
- Encouraging creative ideas about local climate change/Just Transition opportunities.
- Generating sustainable projects for the benefit of local people and their communities. Projects that can be implemented in a short time, tailored to local peoples’ needs and located where the need is felt.
- Encouraging a network of green PB projects that can have a positive measurable effect on the quality of life, carbon footprint and polluting emissions in the North East of Scotland.
Funding Information
- £1.5 million is available (£500,000 for each region) to support local grassroots green projects from third sector organisations and community groups in the North East and Moray.
What They Can Fund?
- Equipment and/or items (inclusive of associated installation costs).
- Purchase of buildings and land (subject to all levels of appropriate planning permissions being in place should they be needed).
- Any contractor costs associated with installation of the equipment.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organisations with an annual income of up to £1m can apply to this fund.
- Applications can be accepted from a range of community, voluntary, and third sector’ not for profit’ organisations, associations, groups and clubs or consortiums/partnerships who have a strong community focus for their activities. The range of organisations that can apply are:
- Community Councils
- Companies Limited by Guarantee
- Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies
- Not-for-profit company or asset locked company or Community Interest Companies (CIC)
- Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIO)
- Trusts
- Unincorporated Associations
- Social Enterprises can also apply to this fund if they operate in line with the following principles:
- They operate in an asset locked manner (surplus funds will not be used to pay a dividend of any sort to directors or shareholders).
- They agree that any assets purchased and/or owned by the social enterprise will belong to the social enterprise and not any named individuals who operate the social enterprise.
- Applications received for consideration within Aberdeen City must be led by a group/organisation whose address is within Aberdeen City.
- Applications received for consideration within Aberdeenshire must be led by a group/organisation whose address is within the Aberdeenshire.
- Applications received for consideration within Moray must be led by a group/organisation whose address is within Moray.
Ineligible
- Revenue costs (e.g. staff, utilities, rent, mortgage, or other normal running costs)
- Contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest
- Electricity generation and feed-in tariff payment
- Political or religious campaigning
- Profit-making/fundraising activities
- VAT you can reclaim
- Statutory activities
- Overseas travel
- Alcohol
For more information, visit Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (AVA).