This fund is now closed

This is a small grant programme from BEMIS, funded by Foundation Scotland from the Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund, for diverse Ethnic Minority community groups and organisations to set up programmes and services supporting disadvantaged and excluded communities.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available to local community groups and organisations supporting communities that are:

Experiencing, or are at risk of, domestic abuse
Living with poor, interrupted or impaired access to food, shelter and necessary amenities (e.g. sanitation, heating)
Experiencing poor of interrupted access to critical advice, services or care (owing to poor digital access, language barriers, physical or cognitive restrictions, changing circumstances, etc.)
Experiencing poor or worsening mental health (e.g. compulsion, dependencies, depression)
In poverty, or are at risk of poverty or destitution (especially those with no recourse to public funds)

Who can apply?

This fund is open to non-profit community groups and organisations who:

Are constituted with a governing document (you will need to provide this along with your application)
Have a bank account in the name of that organisation
Have not already received similar funding
Have an annual income of no more than £150,000
All appointed cheque signatories must be unrelated, and there must be at least 2.
You must have at least 3 unrelated members on your management committee

Aims

The aim of this programme is to advance community resilience, empower local communities, enhance community spirit, increase responsive healing activities, stimulate inclusive national identity and facilitate responsive and inclusive local support provisions through providing small grant fund that will assist in:

Initiating empowerment activities that can deliver on community-led programs / service provision that helps in tackling poverty, isolation, mental health issues for the disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded groups,
Initiating local interventions that act as a facilitator for engagement, community cohesion as well as enhancing openings for social and community resilience.
Enabling communities to plan and establish new or enhanced responsive services addressing poverty and inequalities.
Supporting local organisations to increase levels of engaging with and responding to local needs, inclusion, and enhance community resilience especially for deprived or fragile communities.
Accelerating the healing and rebuilding of community spirit through delivering local projects and services that, again, strengthen community resilience and community spirit while empowering individuals, families, and communities.

Criteria

Your proposal must be for a new project, service or programme, not an existing one.
Your proposed project must be for the benefit of one or more of the following disadvantaged communities: those who are…
- Experiencing, or are at risk of, domestic abuse
- Living with poor, interrupted or impaired access to food, shelter and necessary amenities (e.g. sanitation, heating)
- Experiencing poor of interrupted access to critical advice, services or care (owing to poor digital access, language barriers, physical or cognitive restrictions, changing circumstances, etc.)
- Experiencing poor or worsening mental health (e.g. compulsion, dependencies, depression)
- In poverty, or are at risk of poverty or destitution (especially those with no recourse to public funds)
Costs for sessional workers, trainers, third parties etc. cannot be any higher than 10% of the total budget
Your proposed activities must adhere to all Scottish Government guidelines around social gatherings and physical activities
You must provide contact details of another organisation as a reference for your own organisation
You must keep records of activities, and details of supported families (if providing equipment)
You will cooperate with BEMIS staff to check on progress of your activities
You must complete the provided evaluation form within one month of the end of your project.

Priority will be given to grassroots community organisations working directly in their communities.

Examples

We can fund:

Equipment for use by beneficiaries (e.g. to help with digital exclusion)
Software and online services
Services/contracted costs…
Volunteer costs (e.g. travel)
Essential supplies/needs
Mental health support

We can not fund:

IT equipment for staff and organisation use
Existing staff costs
Other costs unrelated to this project

Your application will be assessed on:

Your organisation’s eligibility
Your proposal’s viability
Your budget’s feasibility
Your group’s experience of, or commitment to working with diverse communities
Your group’s skills and experience in running projects or services previously
- Evidence of financial planning/budgeting
- Evidence of publicising/marketing
- Evidence of organisational/planning skills

You must supply a copy of your constitution or equivalent governing document along with your application.

How to apply

This fund is now closed

About Foundation Scotland

At Foundation Scotland we strengthen local communities by providing a source of funding to community led projects the length and breadth of Scotland. Since 1996, we’ve helped distribute more than £100 million to charities and community groups through our innovative funding programmes

Foundation Scotland helps people and organisations give to good causes effectively. Our knowledge of the sector allows us to find lesser known charities ensuring our awards create lasting change.

We are Scotland’s community foundation, part of a national movement of more than 40 regional community foundations that undertake strategic grant making, facilitate philanthropy and contribute to achieving lasting impact in communities across Scotland.