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Fund Raising Events

The Inland Revenue operates a concession on 'one-off' fundraising events the proceeds from them are not usually taxable, although there may be implications for VAT.

Suitable insurance cover is also advisable.

More things to think about when organising a community event can be found on the SCVO website at the link below.

www.scvo.org.uk

Lotteries and Raffles

If you run a lottery or raffle to raise funds you may need to register with the Gaming Board of Great Britain or with the local authority to do so. There are several exemptions to this, for example, small lotteries incidental to an exempt entertainment or private lotteries.

The Gaming Board of Great Britain provides very detailed information on this issue, and a link to their website is given below. See both their section on 'Lotteries and the Law' and their 'Frequently Asked Questions' section.

www.gbgb.org.uk

Grants

There are a variety of grants available to community groups and charities in East Dunbartonshire. Grants are made by a wide range of funders and can range from a few hundred pounds to several thousand.

Most funders will expect you to have the following:

• A Management Committee or Board of Directors;
• A Constitution;
• A Bank Account that requires at least two/three people to operate it and sign cheques;
• Charitable status.

Nearly all funding is allocated on a competitive basis. This means that you complete an application form or a funding letter, and the funder will consider you request alongside the other applications for funding they receive. Most funders receive more requests for funding than the funds that they have available, so, unfortunately, you need to be prepared to face rejection!

East Dunbartonshire CVS can provide advice and support to organisations who are seeking funding. If you would like to talk to someone about grants please contact 0141 578 0291 to make an appointment.

Street Collections

You will usually require a licence from the local authority to undertake a street collection. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (see link below) offer a detailed review of when permission is needed.
www.scvo.org.uk

East Dunbartonshire Council can be contacted on 0141 578 8000

Funding Bodies

Scottish Objective 3 European Social Funding (ESF)

The Scottish Objective 3 Programme is a significant source ESF funding and helps to deliver a wide variety of support throughout Lowland Scotland. The deadline for applications to Objective 3 for 2006 is 3 June 2005. Your project activity can start from 1 Jan 2006.

For more information and how to apply.

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation - Building the skills, motivation, networks and confidence of local people

The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK. In 2005, it expects to make grants of £28 million. Eligible organisations that can apply for funding to the Foundation are charities and not for profit organisations. The Foundation's grant making activities are divided into the following programmes: Arts & Heritage, Education, the Environment and Social Development. The Social Development ! programme aims to improve the lives of people and communities facing disadvantage. The fund prioritises those at greatest need, including those living in or on the edge of poverty.

You can sign up for a free quarterly e-mail bulletin.

LearnDirect Scotland Learning Centres: receive Close to £1 million Extra Funding

The £960,000 investment will ensure that learning centres are able to take advantage of new technology to benefit learners, for example upgrading hardware and software. LearnDirect Scotland has established a network of over 480 branded learning centres throughout Scotland.

Charles Hayward Foundation - Building the skills, motivation, networks and confidence of local people
The Charles Hayward Foundation makes grants of up to £20,000 to charitable organisations throughout the UK. The Foundation supports a wide range of community and social welfare initiatives, including, helping young people at risk, support for those with physical and learning disabilities, improving the local environment, victim support services and the rehabilitation of offenders, the elderly and the provision of community facilities such as community centres and vil! lage halls. Applications can be made at any time.

Community Regeneration Fund
The Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) which combines and replaces the Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) fund, Better Neighbourhood Services Fund and Tackling Drugs Misuse Fund will go live on 1 April 2005.The main purpose of the fund is to help achieve Closing the Opportunity Gap Target J - "to promote community regeneration of the most deprived neighbourhoods, through improvements by 2008 in employability, education, health, access to local services and quality of the local environment".

This £318 million investment has been allocated to Scotland’s 32 Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) over three years to provide a sustained and targeted approach to tackling the problems associated with multiple deprivation.

CPPs will be using the CRF to target specific areas identified through the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004. They will set out how they plan to use the fund - together with their own resources - to deliver specific regeneration outcomes in three year Regeneration Outcome Agreements (ROAs).

ROAs will explain the unique needs and problems facing target communities and this will provide the basis for agreeing appropriate outcomes and the kind of projects and services that will help deliver these in Scotland's most deprived areas.

Futurebuilders Update

Futurebuilders Scotland, is an investment programme to help social economy organisations that provide services to the public. Social economy organisations are voluntary and community organisations that use a business like approach to delivering goods or services.

They have a wide range of interests, from community initiatives in rural areas to those that provide employment opportunities for disabled people.

The first application phase for the Investment and Seedcorn funds has now closed. New applications will be welcomed in May/June. The Learning Fund is still open for applications.

There are three Futurebuilders Scotland Funds – Investment, Seedcorn and Learning. All the Funds are targeted at social economy organisations which have a track record in providing services to the public.

The purpose of Futurebuilders Scotland is to make one-off investments in organisations to enable them to both expand future service delivery and improve their financial sustainability.

Combatting Social Exclusion

In mid April, The European Union has announced that it will launch the next call for proposals under the combat social exclusion (2002-2006) programme. The fund aims to support key European networks involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. Further information available here.

Funding to Support Refugee Integration

The Home Office has announced that it is seeking applications for projects to be supported through the Challenge Fund and Purposeful Activities Fund in 2005/6. The Challenge Fund is for projects that address specific social needs among refugee communities around the UK.

The Purposeful Activities Fund enables asylum seekers awaiting decisions on their applications for refugee status to contribute to the community by volunteering.

More information and application forms for both funds available here.

Further funding for INCREASE programme

The INCREASE programme has been extended to 2008 with a £5 million funding package. A further £1 million over two years is to be provided to the Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS) to support community projects recycling and reducing waste.

CRNS is also to receive £100,000 to support a community composting officer and recycling initiatives within minority ethnic communities.