Programme combines access to funds with expert advice
Charities and other voluntary sector organisations are being encouraged to apply for a vital programme that can help them through the Covid crisis.
Adapt and Thrive provides tailored support and funding to organisations so they can operate sustainably post-Covid and continue to have a positive impact in their communities.
Applicants will receive support in areas such as adapting a business or organisation model, financial forecasting, developing new income streams or fundraising strategies and service design.
Organisations which have benefited so far include The Walking Theatre Company, Farmer Jones Academy (pictured above), Wild & Kind CIC and Iona Village Hall.
The funding includes grants between £5,000 and £25,000, as well as flexible, 0% interest loans starting at £25,000 to implement the changes needed as part of an organisation’s plan.
It is part of the Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme, a £25 million Scottish Government-funded programme that supports charities and communities through the shift from lockdown to recovery, has opened for applications.
Adapt and Thrive offers two types of support: advice and funding and is delivered in partnership by Firstport, Corra Foundation, SCVO, Just Enterprise, Community Enterprise, and Social Investment Scotland.
The programme aims to support organisations across the voluntary sector to adapt to the challenges presented by Covid-19 so they can continue to thrive in the future.
At is core is the offer of specialist advice, where organisations get to work with and advisor on a one to one basis to assess their current situation and develop a plan to adapt, change and recover.
This recovery plan will help them put the steps in place so they can operate sustainably and continue to have a positive impact on people and communities post-Covid.
Meanwhile, the funding allows the organisations to implement the changes needed as part of their recovery plan. Grants up to £25K (only for organisations with a turnover of under £500K) and loans starting at £25K are available.
The programme is ultimately about looking to the future, adapting with the times and not going back to ‘the way we always did things’
It is open to groups across the third sector - charities, voluntary organisations, social enterprises.
Organisations interested in accessing support from the Adapt and Thrive programme and/or the Communities Recovery Fund can visit the SCVO website for further information and apply. Adapt and Thrive runs regular information webinars which can be booked here.
The programme is now open for applications and runs until March.
