Third sector groups urged to apply

A funding programme worth a total of £347,015 is now open across Dumfries and Galloway.

Charities, community groups, co-operatives, public sector organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises, community interest companies, and community benefit societies based within the region can all apply to round three of the region’s Community Led Local Development Fund

A Local Action Group (LAG) made up of representatives from the third, public, and private sectors will again decide what applications are successful. The LAG is supported by Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway.

Applications are encouraged from rural areas, though applications will be considered from organisations based in Dumfries and Stranraer, but the majority of beneficiaries must be based outside the boundaries of the particular town.

The four priorities in this round are:

• Supporting community facilities and eligible organisations to contribute to the achievement of net zero
• Sustaining, improving, and adding initiatives in rural communities that are most isolated, most disconnected, most in need of investment or most likely to experience inequalities
• Helping communities to address the cost-of-living crisis and eradicate poverty for individuals and families
• Enabling communities to carry out research, community needs assessments and feasibility studies as part of local place plan development

Small revenue grants will be available up to £5,000 and the main revenue and capital grants programme will open to applications from £5,001 up to £50,000.

The deadline for applications is 12 noon on 12 August. The funded activity must start no earlier than 14 October and projects must have spent their grant and completed their activity by 31 March 2025.

Harry Harbottle chair of the LAG, said: “Whether it be problems with lack of transport denying access to jobs, dealing with hard to heat community buildings, local solutions around lack of affordable child care, or articulating community needs through place planning, we will be able to use these funds to start addressing these and other issues in settlements around Dumfries and Galloway.   

“We know that communities are nimble when it comes to identifying local issues and proposals on how to deal with them and we are particularly keen to see novel ways in how these issues can be addressed.”

For more on the fund and how to apply, go to www.tsdg.org.uk/clld/