Applications for Financial Assistance
Perth and Kinross Council · 25 November 2024
Back to Perth Common Good Fund Committee — 25 November 2024 and its agenda
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Perth Common Good Fund Committee 25 November 2024 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Report by Strategic Lead – Housing and Communities (Report No. 24/324) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The report asks Perth Common Good Fund Committee to consider six small grants, one cost of living, and two capital grant applications. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Committee: • Consider the application and agree any financial assistance to be awarded 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background / Main Issues • Section 5: Proposals: Small Grants • Section 6: Proposals: Cost of Living Grants • Section 7: Proposals: Capital Grants • Section 8: Conclusion • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND / MAIN ISSUES 4.1 Perth and Kinross Council owns land and property which forms part of the Common Good of the former burghs in Perth and Kinross and has a statutory duty in terms of section 15 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 to administer this land and property "having regard to the interests of the inhabitants" of those former burghs. This duty also applies to the administration of the associated Common Good Funds. 4.2 The Common Good Funds have traditionally demonstrated their support to local residents and organisations by distributing grants. These grant awards allow individuals and local organisations to carry out a wide range of community-based activities. 4.3 Applications to Common Good Funds vary across the different former burghs of Perth and Kinross.
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The Perth Common Good Fund is larger and receives a much higher number of applications than the other Funds. Therefore, additional criteria are applied to assist with assessing applications (See Appendix 1). 4.4 The 2024/25 Budget for the Perth Common Good Fund was approved at the Committee meeting on 29 January 2024 (Report 24/28 refers). A summary of the approved Financial Assistance budget, committed grant funding, and the budget remaining, is provided below: 2024/25 Financial Assistance Budget St John’s Kirk Carillon Perth Strathearn Round Table Small Grants Cost of Living Grant Capital Grants £2,000 £20,000 £75,000 £30,280 £50,000 Value of grants paid and committed St Johns Kirk Carillon Perth Strathearn Round Table Small Grants Cost of Living Grant Capital Grants £0 £20,000 £62,768 £10,208 £22,029 Remaining Financial Assistance Budget St Johns Kirk Carillon Perth Strathearn Round Table Small Grants Cost of Living Grant Capital Grants £2,000 £0 £12,232 £20,072 £27,971 Value of funding requested and under consideration St Johns Kirk Carillon Perth Strathearn Round Table Small Grants Cost of Living Grants Capital Grants £4,500 £0 £3,184 £8,735 £19,038.71 5. PROPOSALS - SMALL GRANTS Wednesday Tea Dance Club 5.1 The Wednesday Tea Dance Club are seeking £530 towards their Christmas Party. 5.2 The Wednesday Tea dance club provide social dancing for elderly people and aim to provide company and fun for those who live alone and those on a limited income. They provide a relaxing and friendly atmosphere for people to come together and meet new friends. 5.3 The Christmas party will involve hall hire at the Perth Civil Service Sports Club, musicians, a buffet meal, and small gratitude provided to catering staff.
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Whilst staff are paid on a casual basis, it has become customary for the group to provide an additional gratitude. Attendees will be charged £5 entry. They hope that 35 people from the common good area will attend. 5.4 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Catering (which includes 2 meals free for musicians) Quote – Kay Smart Catering £15 x 35 £525 Musical Entertainment Estimate £300 Hire of hall Estimate £30 Gratitude’s to staff £50 x 4 staff £200 Total proposed expenditure £1,055 Contribution from Individual/Group £525 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £530 Consideration 5.5 It is considered that a grant of £350 is consistent with criteria 9.6. Servite Housing Tennant’s Group 5.6 The Servite Housing Tennant’s Group of Canal Street, Perth are seeking a grant of £300 to contribute towards their Christmas Party. 5.7 The tenants group aim to bring together the thirty residents of the very sheltered housing complex in social activities and gatherings to reduce social isolation. They missed their annual Christmas Part last year as the committee had become too elderly to organise the event. The new committee hope to resurrect the event. The event will be suitable for all residents who wish to attend including those with physical mobility issues. Staff will be on-hand to provide assistance, with many offering to attend and provide support during their time off work. The group have managed to secure free entertainment, as the local newsagent who delivers papers to the group is also a musician and has offered his services free of charge. 5.8 The group have received a quote from a caterer who will provide a three- course meal which will cost £600. The group hope to make up the difference between the cost and any award from the Common Good with a small craft sale. They hope that they will raise enough money that they do not need to charge tenants to attend. Thirty people over the age of 65 from the Common Good area will benefit.
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5.9 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Small 3 course Christmas Meal Cost per meal £20.00 plus 20% VAT £600 Total proposed expenditure £600 Contribution from Individual/Group £300 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £300 Consideration 5.10 It is considered that a grant of £300 is consistent with criteria 9.6. St John’s Kirk 5.11 St John’s Kirk of Perth are requesting £4,500, which is an additional £2,500 to the yearly amount of £2,000 set aside to support the playing of the Carillon. 5.12 This year they would like to increase the number of recitals to two per month during April-December totalling twenty-two recitals rather than the previous fourteen. This is to reflect the increased visitors to Perth since the new Perth Museum opened. The cost of paying the Carillonneur has not increased for the past fifteen years, however, this year in line with the price paid for an organ recital, the cost paid to the Carillonneur will increase from £150 to £175 per recital. This reflects the work of the Carillonneur as each recital is individually researched and complied and the programme is handwritten before being printed in the Kirk. Additionally, they would like to support more musicians to learn the skills needed to play the Carillon. They will invite experienced keyboardist to see the Carillon being played, and these players will then have the opportunity to learn from the experienced Carillonneur. For this they propose to pay the experienced Carillonneur £500. This will ensure that the bells remain played for many years to come. 5.13 It is estimated that 5,000 people form the Common Good area will benefit, 5000 from elsewhere in Perth and Kinross and 8,000 from further afield. It is hoped that these estimates may be conservative given the increased visitors to Perth with the new museum. 5.14 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Recitals 22 recitals at £175 each £3,850 Cost of printing and lighting £150 Supervision of experienced keyboard players to support them to extend their skills to include the Carillon. £500 Total proposed expenditure £4,500 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £4,500
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Consideration 5.15 Committee are asked to consider an award in line with criteria 9.8. Inch View Primary School – P7 Residential 5.16 Inch View Primary School are requesting a grant of £1,000 towards the cost of their Primary 7 residential trip. 5.17 Each year the P7 pupils go on a residential trip to Loch Insh Outdoor Centre to experience activities that they would not otherwise take part in. Activities include water sports, skiing and snowboarding and it is hoped that the children learn skills such as leadership, communication and resilience by taking part. This is a great opportunity for many children in the school, some of whom have never travelled outside of Perth before. School trips are expensive for many families, with this particular trip, planned for March 2025, costing £255 per child. This year in the P7 cohort there is a set of triplets, three sets of twins, a family of eight children and children who are care experienced or have social work involvement. Data has been used to identify those children living in SIMD 1 & 2 and ACORN 4. There are 38 families in the P7 cohort who meet this criterion and would therefore stand to benefit from a grant. A grant would help these children attend the trip at a lower or null cost. 5.18 The school have secured a grant to cover 100% of the travel costs for all 62 children attending. 5.19 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: Consideration 5.20 It is considered that a grant of £1,000 is consistent with criteria 9.7. Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Cost per child for 2 nights and 3 activity days Quote from Loch Insh Outdoor Centre - £252 per child x 62 children £15,624 Snacks for trip £3 per child x 62 £186 Travel Bus travel from Perth to Loch Insh £1100 Total proposed expenditure £16,910 Moncrieff Trust (approved) (travel) £1,100 Contribution from individual/group £14,810 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £1,000
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Bertha Park High School Parent Angle 5.21 Bertha Park High School Parent Angle are applying for a grant of £1,534 to support the Intensive Support Provision (ISP) Pupils with Swimming Lessons and Life Skills sessions. 5.22 Bertha Park High School Parent Angle are a registered charity who aim to promote co-operation and communication between parents and staff at the school as well as promote equality and fairness and further activities which support the education and welfare of pupils. ISP provide intensive support to young people with complex additional support needs, covering a broad curriculum which includes widening opportunities to access the community and life skills experiences. Due to the complex needs of many of the young people, families are unable to support them to do activities like this in the community. Current activities are supported by departmental fundraising, however, funds for this will soon be ending and they are exploring new ways to fund these activities for the young people. Additionally, they have recently expanded from three to four classes which puts additional strain on budgets. These activities include swimming and water safety skills provided by Live Active Leisure; healthy living skills where young people visit the local supermarket to learn about budgeting, money handling, shopping, and public transport; and cycling safety skills provided by Active Schools. These activities are not required under the curriculum and are in addition to curricular learning, therefore cannot be covered by school core funding. So far these lessons have been very successful with seven pupils qualifying to swim in regional and national level competition. 5.23 Although the ISP is part of Bertha Park High School young people are sent to the school for this specialist provision and therefore 30 of the 32 young people attending are residents of the common good area. 5.24 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: - Consideration 5.25 Committee are asked to consider an award in line with criteria 9.8. Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Swimming Lessons January to June £27 per lesson. 45 minutes for up to 20 pupils for 26 weeks £702 Life Skills – Community Access and Healthy Living/Eating £1 per pupil per week £832 Total proposed expenditure £1,534 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £1,534
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6. PROPOSALS - COST OF LIVING GRANTS Giraffe 6.1 Giraffe are seeking £4,500 towards their project delivering Christmas meals to people in need. 6.2 Giraffe is a charity that aims to help people with severe and complex barriers such as learning disabilities, autism and mental ill health, to make the transition towards inclusion, socialisation and, if appropriate, into meaningful work. They achieve this by providing relevant supported work experience, vocational skills and personal development. 6.3 For the last three years Giraffe trainees, volunteers, and staff have made, packaged, and distributed homemade style three-course Christmas dinners to households in need that are experiencing financial insecurity, food poverty, and/or are struggling due to the continuing cost of living crisis. They hope to continue this project this year with a contribution from the Perth Common Good Fund. 6.4 They estimate that 1800 people form the Common Good area will benefit from this project, as well as another 200 from elsewhere in Perth and Kinross. To ensure that the correct people benefit Giraffe work collaboratively with other local groups including Letham4All, Perth ADHD, Caledonia Housing, Perth Autism Support, Churches Action for the Homeless, Salvation Army, and Perth and Kinross foodbank. 6.5 As well as their own volunteers in the kitchen and driving, the project will receive support from Giraffe Staff and corporate volunteer drivers. 6.6 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Food for meals Current market prices and previous years costs £12,500 Packing for meals Current market prices and previous years costs £1,500 Labels and ink for legal information for packaging Current market prices and previous years costs £1,100 Volunteer costs Largely milage/travel costs £800 Total proposed expenditure £15,900 Crowdfunder (pending and based on previous years’ donations) £3,000 Corporate donations (BAM, Balfour Beatty, AMEY etc) (pending and based on previous years’ donations) £5,500 Private Donations (pending and based on previous years’ donations) £2900 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £4,500
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Consideration 6.7 Committee are asked to consider an award in line with criteria 9.8 Inch View Primary School – Panto Trip 6.8 Inch View Primary School are seeking a grant of £4235 to fund a school trip to the Panto. 6.9 Each December the whole school visit the Panto as a fun trip but also as a way of exposing children to the theatre, making literary connections, and improving language skills. Perth Theatre support the children to understand about the theatre and provide activities and lessons prior to the visit. 6.10 Tickets for the panto are £11 per child, but the school would like to fund this in full in order to reduce the cost of the school day for parents. Snacks for the interval will be provided by the parent council and parent volunteers will support the trip. 6.11 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Panto Tickets £11 x 385 £4,235 Interval snacks £300 £300 Total proposed expenditure £4,535 Friends of Inch View Parent Council (approved) (for snacks) £300 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £4,235 Consideration 6.12 Committee are asked to consider an award in line with criteria 9.8 7. PROPOSALS - CAPITAL GRANTS 5th Perth Rainbows and Brownies 7.1 The 5th Perth Rainbows and Brownies are seeking a grant of £154.85 to purchase hi-visibility vests so as they can attend trips and events. 7.2 The 5th Perth Rainbows and Brownies were started a year ago and run out of Viewlands Primary. 46 girls from various local schools now attend. As the group have grown, they would now like to organise to attend trips and events. As a security measure as the girls are so young, they would like to purchase enough vests so as each participant can wear one when they are out. 7.3 47 young people and 3 adults from the Common Good area will benefit from the grant.
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7.4 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount Age 6-10 vests, pack of 4 £9.99 per pack (Amazon, Firtink Supplier)22 Rainbows = 6 packs £59.94 Age 7-9, M vests, pack of 6 £19.98 per pack (Amazon Brand:Swakuta) 12 Brownies = 2 packs £39.96 Age 10-12, L, pack of 6 £19.98 per pack (Amazon Brand:Swakuta) 6 Brownies = 1 pack £19.98 Age 13-15, XL, pack of 6 £19.98 per pack (Amazon Brand:Swakuta) 6 Brownies = 1 pack £19.98 Adult vests, pack of 5 £14.99 per pack (Amazon JWJK Store) 3 leaders + 2 helpers = 1 pack £14.99 Total proposed expenditure £154.85 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £154.85 Consideration 7.5 It is considered that a grant of £38.71 is consistent with criteria 10.3 Kinnoull Tennis Club 7.6 Kinnoull Tennis Club are applying for £15,000 towards improvements to their facilities. 7.7 Established in 1887 Kinnoull Tennis Club is one of the oldest in Scotland. The club provide four outdoor courts and have a successful record in local competitive leagues. They have a vision to provide the best Tennis facilities in Perth, open to all residents and visitors to the city. 7.8 The age, wear and tear, and poor drainage of the current courts mean that renovation is necessary. Plans include replacing the under surface, creating new drainage holes on the existing surface then put the new surface on top which will improve the drainage into the existing drainage channels built below the courts. Four new Tiger Turf courts will then be installed. Existing lighting will be replaced with LED to improve efficiency and create better light. The club also plan on installing a new access path which will allow wheelchair access to the Clubhouse; the courts are already accessible. They also aim to improve the safety of accessing the courts by removing a slippery grass bank and improve the perimeter of the courts. 7.9 The club estimate that 200 people from the common good area will benefit from the improvements, 100 of these people being under 16 years of age. They additionally anticipate 150 people from elsewhere in Perth and Kinross will benefit, as well as 125 from further afield.
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They hope that having improved facilities will attract players for more regional and national competitions. Additionally, the club have good relationships with the neighbouring bowling club and primary school and hope to introduce free memberships for local young people as well as for patients from Murray Royal Hospital. 7.10 Works for the project started in late September and were due to be completed by November 8th. This was to allow for the work to be completed outwith the tennis season, but before weather became a limiting factor. The club are looking for the money to make up the shortfall in what they have already raised. This will prevent them having to take a loan to pay this off over several years. 7.11 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount New Under-Surface, Courts, Access Path and Drainage Quote £135,000 Replace existing lighting with LED Quote £15,000 Total proposed expenditure £150,000 Contribution from Individual/Group £85,000 Gannochy (Approved) £40,000 Jimmie Cairncross Trust (Approved) £5,000 Thomson Trust (Approved) £5,000 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £15,000 Consideration 7.12 It is considered that a grant of £15,000 is consistent with criteria 10.4 Buttons and Bows Baby Bank 7.13 Buttons and Bows baby bank are seeking £4,000 to improve their referral system. 7.14 The aim of the Baby Bank is to help alleviate child and family poverty in Perth and Kinross by supporting parents and families with children 0- 6 years in times of need by providing free baby essentials such as baby food, nappies, equipment, clothes and toys with a mix of new and second-hand goods. 7.15 Buttons and Bows work in partnership with Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) using the FORT System as a cross-sector referral tool, however, they would like to utilise FORT's CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. A bespoke CRM will be tailored to Buttons and Bows own organisational needs. A dual referral and CRM system will increase operational efficiency allowing them to turn referrals into client records and families can be referred to wider services at the click of a button.
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7.16 There is an option to have the ability to share data with external organisations, with the correct permissions in place, which will enhance partnership working and allow for a seamless transition for families from one partner to another. This would increase the ability to support wider systemic issues that families are experiencing by identifying those who are accessing the Baby Bank on more than one occasion and referring them to support with employability, debt, advocacy, and family support etc. The Management System is supported by many community agencies including Perth Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Letham4All, PKAVS Carer's Hub, and The Heat Project. 7.17 Agencies that already refer into Buttons and Bows are Perth & Kinross Child Protection Team, Welfare Rights, ESOL Perth, local health visitors, and Turning Point. 7.18 Buttons and Bows operate across Perth and Kinross but estimate 1,250 people from the Perth Common Good area will benefit, with a further 50 benefitting from elsewhere in Perth and Kinross. 7.19 Proposed expenditure is detailed below: Specific items Basis of Costing Amount FORT CRM System Quote £9,360 Total proposed expenditure £9,360 Contribution from Individual/Group £1,360 The Clothworkers Foundation (pending) £4,000 Funding Requested from Perth Common Good Fund £4,000 Consideration 7.20 It is considered that a grant of £2,340 is consistent with criteria 10.3 8. CONCLUSION 8.1 The Committee is asked to consider the applications and agree any financial assistance to be awarded.
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Authors Name Designation Contact Details Sarah Kimmet David Stokoe Community Empowerment Officer Service Manager Communities 01738 475000 EPLCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Approved Name Designation Date Elaine Ritchie Strategic Lead Housing and Communities 7 November 2024 APPENDICES • Appendix 1: Perth Common Good Fund Criteria
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION, AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial Yes Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal Yes External None Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan 1.1 The proposals will contribute to the Community Plan’s aim of safe, healthy and inclusive communities and the outcome of communities will have improved quality of life. Corporate Plan 1.2 The proposals will contribute to the Corporate Plan’s priorities of tackling poverty and supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing. 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 The Head of Finance has been consulted and has indicated agreement with the proposals. The recommendations contained within this report will be funded from the 2024/25 Financial Assistance budget.
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Workforce 2.2 Not applicable. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 Not applicable. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. 3.2 This section should reflect that the proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: Assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.3 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. 3.4 However, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions. Sustainability 3.5 Not applicable. Legal and Governance 3.6 Not applicable. Risk 3.7 Not applicable.
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4. Consultation Internal 4.1 The Strategic Lead, Finance & Business Support and the Strategic Lead, Legal and Governance have been consulted. External 4.2 Not applicable. 5. Communication 5.1 Not applicable. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 None.