Community Funding Update
Renfrewshire Council · 13 May 2025
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 13 May 2025 and its agenda
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 13 May 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Community Funding Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 A report is submitted to the Communities and Housing Policy Board each cycle which sets out officer recommendations in relation to a number of specific community funding mechanisms including the Sustainable Communities Fund and the Villages Investment Fund. An officer panel meets on a monthly basis to assess applications received in advance of this report being submitted. 1.2 As Elected Members will be aware, the guidance for both the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund was updated over the winter period, and formally approved by the Leadership Board on 19 February 2025. During the intervening period, a small number of applications have been received and have been assessed in line with the guidance in place. Recommendations relating to these applications are set out in sections 4 and 5 for Elected Member consideration and summarised within Appendix 1 of this report. 1.3 Regular reports in relation to community funding applications will continue to be developed and submitted to the board for consideration. The next update to board will also include an update on some of the projects that have been funded through projects supported through these funding routes.
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2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that members of the Board: • Approve the recommendations detailed in Sections 4 and 5 and summarised in Appendix 1 of this report, in relation to applications received to the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund. 3. Background 3.1 To strengthen monitoring and oversight of funding recommendations made in relation to a number of specific Council funding streams, the Policy and Partnerships service now submits a community funding paper to each cycle of the Communities and Housing Board. This includes recommendations from officers in relation to funding awards through the Greenspaces Fund, Villages Investment Fund and the Sustainable Communities Fund. This has been supported by the establishment and development of a cross-service officer panel which provides corporate oversight of grant applications in advance of making recommendations for elected members to consider. 3.2 On 19 February 2025, revised guidance for both the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund was approved by the Leadership Board. The funds were then reopened for applications, following the temporary pause that was introduced whilst the guidance was being reviewed. 3.3 The officer panel met during April 2025 to consider applications in relation to both the Sustainable Communities Fund and Villages Investment Fund with key recommendations set out in Sections 4 and 5 of this report. The officer panel will now meet on a monthly basis going forward. 4 Sustainable Communities Fund – Recommendations 4.1 The aim of the Sustainable Communities Fund is to support infrastructure and place-based projects across all areas of Renfrewshire which improve the lives of local people and build resilient communities. 4.2 In line with the revised guidance approved by the Leadership Board in February 2025, the Sustainable Communities Fund uses a tiered funding model to reflect different-sized community projects as well as the varying levels of support required at different stages of development as follows: Level of funding Overview Applications up to £9,999 Applications for both capital and revenue funding aimed at enabling small community projects to be undertaken, for example, the purchase of small pieces of equipment,
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community engagement initiatives, volunteer development programmes. Applications between £10,000 and £24,999 Applications for both capital and revenue funding focused primarily on costs to enhance community infrastructure, for example, feasibility studies, business/project plans for community asset transfer, and project management costs. Applications above £25,000 up to a max of £100,000 applications invited for capital costs only aimed at supporting communities that aspire to take ownership or redevelop land or buildings in their local communities. 4.3 A cross service officer panel met in April 2024 to assess 2 applications against the refreshed guidance. One of these applications, in relation to the Lighthouse project in Paisley, was previously deferred to allow for further development work to be undertaken with the organisation in relation to the project. 4.4 In summary the panel recommends that: • 1 application by the Life Church for £100,000 of funding in relation to the Lighthouse Project should continue to be deferred to gather final information requirements required by the panel to support assessment of the application; and • 1 further application for funding of £2,100 by Inchinnan Development Trust is not recommended for funding award. Inchinnan Development Trust received £24,725 funding from the Sustainable Communities Fund in January 2024 in relation to development costs for a synthetic pitch, and therefore is not eligible for further funding in line with the funding guidance. 4.5 The Sustainable Communities Fund currently has £450,877 of funding available for future allocation (£300,380 capital and £150,497 revenue). A small number of applications are in the pipeline for review by the officer panel, and recommendations will be brought to board as we move forward. 5. Villages Investment Fund 5.1 As outlined in Section 3, guidance for the Villages Investment Fund was also revised in the last few months, with the refreshed guidance being approved by the Leadership Board on 19 February 2025. A key driver of the review was to ensure the guidance was more closely aligned to that of the Sustainable Communities Fund and to strengthen the guidance and application process relating to this fund. 5.2 The aim of the Villages Investment Fund overall is to support infrastructure and place-based projects which support and strengthen the identity, heritage,
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uniqueness and integrity of villages across Renfrewshire. Supported projects should demonstrate tangible outcomes for communities. 5.3 In line with the guidance, projects should specifically have a core focus on: • Making physical and environmental improvements to villages across Renfrewshire • Promote sustainable community use of spaces across villages • Increasing levels of external funding being attracted into Renfrewshire to develop spaces and infrastructure across villages • Encouraging the development of new partnerships across villages 5.4 A tiered model of funding is in place as follows in relation to the Villages Investment Fund. Level of funding Overview Applications up to £1,999 This tier of funding is intended to support small scale revenue or capital projects which support the development of ideas, enable quick and visible change, encourage and kickstart community action and deliver visible physical improvements. Applications between £2,000 and £9,999 This tier of funding is intended to support sustainable physical improvements in physical places and infrastructure across villages, demonstrating clear evidence of community support Applications between £10,000 - £24,999 This tier of funding is intended to support larger scale projects which will deliver significant improvements to physical and places and infrastructure, which have secured community buy in and have levered, or have to plans to secure additional external funding or resources to the village. 5.5 Two applications were considered by the officer panel in April 2025 in relation to the Villages Investment Fund. In summary the panel recommends that: • 1 application by RSPB for £14,246 of funding to support investment in pond and play facilitates at their community facilities in Lochwinnoch is recommended for approval; and • 1 further application for funding of £1,680 by Inchinnan Development Trust to support Forest School activities is not recommended for funding award as this does not meet the criteria of the fund. Work will be undertaken to link the organisation to other funding sources within the Council and externally to support the future delivery of this programme of activities. 5.6 Prior to any recommendations being considered by the Board, £258,000 of funding is currently available to support future applications made through the Villages Investment Fund, which will broadly be split 60% capital/40%
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revenue. This includes additional funding of £50,000 which was allocated by the Council in its budget on 27 February 2025. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – Funding of £14,246 is recommended for approval this cycle from the Villages Investment Fund, as outlined in Appendix 1. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none. 3. Community/Council Planning – community funding supports engagement and collaboration with local communities on a range of activities which align with the new Council Plan 2022-2027; Our Renfrewshire Community Plan and/or Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero. 4. Legal - none. 5. Property/Assets – there are a number of applicants to grant funds seeking to pursue community asset transfers, and where there are relevant property or asset issues these are covered as part of discussions at the officer panel. 6. Information Technology – none. 7. Equality and Human Rights – the Recommendations included within this report are considered to have a positive impact on equality and human rights. The fund continues to attract applicants seeking to make community assets more accessible for communities, for example in this round there are recommended awards to support disabled access and facilities in community venues, dedicated projects for older people, as well as a number of projects seeking to address poverty and socio-economic disadvantage faced within some local communities. 8. Health and Safety – none. 9. Procurement – none. 10. Risk – none. 11. Privacy Impact – none. 12. Climate Risk – the Sustainable Communities Fund aligns with the themes within Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero and the delivery of relevant projects will assist the local response to the climate emergency. 13. Childrens Rights – while there are no specific children’s rights implications associated with the recommendations, there are applications in the pipeline which seek to widen opportunities for children and young people to actively participate within their communities. 15. COSLA Policy Position – none.
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Appendix 1: Summary of applications with Officers recommendations ___________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers: Sustainable Communities Fund Guidance Author: Laura McIntyre, Head of Policy and Partnerships
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Appendix 1 – Sustainable Communities Fund DEFERRED APPLICATIONS Name of organisation Project description Tier Grant Application Amount Recommended Award Comments Life Church The Lighthouse Project aims to transform the 1929-30 Henry Wilson Art Deco building at Paisley Cross, Paisley, Scotland, into a vibrant community hub featuring a café and public worship space. Large £100,000 N/A Recommendation to defer to allow for further engagement and clarification on the application. Regular discussion has been taking place with the group, which has been very productive, however the size and scale of this application does require further ongoing engagement. APPLICATIONS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD Name of organisation Project description Tier Grant Application Amount Recommended award Comments
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Inchinnan Development Trust IDT is applying for funding to cover legal costs (£1,750+VAT) arising from the CAT of an area of land neighbouring community-owned Teucheen Wood. Small £2,100 n/a Not recommended for award as organisation has received funding from the SCF in relation to other projects which is not permitted within the guidance. Appendix 2 – Villages Improvement Fund APPLICATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD Name of organisation Project description Tier Grant Application Amount Recommended Award Comments RSPB The organisation is seeking funding to build and implement play and pond infrastructure at their local site in Lochwinnoch Middle £14,246 £14,246 APPLICATIONS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD Name of organisation Project description Tier Grant Application Amount Recommended award Comments
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Inchinnan Development Trust The organisation are seeking funding to support the delivery of Forest School activities in the local area for local families, groups and children Small £1680 n/a The application does not meet the criteria of the fund, however work will be undertaken to link the organisation to other funding sources which may be available to support the project.