Investing in Communities Fund: The Scottish Government’s Investing in Communities Fund prioritises those places where support is needed most, for disadvantaged, rural and fragile communities across Scotland. All successful projects will deliver work that achieves the following outcomes:
reducing poverty and inequality – fewer people experience poverty and inequality, with a focus on ending child poverty; with improved life chances and opportunities; and live healthier lives;
sustaining place based approaches – communities are more resilient, equal and work in partnership to achieve shared ambitions for their place;
community-led regeneration – communities are more sustainable and able to shape their own futures by strengthening the role and offering of locally controlled enterprising community (anchor) organisations, where local people are enabled to identify for themselves the challenges and priorities for their areas and make decisions on what solutions are needed;
ensuring a just transition to net zero – communities are more climate aware, are better equipped to support behaviour change and able to contribute positively to taking action on climate change.
Guidance is now available for Round Two of this funding, and can be accessed here ICF GUIDANCE. The application process will open March/April 2022, with a project start of April 2023. We are keen to see several bids go in from Midlothian organisations. However, these bids will be stronger if there is good evidence of partnership working and coordination at a local level. Therefore, we are inviting any organisations who are thinking of applying for funding to attend an online information session about the funding on Tuesday 1 February at 3pm, on Teams. There will be a brief presentation about the funding, then we will split attendees into facilitated breakout rooms grouped by the location that they are working in to allow local organisations to share information about bids. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/midlothian-investing-in-communities-information-session-tickets-244381711277
