Council approves large grant awards for voluntary and community organisations

Midlothian Council has approved three-year grant awards totalling £1,458,448 for 24 voluntary and community organisations operating in the area.

Meeting priorities

The funding scheme supports community groups and charities in delivering local services which meet the priorities of the Single Midlothian Plan – to reduce inequalities in health, learning and economic circumstances, and to reduce carbon emissions.

Applications

A total of 61 applications were received, requesting funding totalling £4,455,709 for the three years from 2022/23 to 2024/25. The maximum annual award that groups could apply for was £33,500.

Recipients

Among the groups to receive grants are Volunteer Midlothian, MVA, IntoWork, Gorebridge Community Development Trust, Access to Industry, Y2K, Progress Through Learning Midlothian (Napier University), RUTS Vocational, Gorebridge Community Cares, Lothian Veterans, and Play Therapy Base.

Funding

Also receiving funding are Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, MYPAS, Midlothian SureStart, Penicuik and District YMCA/YWCA, Play Midlothian, Children 1st, MAEDT (Mayfield and Easthouses), Home Link Family Support, The Orchard Project, Changeworks, Dalkeith CAB, Midlothian Financial Inclusion Network and Cyrenians.

Transition support

The council has also agreed to set up a transition support fund to assist those organisations who scored well in the assessment process but did not receive funding due to the large volume of applications received. Grandparents Parenting Again & Kinship Carers, Pathhead Youth Project, Midlothian Foodbank and Food Facts Friends will receive around 38% of the costs they requested.

Huge contribution

“We all recognise the huge contribution our volunteers, local groups and charities make to Midlothian’s communities and the critical support they have provided during the pandemic,” said the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Councillor Russell Imrie. “The award of these large grants will help provide them with the key funding they need to take forward local projects and to provide support which will make a real difference to the lives of people living in Midlothian.”

Scoring

A cross-party group of councillors were involved in assessing and scoring the large grant applications, with the support of council officers, representatives from health, members of the Third Sector Interface and volunteer community members. Volunteer positions were advertised to ensure transparency and openness, with two community members joining the assessment panels.

Small grants

The council’s small grants scheme is also currently open for applications. Community groups, charities and social enterprises can apply for grants of up to £3,000 for community projects aimed at improving the quality of life for local residents. Forms and guidance documents are available at www.midlothian.gov.uk/funding The closing date for applications is Wednesday 5 January 2022.

14 Dec 2021