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Partick and Thornwood Ideas Fund is a Participatory Budgeting initiative funded by the Scottish Government Investing in Communities fund.The fund gives individuals and groups an opportunity to apply for grants to realise their ideas which will deliver a positive change for local people in the community. Everyone living or working in the Partick and Thornwood area will have the opportunity to vote and decide which projects are funded. Funds must be used to benefit the community of Partick and/or Thornwood. Funds can be used for a wide range of things from training, buying equipment, starting you own group, group running costs, activities, running events or trips.

This funding, which reinvests criminal assets recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, will provide the opportunities and the tools to support young people to make informed decisions about their future.In this phase, CashBack partners will deliver early and effective prevention activities for children and young people aged 10-25. By strengthening ties with local communities, Cashback for Communities will provide positive activities for young people facing the greatest challenges.This phase will focus on:- Providing safe spaces and suitable activities for young people to combat boredom, frustration, and isolation, which can contribute to antisocial behaviours.- Supporting young people to understand their own value and become positive influences and leaders within their communities.- Delivering holistic support for particularly vulnerable young people which includes their family or care environment. Where a young person may have the potential to come into conflict with the law, support will be extended for family and caregivers.- Offering support for young people who are already in conflict with the law to reflect on past behaviours and work towards a more positive future.

Running from August 2026 to December 2027, the New FWDF initiative contributes to Scotland’s mission to increase earned incomes and eradicate child poverty by investing £10 million in colleges. This targeted investment equips colleges to upskill in-work parents, carers, young people and other priority groups, boosting household incomes for those in, or at risk of, in-work poverty. Simultaneously, it helps employers to close skills gaps, adopt Fair Work practices, and drive business productivity.This fund is specifically aimed at low-income parents, carers, disabled and care-experienced young people within the workforce, and employer partnership is essential.The key objectives of this funding are to:- **Break the cycle of poverty:** Support parents/carers in low-income households to enter, sustain, and progress in employment by providing college-based, employment-focused learning opportunities. These should be timetabled in a family-friendly way. This should equip people with skills to enter or progress in work, fostering collaborative multi-agency partnerships, and supporting existing ESOL provision in colleges.- **Provide “wraparound” support:** Deliver holistic “Whole Family Support” to address structural barriers like childcare and transport, ensuring learner choice and direct upskilling opportunities for low-paid workers are available to drive career progression.Funding is for 2026-27 only at this stage. Future funding is subject to confirmation by the Scottish Government.

Dumfries and Galloway Council has received funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support Place Regeneration and Improvement Capital Grants. The fund is designed to support projects that strengthen the economic resilience and regeneration of local communities. It aims to ensure that community-led, place-based projects receive the support they need to contribute to long-term renewal and improve the health and wellbeing of communities across Dumfries and Galloway.Examples of suitable projects would be those which support:- Development of local towns, villages and communities;- Town centre regeneration, including support for local jobs and businesses.Projects must:- support place based or town/village centres improvement- be capital-based- be capable of starting immediately upon approval- be delivered within the financial year- demonstrate that at least 10% match-funding is in place- have secured ownership or a long lease of the site- ideally be identified in a place plan or town/community action planPlease visit the Council website for full guidance on each of the grant schemes.