About the fund
The Communities Recovery Fund aims to support community groups, charities, social enterprises, and voluntary organisations who are supporting people and communities in responding to the challenges presented by COVID-19 as we head towards recovery from the pandemic.
The fund aims to prioritise those areas and communities experiencing the greatest impact from the pandemic, encouraging collaborative and partnership approaches to help maximise the funding available. Following the open call for applications which ran from 21 September 2020 to 12 February 2021 we have reviewed the funding delivered to date enabling us to ensure that where we understand those communities affected the most by COVID-19 can be prioritised for the remaining funding allocated for 2021-2022.
An initial group of 10 Local Authority areas have been identified as priority areas and we will be working with community organisations, Third Sector Interfaces and Local Authorities to identify needs and develop expression(s) of interest. We will be encouraging partnership working in supporting the needs of communities in their recovery from the pandemic. The first 10 local authority areas we worked with were:
- Angus
- Dumfries & Galloway
- East Ayrshire
- Highland
- Inverclyde
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- North Ayrshire
- Scottish Borders
- South Ayrshire
- West Dunbartonshire
We are now also working with the following ten additional local authority areas:
- Aberdeenshire
- Argyll & Bute
- Dundee City
- Fife
- Moray
- North Lanarkshire
- Orkney
- Perth & Kinross
- Renfrewshire
- South Lanarkshire
Applications from eligible organisations will then be developed for consideration.
The Communities Recovery Fund is seeking co-ordinated applications from collaborations and partnerships, however, if your organisation is looking for funding of less than £3,000, please see the Enabling Neighbourhoods and Communities Fund.
Eligible organisations that will be considered for support from the Community Recovery Fund are:
- voluntary or community organisation
- registered charity
- constituted group or club
- not-for-profit company or Community Interest Company (CIC)
- Community Council
And that are:
- Based and operating primarily in Scotland. If your organisation also operates outside of Scotland, you must demonstrate that the funding will be used solely for its operations and beneficiaries which are based in Scotland.
- Incorporated and registered as a SCIO with OSCR, or as a company limited by guarantee registered with Companies House. Community Councils must have an agreed Scheme of Establishment with the Local Authority, have a written constitution, and hold a bank account.
We are encouraging partnership working wherever possible as, with the limitations on the funding available, this will help to ensure that the remaining funds can be used to best effect in meeting the needs in communities. Working with lead community organisations such as Community Anchor Organisations will enable access to funds to other smaller community groups and mutual aid groups who have a role in supporting community recovery.
Applications from individual organisations will be considered where partnership working is not practical or possible.
A further group of priority LA areas will be approached once the initial areas have been advanced. We expect to make decisions as early as possible and will have processed all applications by the end of December 2021 with all funding to be expended by 31 March 2022.
The fund is delivered in partnership by Community Enterprise in Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Corra, Development Trusts Association Scotland, Glasgow West of Scotland Housing Forum, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, The National Lottery Community Fund and the Scottish Community Development Centre.
The Communities Recovery Fund is part of the Third Sector Community & Recovery Programme announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government on 2nd September 2020.
The Communities Recovery Fund and Enabling Neighbourhoods and Communities Fund are being supported in 2021-22 with further funding of £7m.
If your question is not answered in the guidance section or in the FAQ section, please contact your funding partner if you have an existing award or application or alternatively the Scottish Government at: Gillian.gunn@gov.scot.
