Community Grants Scheme

** Please note, applications for Round 2 of the Community Grants Scheme are being accepted between 18 November and 22 December 2023 (at 5pm). See below for links to the webforms. **


The Community Grants Scheme is one of the ways that the Council provides funding to the community and voluntary sector. Any group that has a constitution, a bank account, is not for profit and aims to bring benefits to the residents of East Dunbartonshire can apply to the grants scheme. You do not need to have charitable status to apply.

The Community Grant Scheme is committed to encourage and support community-led activities, that result in a community benefit for East Dunbartonshire residents.

Applications for grants are assessed against the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP) which sets out the priority outcomes for East Dunbartonshire and focuses on improving public services across the authority. 

Applying

Your application must be submitted via the webforms:

 

 

 

Please note the online form must be completed and submitted in one sitting – you cannot save and return to it. We recommend that applicants read the FAQ’s below before completing their application.

Or alternatively you can fill out the pdf version at the bottom of this page and email to communityplanning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Who can Apply?

To apply an organisation must be operating in East Dunbartonshire Council area and must:

  • Have a constitution or other document setting out how the organisation is constituted
  • Be a not for profit organisation
  • Have a bank account in the name of the organisation
  • Have properly approved independent examined accounts or agreed procedures in place for recording income and expenditure if new organisations projected accounts
  • Have met the reporting requirements in relation to any projects previously funded by the Council
  • The project must meet at least one outcome of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP)

What can we fund?

  • You can apply for a grant for a wide range of projects as long as it is not for profit and brings benefits to the residents of East Dunbartonshire. You can apply for capital, revenue, consumables, ongoing capital and overhead costs
  • In your application you can ask for funding for start-up costs, special projects, equipment and salaries
  • Applications may only be made for costs incurred throughout the period of one year
  • Religious organisations that want to carry out work in the community can apply to the grant scheme

When can you apply?

There are two opportunities to apply for funding in 2023/2024:

  • Round 1 opened on 26 June 2023 and closed on 28 July 2023
  • Round 2 will open on 18 November 2023 and close on 22 December 2023 at 5pm

How to apply?

Submit a completed signed application. Provide the requested supporting information:-

  • A copy of your organisation’s constitution or other document setting out how the organisation is constituted
  • A copy of your organisation’s most recent approved independently examined accounts or if you are a new organisation an income and expenditure plan for the first year
  • A copy of your organisation’s most recent bank statement
  • Copies of 2 quotes/estimates that your organisation has obtained for individual items costing £500 or more that you are seeking funding for
  • Proof of ownership or signed copy of a lease in favour of your organisation if this grant is to be used to fund improvements to land or buildings owned/leased by your organisation
  • Copies of any licences/ consents granted to your organisation which may be relevant to the application (only if applicable)
  • A Job Description for each post to be funded or part funded with this grant

How we assess your application?

Applications are considered on individual merit by the Grant Advisory Committee. Your application will be assessed on the following criteria:-

  • Community impact
  • Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP)
  • Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)
  • Value for Money
  • Financial Viability
  • Project management (for applications £5,000 - £10,000)

What happens next?

  • All applications will be assessed and scored against the same set of criteria, as set out in the Scoring Matrix.
  • Due diligence checks will be undertaken
  • Applications made will be assessed by Grants Advisory Committee
  • Those applications with a score of 10 or above for grant applications below £5,000 and those scoring 13 or above for grant applications between £5,000 and £10,000 will be put forward for award
  • Final determination of the outcome of your application are made by the Community Planning Partnership Board
  • If awarded a grant you will be notified by letter
  • When a grant has been approved, and the terms & conditions met, payment is usually made directly to your organisation’s bank account, normally within 14 working days of formal notification via BACS transfer
  • A blank monitoring report is issued with your award letter; this should be completed and returned as soon as your project is completed. All grants must be spent within 12 months of award. Further applications cannot be considered until previous projects have been satisfactorily monitored and accepted as complete
  • If you are not awarded a grant, you will receive a letter explaining why. Unsuccessful applicants can reapply in future if they have an eligible project

Need more help with your application?

If you are not sure about applying or require assistance please contact us on communityplanning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk by the deadline in order for your application to be considered.

Community Planning
East Dunbartonshire Council
Southbank House
Strathkelvin Place
Kirkintilloch
G66 1XQ

Tel: 0300 123 4510
Email: Communityplanning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

or

East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action
Unit 4/5 18-20 Townhead
Kirkintilloch
G66 1NL

Tel: 0141 578 6680
Email: info@edva.org

Monitoring and Evaluation 

If successful in receiving a grant, at the end of the year when your project is completed you need to send us a monitoring form. You can use the form within the document section of the page or complete our online form (new form coming soon).

Case Studies

Projects Funded by Community Grants in 2023/24

Scheme A

Group Name

Target Group

Purpose of Grant

Award

1st Lenzie Company, the Boys Brigade

 

Boys Brigade members, 5-25years

 

Contribution

to transport costs and musical instruments and equipment

£2,440

3rd Bearsden BB Company

 

Young people

Contribution

To hall hire, subscriptions, trips and equipment

£1,500

Addiction Recovery centre

 

Everyone who wishes to live a life free of substance abuse

 

Contribution

to Running costs, food, subsistence and volunteer costs

£3,637

 

Auchinairn Parent and Toddlers

 

Families in Auchinairn with pre 5's

 

Contribution

to Festive Outing to M&D's Christmas Fun, lets, bus and payment of lets

£3,705

Bearsden & Milngavie Youth Orchestra

 

Youth

EDC letting and Honorarium

(nominal charge for professional service).

£3,365

Betterbriggs

People local to Bishopbriggs

Contribution

To hall hire, Craft activities, music and dance, decorations and food and drink

£1,662

Bishopbriggs Community Council

All of Bishopbriggs and Auchinairn

Contribution

To speakers and microphones, defibrators, casting units and installation

£3,998

Campsie Parish Church

 

Everyone

Contribution

To Sounds system, gazebo, song sheets, banners, flyers, refreshments, music teacher salary

£1,444

Cruse Scotland

 

66+

Contribution

To salary costs, volunteer training, supervision and travel

£3,040

EDVIP

Visually impaired

Contribution

To running costs, marketing materials, tabletop magnifiers, travel/volunteer expenses

£1,722

G64 Community Support

All residents in G64 postcode

 

Contribution to Volunteer expenses, Volunteer meetings, Client Events, Stationery & Advertising Insurance

£1,500

Gavin's Mill

Other people 26 - 66

Contribution to Labour and incidental materials, heavy duty shelving for zero waste dispensers, counter cupboards and tips

£3,763

Girlguiding Milngavie and Castlehill District

5 – 25-year-old

Contribution to Coach travel and part funding for trip to Blair Drummond

£1,938

Hillhead housing association

People with no or low income

 

Contribution to Food and fuel vouchers for tenants/people in Hillhead Food £50/100 fuel £30/50

£4,600

Milngavie and Bearsden Men’s Shed

Men aged 18 and over

Contribution to Cupboards, hardwood for benches, paint and sundries

£2,949

Milngavie Tennis Club

 

Anyone

Contribution to rent cost for quarter one

£ 2,160

Open Water Rescue

25 - 65

 

No Award

Ramekin and rolling pin

All ages

Contribution to buy ingredients

£1,520

 

Rookie Rockstars

5 – 18-year-olds

Contribution to cost of providing free family counselling sessions

£3,648

The Bearsden Festival Association

All ages

Contribution to the Part fund project coordinator along with New Kilpatrick church

£2,560

Torrance community initiative

Torrance residents target age 5-25. Park open to everyone

Contribution to the cost of Ladder, Recycle bins and waste bags

£438

Townhead Toddlers

Toddlers, Children and Carers

Cost of Toy garage, Play food set, Sensory play ring, toy pram

£507

Twechar Senior Citizen club

Local senior citizens particularly those who live within Twechar

Contribution to the cost of Travel cost, tickets and refreshment for the panto

£990

Scheme B

Group Name

Target Group

Purpose of Grant

Award

175th Glasgow (1st Bishopbriggs) Scout Group

Young people

Contribution to 27 double glazed windows

£6,666

Antonine Theatre Group

 

Adults 16+

Contribution to Refurbishment of toilets

Nil Award

Baldowie Tennis club

 

Young people

Contribution to Labour and materials

£5,023

Cerebral Palsy Scotland

 

Cerebral Palsy sufferers and families

Contribution to Therapy and centre running costs, Therapist services Centre staff salaries

£9,000

Cue and Review Recording Service

 

Over 65 with sight loss

Contribution to Access to Audio Development Worker; Travel budget

£7,600

 

Deafblind Scotland

 

Deaf and blind

Contribution to project leader, project officer, guide communicators, training

£9,313

East Dunbartonshire Womans Aid (02)

 

Women and girls

Full award for salaries

£10,000

Gavin's Mill

 

 

 

26 – 65-year-old

Contribution to Labour and incidental materials, Slatwall and accessories, drawer cupboard units, mobile gondola and blinds

£7,458

Girl Guiding Kirkintilloch East District

 

5 – 25-year-old

Contribution to Bus, promise badges and certificates, craft equipment and first aid kits

£6,714

Lennoxtown Project Group

 

Lennoxtown residents and wider EDC population

Contribution to Notice boards, picnic tables, ground plates, wave seats and lowther benches

£5,912

Milngavie Development Trust

 

Milngavie Community seniors over 66

Contribution to Plants, building material, design, and project management

£7,333

Sense Scotland

 

People with support needs

Contribution to Soft play, mirrors, curtains, bubble tubes, interactive equipment, paint and decor

£7,602

Shoenstatt Sisters of Mary

 

Community Organisations and Voluntary Organisations

Contribution to Poly tunnels, garden shed, planters and utility costs

£7,500

Stich the Gap CIC

 

Low or no income families

Contribution to Washing machine, dryer, salary costs and rent

£7,333

The Kirkintilloch Band

 

Children

Contribution to Repair and refurbish instruments, new mouth pieces, new drum kit, music tuition and grading exams

£6,590

The Sporting Aces

 

People with disabilities and long-term health issues

Contribution to Head coach and assistant coach salaries. Admin salary, coach hire, trip entry costs

£7,852

Waterside Miners Charitable Society

Hillhead Community

Contribution to Ecology survey, principal designer – demolition. Sustainability assessment, topographical survey, pre-planning application and demolition warrant

£7,548

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                      

Community Grants success story

Grants Advisory Committee

The Grants Advisory Committee (GAC) was formed in 2003. The committee’s role is to assess grant applications made to the Community Grants Scheme run by East Dunbartonshire Council. The group of 25 volunteers represent community groups and organisations across East Dunbartonshire. If you are a member of a local community group and are interested in joining the GAC please get in touch: communityplanning@eastdunbarton.gov.uk