**The Fund is now closed for applications**

Humanitarian Fund - Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is about local people having a direct say in how public money is spent. The process of PB can vary greatly, but the core of it looks like this:

  1. Groups or organisations have ideas on what they could do with the money
  2. The people of the community vote for which idea(s) they like the most
  3. The projects with the most votes are funded

If you are interested in learning more about Participatory Budgeting then check out the following link: www.pbscotland.scot

Overview of this fund 

Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire in collaboration with Community Learning and Development and Strategic Services has established a community steering group in order to deliver this fund. This Humanitarian Fund has a total of £150,000 to distribute over 2 rounds and fund projects that will reduce the impact of COVID-19 on residents, community groups and businesses within the local authority.

Priorities for the project have been identified through consultation undertaken by Engage Scotland into the impact of COVID-19 in East Renfrewshire.  

The priority groups are: 

  • Children and young people – especially those with ASN 
  • Older people – including those in more affluent areas 
  • Those with disabilities and long-term conditions 
  • Carers, especially carers of people with dementia 
  • Single households especially older people, single parents 
  • Young families especially those in social housing 
  • Those with language barriers 
  • Women experiencing domestic violence 

Application Process

If you have an idea for a project and are thinking of applying, please give us a call on 0141 876 9555 first to check whether your idea is something that our funding will support. 

Applications will be made through the application form found under Application Form Tab. Once complete, the applications should be sent to funding@va-er.org.uk. You can also print off the application and drop it off in person at either of our Market place venues in Barrhead or Newton Mearns. It will then be assessed by a panel to ensure that the application meets the funding criteria.

The closing date to submit your application will be the 15th of February.

If your application successfully meets the criteria, you will be notified that your application is through to the next stage. This next stage will involve creating an A3 Poster using the template provided. This poster will be used to showcase your group/organisation’s project to the general public. We will be offering support for making this poster if needed.

Applications will be sifted as and when they come in. once agreed to move forward, applicants are given a week from the sift decision to submit their poster.

Poster can be submitted by emailing to funding@va-er.org.uk 

You can also print off your A3 poster and drop it off in person at either of our Market place venues in Barrhead or Newton Mearns.

Whichever method you choose to submit your A3 Poster, it needs to be submitted by the 21st of February at 5pm.

The posters will then be showcased at The Marketplace venues at Barrhead and Newton Mearns on the 24th, 27th and 28th of February. The general public will then vote at these venues for what projects they would like to see in the community.

An Online voting system will be available from the 24th of February until 4pm on the 28th of February.

Advice and Support

If you have an idea for a project and are thinking of applying, please contact us first to check whether your idea is something that our funding will support.

Email: funding@va-er.org.uk 
Call: 0141 876 9555