A funding pot of around £40,000 has already been awarded to third sector organisations in Moray – now more groups in the region are being encouraged to get their bids in for more.
Drawing its membership from both the Buckie and Elgin areas, singing group Joyful Noise wee one of the beneficiaries with a £19,990 grant while the Lampie Hoose in Portgordon received £4200 to help them develop a community hub.
Awards of between £500 and £3000 have also gone to Community Food Moray, Outfit Moray, Moray Men’s Sheds and the Forres Area Community Trust.
While the Change Fund is in its final year of operation tsiMoray’s third sector development officer, Elidh Brown, says there is still sufficient time for other Moray groups to take advantage of available funds.
She said: “It has been very encouraging to see such a wealth of applications come in for the funding but there is still more in the pot.
“tsiMORAY will soon be launching a specific fund for health and wellbeing in our communities targeting smaller third sector organisations such as community groups who have not previously applied to the Change Fund.
“£5,000 will be available in the first round, when awards will be made as small grants of up to £1,000 each.”
Meanwhile tsiMORAY is hosting an event, Health and Wellbeing in our Communities, on October 16 from 1pm until 4pm at The Inkwell in Elgin, where advice and support will be given on making funding applications to the Change Fund.
The Change Fund was created to support the Reshaping Care for Older People (RCOP) agenda, a 10-year programme to improve older people’s experience of care and support.
tsiMORAY is responsible for administering funds awarded to the third sector with Elidh playing a key role in supporting organisations through the application process.
Elidh said “There are many successful initiatives that have been generated by the Change Fund since the launch of RCOP in 2010, such as the establishment of BALL (Be Active Life Long) groups by Moray Council’s Older People’s Development Team.
“There is also a need to encourage fresh applications from the third sector that encourage independent, healthy and active living in our communities.”
The October event had originally been planned for August but had to be cancelled due to the extensive flooding in Moray at that time.
It aims include encouraging members of third sector groups and organisations from across Moray directly involved in the provision of health and social care services as well as those from the heritage and cultural sectors who are often run by and involve older people in their activities.
More information on the Change Fund and how to apply can be found at www.tsimoray.org.uk
To book a place on the Health and Wellbeing in our Communities event contact is Nina@tsimoray.org.uk providing your name, contact details and the organisation that you are connected with.