MORAY COMMUNITY PROJECTS that aim to offer assistance to older people, mental health or drugs and alcohol issues could soon benefit from a new £40,000 funding pot.
The cash has been secured by tsiMoray through the Scottish Government’s Community Choices Fund – and will be used by Moray’s third sector interface to target project on these three themes.
The Scottish Government’s Community Choices Fund, launched earlier this year, was targeted at work in deprived areas, and community groups across Scotland were able to apply for a share of £750,000 to organise their own participatory budgeting events.
tsiMORAY and The Joint Community Councils of Moray were successful in collectively securing more than £90,000 for Moray.
The #YOUCHOOSE fund will welcome applications that focus on health and wellbeing through social connections, providing activities, prevention, early intervention, harm reduction or recovery.
Community groups will be able to apply for grants of up to £2000 each from October 24 until December 18 – with tsiMoray adopting a participatory budgeting approach to the allocation of funds that will be voted for by the local community early next year.
Martin Robertson, Third Sector Development Officer, said: “#YOUCHOOSE is a great opportunity for local projects to bid for funding to deliver projects that matter to Moray. Although the fund is aimed at health and wellbeing, proposals don’t need to have a medical element, we’re keen to support alternative options by looking at the social outcomes of projects and beyond.
“Participatory budgeting is a fantastic way of distributing funds, we’re delighted to support local people in making real decisions about what matters to them in their community.”
tsiMORAY’s health and wellbeing team have a worker responsible for each theme (older people, mental health and drugs & alcohol) and are more than happy to discuss and support applications ahead of the deadline.
Applications are available by contacting info@tsimoray.org.uk, visiting http://www.tsimoray.org.uk/youchoose or from the tsiMORAY office at 30-32 High Street, Elgin.