INTRODUCTION
As more and more projects are being considered to implement Actions in
the Tayside Biodiversity Action Plan, the urgent need for funding needs
to be addressed.
It is hoped this first Newsletter will prove helpful in suggesting possible
ways of locating such project funding. This publication is very much a ‘first
attempt’ and all Partners – and those interested in biodiversity
issues – would be very welcome to contribute to future editions.
Comments on this First Issue would also be most welcome so that we can
improve on it in the future.
If you know of any suitable sources of funding that might be of interest
to this Newsletter’s readers, please send further details so that
they can be included in the next issue. Likewise, please feel free to pass
on this Newsletter to anyone who may find it of interest.
The copy date for news for Issue 2 will be 31 January 2005.
Catherine Lloyd
Tayside Biodiversity Co-ordinator |
RURAL TAYSIDE GRANTS
WEBSITE
www.ruraltayside.org
Originally created in October 2000, this Website now hosts information
on over 100 grants and organisations which can help with funding issues.
The Website is intended to be used by individuals and community groups
in rural Tayside wishing to simplify the process of looking for grants
which are currently available.
Divided into 8 topic headings, brief descriptions are given about the grants
as well as details of who to contact for further information. Grant headings
include
Art, Culture and Sport
Business
Community Development
Environment
Heritage
Housing
A loose-leaf folder mirroring the information available online has also
been produced. Folders are currently available at local libraries and some
Community Councils across rural Angus and Perth & Kinross. |
BIODIVERSITY ACTION
GRANTS SCHEME
The Scottish Executive’s Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme is intended
to stimulate and encourage a range of projects that will assist implementation
of the aims of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to protect and enhance
Scotland’s natural environment. Together with the Nature Conservation
(Scotland) Act 2004, the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy has now established
a coherent system of nature conservation for Scotland.
Applications are now invited from a wide range of public bodies, voluntary
bodies and local groups to support projects that benefit biodiversity locally
(or nationally) and involve action to implement the new Scottish Biodiversity
Strategy. £200K a year (for 3 years) is now available.
All applications will be assessed by a panel of biodiversity stakeholders
reflecting the strong partnership behind Biodiversity Strategy. All applications
will be assessed against a range of criteria, covering:
Delivering the objectives of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.
Delivering an inclusive approach, involving communities, making connections
between biodiversity and people and where appropriate, offering good quality
volunteering opportunities, especially for young people.
New approaches to partnership working.
Involving wider social or economic benefits.
Be capable of wider replication.
Have clear objectives, defined outcomes and timescales.
Applications are now invited – the application forms and supporting
documentation are available on the Scottish Biodiversity Website at www.scotland.gov.uk/biodiversity
The deadline for receipt of applications is 1 September 2004.
Further details and advice please call
Elaine McCall , Tel 0131-244-6602
e-mail elaine.mccall2@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
or
John Ramsay, Tel 0131-244-6519
e-mail john.ramsay@scotland.gsi.gov.uk |
CSV ACTION GRANT
Grants of up to £50 are made available to help with tool purchase,
equipment materials and refreshments for practical environmental projects.
You can register online or get more information from www.actionearth.org.uk.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss project ideas then please
contact: CSV Action Earth’s Scottish Co-ordinator, Robert Henderson
on Tel: 0131 6227766 or email: rhenderson:csv.org.uk. For general information
about registration, please contact Naseem Akhtar, Action Earth Co-ordinator
on Tel: 0121 328 7455 or Email: naseem@csvenvironment.org.uk. |
AGGRESIVE LEVY
FOR COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL SCHEME
The Scottish Executive has allocated Forward Scotland £4.1m for
a three year period of 2004-2007. The broad framework and level of funding
available from the CERS grant programme are specified in the policy directions
given to Forward Scotland by the Scottish Executive. The CERS grant scheme
aims to support a wide range of community based projects that:
Improve the local environment for communities affected by past or present
aggregate extraction;
Involve the local community and demonstrate social and/or economic benefit
to the local community
Guidance notes are now available. If you wish to register your interest
in the new scheme, please either call 0141 222 5650 or email:cers@forward-scotland.org.uk
with your contact details.
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SUSTAINABLE ACTION GRANTS
Grants for 2004-2005 and 2006-2007 are now available; further details on
the Scottish Executive website. Details can also be obtained from: Sustainable
Development Directorate, Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs
Department, Area 1-H, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ. Tel: 0131 244
0395/1750. |
ANGUS ENVIRONMENTAL
TRUST GRANT SCHEME
The scheme covers all of Angus except the northernmost glens. Any small
scale project which fulfils at least one of the objects of the Landfill
Tax Credit Scheme will be considered; the project must be approved by Entrust.
Contact Roy Madden, Director, Angus Environmental Trust for further information:
Tel. 01307 473540 or email:
maddenr@angus.gov.uk |
THE BIFFAWARD
BIODIVERSITY CATEGORY
Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the RSNC,
which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services, has
launched a new biodiversity category. This move follows ENTRUST's introduction
of Object DA into the LTCS.
One of the key elements of the new criteria is that general public access
to project sites would not need to be demonstrated. As a result, appropriate
organisations will be able to apply for projects that seek to conserve
habitat on private land.
The Biffaward biodiversity category will have two main aims:
1) to maintain and recover species in their natural habitat
2) to conserve and promote biological diversity through the provision,
conservation, restoration or enhancement of natural habitat.
Projects can apply for between £5,000- £50,000 and should be
in line with Biodiversity Action Plans or other relevant programmes.
As with all Biffaward categories, projects must be within 10 miles of a
Biffa operation to be eligible to apply for funding. Biffaward will be
looking for projects that demonstrate effective partnership working and
include research, recording, monitoring and education.
For further details, please visit www.biffaward.org
The Hanson Environment Fund introduced their new Biodiversity category
in January 2004. |
The BTCV’s CHESTNUT
FUND
Start-up grants of up to £100 are available to support the administrative
costs of setting up a community group involved in environmental conservation
work. Support grants of up to £300 allow community groups to begin
or extend practical conservation work. The applicant group must take out
Associated membership with BTCV (£25), to be eligible to apply.
Contact the Community Groups Co-ordinator, BTCV Scotland, Balallan House,
24 Allan Park, Stirling, FK8 2QG; tel: 01786 479697 or email: scottish-groups@btcv.org.uk |
THE CROWN ESTATE’S MARINE
STEWARDSHIP FUND
This fund provides grant-aid to practical projects which contribute to
development of best practice, and make a significant contribution to the
environmental management and stewardship of the Marine Estates. Community
groups, voluntary and other organisations can all apply for 100% funding
for a project. Proposals that bring together a range of partners to ensure
community benefit are encouraged. All the projects supported by the Fund
must be related to Crown Estate land, either by demonstrating good management
of particular Crown Estate property, or enhancing stewardship of the Crown
Estate's foreshore and seabed by furthering best practice in coastal and
marine management.
There is no set limit to the funding that can be applied for; however,
the normal maximum request is £10,000 in one year or £30,000
over 3 years. Contact David Philip, The Crown Estate, 6 Bell's Brae, Edinburgh,
EH4 3BJ (david.philip@crownestate.co.uk) or check the website: www.crownestate.co.uk |
ALLOTMENTS REGENERATION
INITIATIVE
The Allotments Regeneration Initiative has received further funding from
the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and is inviting further applications under
the scheme. There will be 3 funding streams:
Flagships Grant Scheme - funding infrastructural works on allotment sites
that have the potential to return to vibrant use (i.e. currently underused
or derelict). Between 15 and 30 grants from £2500 to £25000
will be made. Priority will be given to projects that engage people currently
under-represented on allotments or disadvantaged people in general. Previous
grants within the initiative have mainly gone to local authority led projects
as a result applications will no longer be accepted from local authority
led initiatives but they must come from allotment associations or other
non-statutory bodies.
Mentor Network - to build a network of volunteer mentors to provide support
for allotment regeneration - mentors will be trained to make presentations
to groups, local authorities and similar associations. Volunteer mentors
will receive training in Birmingham but all expenses will be reimbursed.
Beer and Buses - enabling people to visit successful allotment sites and
find out what is possible. The programme was launched in June 2004 and
will provide bursaries for visits to other allotments. Sites can also be
listed in a Good Site Guide - by sending a 100-200 word description of
why your site should be included.
Details from:
http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/ariround3.htm |
SEEKIT
The Scottish Executive's Expertise, Knowledge and Innovation Transfer fund
is open to applications. Public bodies are eligible to apply for funding
(local authorities, LECs, Universities etc.) for projects that will promote
co-operation in research & development and knowledge transfer between
SMEs and the Scottish public sector science base. Innovative proposals
that will deliver productive knowledge transfer outcomes will be welcomed.
It is expected that most projects funded will be able to attract co-finance
from European Structural Funds such as Objective 2 ERDF. Support will be
given to actions which:
Develop knowledge transfer links between research institutions and SMEs
Disseminate new & existing knowledge, processes and technologies
Encourage the effective commercialisation of R&D activities
Application forms can be found at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/innovationgrants |
CALOR SCOTTISH
COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR AWARDS
These awards aim to provide Scottish communities with recognition of their
achievements. One of the key elements of this scheme to encourage communities
to work together to safeguard the long-term viability of local life.
This year's Awards feature a total prize fund of over £5000 for the
5 entry categories:
Environment
Business
Young People
Older People
Community Life
Entry is generally open to all Community Councils in Scotland, but other
community groups can apply, at the discretion of the Association of Scottish
Community Council's, if they meet the following criteria:
Not for profit local organisation or trust set up to improve the social,
economic or environmental health of the local community;
A strong emphasis on the involvement of local individuals or groups;
Partnerships, networks or forums acting within a localised community.
More information from:
http://www.communityoftheyear.co.uk/ |
BT SCHOOL AWARDS
2004
The BT Schools Awards for 2004 will be open for applications between the
28th of May and the 14th November. Up to £½M (£2000
for 240 projects) will be awarded to schools in the UK. Projects must illustrate:
Good practice in citizenship
Development of the skills and attitudes young people will need to play
their role as active and responsible citizens
Development of communications skills
Projects will need to link to the curriculum, pupils should be able to
play an active role in the project and projects should develop good practice
that can be disseminated to other schools.
Applications are available from:
http://www.btplc.com/ict/bt_schools_awards/about_the awards.cfm
Projects funded last year include:
Creating safe playground environments
Promoting recycling to the school and local community
Establishing a Children's Council - issues of school democracy
Supporting the transition from primary to secondary schools |
And Finally – please
let us know what you’re doing for biodiversity in Tayside.
Please contact:
Catherine Lloyd, Tayside Biodiversity Co-ordinator
Environment Services, Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street. Perth. PH1 5GD
Tel: 01738 475273
Email: Tayside.biodiversity@ukf.net |
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THE
HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND
FRAMEWORK FOR HABITAT ACTION PLAN PROJECTS
The Heritage Lottery Fund supports capital and revenue projects aimed at
protecting, enhancing or improving access to and understanding of land
of wildlife value - the natural heritage. One of the current priorities
in assessing countryside projects is theme-based projects, especially projects
that aim to conserve and enhance priority habitats as defined by UK Biodiversity
Action Plan.
This guidance is specifically for projects requiring grant aid, for projects
whose primary purpose is habitat conservation and restoration and where
the applicant is a charity or not-for-profit organisation and is usually
the legal owner or manager of the land. For larger, integrated landscape
projects involving wider partnerships and activities on both public and
private land applicants are advised to use the separate Landscape Partnership
application pack available from The Heritage lottery Fund.
Preliminary Heritage Lottery Fund funding figures
Since the beginning of HLF about £3billion has been awarded and of
this, approximately £200 million has been awarded towards land acquisitions
and other projects that have had primary benefits for nature conservation. £73.6
million has enabled the purchase of 365 parcels of land totalling an area
of 66,137 ha's. Approximately £125 million has funded about 640 biodiversity
projects.
Land acquisitions
HLF has enabled the purchase of : 1510ha's of lowland grazing marsh, 1136ha's
of pasture, 923ha's hay meadow, 803ha's coastal grazing marsh, 618ha's
salt marsh and 462ha's parkland, plus 33584 ha's of marginal land (good
quality habitat not classified - mainly Mar Lodge Scotland Montane habitats)
and 3764 ha's of agricultural land.
Other nature conservation projects
HLF has funded other projects which have benefited grassland habitats,
including 376ha's lowland grazing marsh, 169ha's pasture and 16ha's hay
meadow.
Overall contribution to HAP targets
Taking the figures for land acquisition and biodiversity projects together,
it is possible to indicate what contribution to HAP targets might be. HLF
have collated data looking at how funding has contributed in terms of conservation,
restoration or (re)creation. There are likely to be other purchases of
designed landscapes or whole farms that contain grassland which will not
have been recorded here. |
HERITAGE LOTTERY
FUND
LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP
Guidelines for the HLF's Landscape Partnership Fund have now been published.
The scheme provides funding of between £250000 and £2M. These
partnerships will be made up of members of the community, or regional,
national or local organisations with an interest in a landscape area of
distinct local character. The Partnership will develop, manage and deliver
a variety of programmes and activities that benefit the landscape and the
community.
Priorities include projects that aim to:
Conserve or restore the built and natural features that create the historic
character of the landscape;
Conserve and celebrate local cultural associations
Encourage more people to access, learn about and become involved in the
landscape
Improve understanding of local craft and other skills by providing training
opportunities
The next deadline for applications is the 1st of October and most projects
are likely to be in rural areas. More information is available at:
CLICK
HERE |
AWARDS FOR ALL
The Government's White Paper on the National Lottery indicated that the
upper limit on grants from Awards for All would increase from £5000
to £10000. Timescales for this alteration are still unclear.
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THE COMMUNITY
ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL SCHEME (CERS) 2003-2004
Report 2003
Scottish communities in areas affected by past or present quarrying operations
were able to apply for grants of between £5,000 and £50,000
for projects that addressed the environmental effects of aggregate extraction.
Two application rounds were held in June and September 2003, with a total
of 31.9 million offered to projects that will improve the quality of
the local environment.
Details of the projects supported through the CERS grant programme can
be seen in the documents attached at the bottom of this section. Further
information will be made available on the Community Webnet. Please revisit
this site for more information.
http://www.forward-scotland.org.uk/
The Small Grant Scheme
Funds available to constituted groups that wish to pursue an environmental
project. The maximum grant available is £1,000 and forward Scotland
will normally fund up to 75% of the cost of a project. However, ‘in
kind’ contributions can be considered as counting towards total
cost. The aims of the Small Grants Scheme are to:
Provide the capacity for groups at the early stages of a project to plan
their outputs and ascertain how these outputs are going to be achieved
Provide funding for training or professional help such as a solicitor
or accountant
Assist groups to consult stakeholders on the need for their project.
Enable groups to organise a meeting or seminar to discuss the project,
or
Enable groups to publicise the project in order to develop community
involvement.
The list below shows some of the outputs the Small Grants Scheme may
be able to assist:
Conducting a feasibility study
Carrying out research
Producing a business plan
Holding a public meeting, seminar or conference
Conducting a survey
Printing a leaflet
Producing a one-off publication
Helping to purchase training or professional support
Attending a seminar or confer4ence held by another group
Designing a website or setting up an electronic network
Sustainable Development
While the main purpose of the Scheme is assisting environmental projects,
work should take account of good practice in sustainable development
as a whole by including some community benefit connected to social or
economic issues. If you would like to work in partnership through the
Programme, please contact:
Michael.cunningham@forward-scotland.org.uk
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COMMUNITY FUND
New Name: The Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund are in the
process of merging to create the largest of the lottery funds and a new
name has been chosen: The Big Lottery Fund.
Pilot Scheme - Pre-Application Process - since the 1st of January, the
Community Fund has been piloting a pre-application process in Scotland.
This means that potential applicants complete a short pre-application form,
which is assessed by the Community Fund, and only those meeting all the
criteria for support will be asked to complete a proper application form.
It is anticipated that the pre-application process will decrease assessment
times by a month, there will be only one application form no matter how
much money is being sought and only those organisations whose project the
Community Fund is likely to be interested in will need to complete the
whole form. The pre-proposal document will address issues such as organisations'
financial status, impact project will have on clients and how the project
will be delivered, assess how well the idea fits with local funding strategies
etc.
Projects which the Community Fund invite to complete a full application
will be sent a personalised application form (only those successfully completing
the pre-application stage will receive an application form) and will have
6 months to return it to the Community Fund.
Policy Changes: The Community Fund has issued new policies for applicant
organisations employing staff with Community Fund grants. The 3 key areas
are:
Payments towards statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay
that cannot be recovered from statutory sources (from 1st April 2004 -
maximum £500 - applies to all new and existing applicants)
Payment of costs to cover statutory redundancy (applies to all new applicants)
on fixed term projects paid by the Community Fund. Remember to include
this in your new application if relevant.
Tapering for all development applications - organisations will be expected
to contribute (in- kind or cash) 25% of the total project cost and where
organisations cannot contribute 25%, tapering will be imposed on them.
Exceptions will be made where other funding is not available in the area
for the type. |
PARTNERSHIP GRANTS
(SCHOOLS)
The Royal Society has been awarding Partnership Grants to schools since
2000. The scheme supports teachers working with research scientists and
engineers to create imaginative projects for school pupils aged 5 to 16.
Grants of between £250 and £2500 are available to cover project
costs, travel allowances and purchase of equipment necessary to deliver
the project (as long as it is not usual school equipment). Previous winners
have delivered projects looking at fitness levels, soap, soil samples,
levels of acids in plants, growing of bee orchids, chick hatching etc.
More information is available on the Royal Society website:
http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/education/partnership.htm
The next deadline is the 22nd of October 2004. Deadlines happen twice a
year in February and October. |
THE SNH COMMUNITY
GRANT SCHEME
The Community Grant Scheme is available to encourage people to take a more
active role in enjoying and managing the natural heritage in their local
area by:
Increasing awareness and understanding of local natural heritage;
Improving degraded areas through active management;
Improving access for all;
Acquiring and managing land;
Supporting communities to develop the longer-term capacity to undertake
and manage projects
Any constituted community group can apply for funds of up to £3,000.
Applications for more than £3,000 and/or involving land purchase
may still be accepted, but assessment will take longer. Rate of grant is
usually up to 50% of eligible costs but higher rates may be available to
voluntary/community groups in some cases. Any project that benefits both
the natural heritage and the community will be considered, including:
Enhancing the natural heritage of land and water;
Improving existing footpaths or bridleways;
Community events staged to raise awareness of the local natural heritage
In the Angus area contact the SNH office at West Lodge, Airlie, Kirriemuir,
DD8 5NP—tel: 01575 530333; in the Perth and Kinross area contact;
SNH Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW - tel: 01738 444177. or check the
website www.snh.org.uk |
BT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Another scheme from BT is their Community Connections Grant, which focuses
on voluntary, and community organisations that need access to the Internet
to deliver their services or improve operation activity. An award package
worth approximately £1300 is available. It consists of a NEC multimedia
computer, Microsoft software and one year's free Internet connection.
Deadline for Round 2 - the 2nd of December.
More information is available from:
http://www.btcommunityconnections.com |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With thanks to Dundee City Council for being able to quote from their Spring
Funding Newsletter.
The Biodiversity Funding Newsletter has been compiled by Catherine Lloyd.
Thanks are also due to Lynda Ronald, Perth and Kinross Council for designing
and preparing this Newsletter. |
The Tayside Partnership includes:
Angus Council, Dundee City Council, the Forestry Commission, Farming & Wildlife
Advisory Group, National Farmers’ Union Scotland, the National Trust
for Scotland, Perth and Kinross Council, the Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds, Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, Scottish Agricultural
College,
Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish
Wildlife Trust
The Tayside Biodiversity Action Plan may be viewed on www.angus.gov.uk
or www.pkc.gov.uk |
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