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Rural Answers
Funding for community project
iain caddell
I would endorse Daye's comments about the Scotland Rural Development Programme. SCVO are providing a service to help rural community groups access this and other funding. We'll have more information on this service on the Rural Gateway shortly, in the meantime contact sheila.fraser@scvo.org.uk
Another source of funding information for food projects is from the community food and health website, see http://www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk/fileuploads/source2004-6202.pdf
and also http://www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk/funding/smallgrants.php
finally it may be worth your while talking to Alastair Nicholson at Voluntary Action Lewis, who I know run a community bakery, see http://www.valewis.org.uk/
5-Jun-2008 @ 17:17PM
Daye Tucker
Depending on the size of Dunbar's population, ie less than 10,000, you might be able to apply for SRDP funding.www.scotland.gov.uk/srdp. A partnership that provides rural benefit and fits with the priorities of the Forth RPAC, some of which are local food, the protection of the environment and water catchment areas, it could be looked on favourably but it is a competitive process.
Check out LEADER on the same website. LEADER understands social enterprises and innovation. Dunbar is in the Forth RPAC area for SRDP Tel 0131 654 2466 and Tyne and Esk for Leader, Tel 01620 827 101.
even more funding thoughts
9-Jun-2008 @ 14:13PM
Thomas Black
The Big Lottery Fund's Growing Community Assets programme was set up to fund exactly this kind of thing. It funds the acquisition and development of physical assets such as land and buildings for community benefit. Projects must have clear income generating plans. BLF have recently announced that they are looking in particular to fund more local food initiatives. However, the closing deadline for this fund is 1st August (for outline applictaions). For more details see http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_investing-in-communities.htm?regioncode=-uk&progStatus=open&status=theProg&title=Investing%20In%20Communities or call Andrew Bauer, Community Land Adviser for South East Scotland, on 01259 743555.