Glasgow’s Community, Sport and Cultural Facilities Social Enterprise Fund will support local communities to make better use of existing buildings that are currently operating below full capacity or facing other challenges to remain sustainable in the present economic climate. The fund will help support Glasgow to deliver a positive Legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games through:
• Supporting the operational & business capacity of communities to manage their venues and projects.
• Supporting local people to develop their creative and entrepreneurial skills to grow and expand services, generate revenue and improve financial sustainability.
• Facilitating community involvement and skills development resulting in projects that are initiated, designed, managed, and run by the local community.
• Creating a sustainable physical infrastructure which provides safe, accessible venues that support people through the different stages of life.
• Assisting communities to adapt and transform building spaces in ways which connect and resonate with them and their locality.
What will the Social Enterprise Fund Support?
The Enterprise Fund will support the following
• Business Income and Development
Business planning; feasibility studies to support new business development and diversification of business, seed fund money for new initiatives leading to sustainability; capital developments, equipment and refurbishments linked to income generation or new business opportunities; professional advice; research.
• Activity Development
Training and monitoring to support programming, understanding/growing audiences, marketing, events (producing and programmes), community consultations, cultural and sports programme management, pilot initiatives leading to new activities and programmes, exchange visits to learn from other similar organisations.
• Governance and Organisational Development
Training and development support for committees and volunteers, volunteer development, management training, organisational development.
Providing Support to the Applicant Organisations.
One of the key aims of the Fund is to develop the long term sustainability of organisations and to provide the opportunity for applicants to build their capacity. To achieve this aim through the programme applicants, where need is identified, capacity building support will be provided by Glasgow Regeneration Agency through the fund programme on a commissioned basis and not be awarded to the applicant as a grant.
Eligibility and Application Process
To establish if your project is eligible to apply to the fund you must initially complete the brief eligibility checker through this link. If your project is confirmed as eligible to proceed you should submit your contact details to info@glasgowlife.org.uk. A representative from Glasgow Life will then contact you to discuss your project, and if eligible, the application process will commence.
Application Process
1. Organisations will be invited to complete a Stage 1 application for financial assistance from the SEF. This Stage 1 Application will provide essential information on the applicant organisation, to determine the nature of the support required and the likely cost of this support. The applicant will also be required to undertake an organisational ‘healthcheck’ to assess its capacity, strength and ongoing sustainability.
2. Completed Stage 1 Applications will be assessed by a panel of officers and a recommendation as to the type and level of support be made to Glasgow City Council Executive Committee for approval. If approval is given at this stage the applicant may be asked to complete a stage 2 application for more complex projects. Support and assistance, where required, will be provided through this process.
All Funds allocated must be spent by the 31st of March 2013, the first meeting. The maximum package of support and direct grant will be £50,000 per organisation with an expectation that the majority of awards will be in the region of £10,000 to £20,000. The Fund will not support ongoing revenue costs.
Email: info@glasgowlife.co.uk