Funding for Community Regeneration Projects Launched
East Lothian Council (ELC) has launched a new grant fund, the Regeneration Project Capital Fund, to support the capital delivery costs associated with a regeneration project for community groups and organisations. This fund has been developed and is funded through the Scottish Governments Place-based Investment Programme. (PBIP)
The fund will provide financial support to allow community groups and organisations to progress capital projects, such as new facilities, repair and/or upgrading of buildings, installation of climate change mitigate measures, and improvement of outdoor community spaces.
The funding aims to support communities to engage with, and deliver, place-making activity in their area which will address local issues, benefit communities, and assist with the development of wider regeneration potential.
The Regeneration Project Capital Fund follows on from the successful round of project development funding offered through the UKSPF Regeneration Project Development Fund to provide community groups with a route to continue projects to a conclusion.
The Regeneration Project Capital Fund can fund up to 75% of capital project delivery costs and can also be used as leverage funding to attract other funding streams to support a larger community project, however the funding must be committed by 31st March 2024. (for example through the appointment of a contractor to deliver the project.)
The supported projects must be able to demonstrate how the funding will assist with the delivery of wider regeneration aims within the area, including the vision for the long-term benefits for the local communities and wider East Lothian population, aligned with both the East Lothian Plan objectives and East Lothian Council Climate Strategy Outcomes.
A maximum grant of £50,000 will be available per community group or organisation towards project costs. As the available funding is limited, grant applications will be assessed and scored competitively against a set of eligibility criteria.
The fund will have a single funding round in 2023/24, with the deadline for submission of applications being 5pm on Friday, 1st December 2023.
The intention is that the Regeneration Project Capital Fund will also run in 2024/25 allowing community groups and organisations time to develop projects sufficiently beyond the current funding deadline noted above.
For further information, guidance notes, and application forms please contact:
regeneration@eastlothian.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
In 2020 the Scottish Government committed to establishing a Place-Based Investment Programme (PBIP), linking and aligning its place-based funding initiatives. The aim of the PBIP is to ensure that all place-based investments are shaped by the needs and aspirations of local communities and accelerate the ambitions for place, 20-minute neighbourhoods, town centre action, community led regeneration and community wealth building.
The Place Principle, which underpins this approach, was adopted by Scottish Government and COSLA as a basis for collaborative working to ensure that future local investment is relevant to local communities for the benefit of local people.
The Scottish Government agreed with COSLA and local authority Leaders that £23 million will be provided to local authorities through the PBIP in 2023/24. East Lothian Council is making a proportion of its funding allocation available through grant funding for projects where financial commitment (such as contractor appointment) can be made before 31st March 2024.
The Regeneration Project Capital Fund has a total budget of £100,000 for 2023-24 to assist with capital project costs. It is anticipated that this funding will support a MINIMUM of 2No. Individual projects.
Applications will be invited in a single funding round. It is anticipated that the fund will open again for applications in 2024/25 with an increased funding allocation to support additional projects.
Regeneration Project Capital Fund 2023/2024
Grant Guidance Notes
Introduction
In 2020 the Scottish Government committed to establishing a Place-Based Investment Programme (PBIP), linking and aligning its place-based funding initiatives. The aim of the PBIP is to ensure that all place-based investments are shaped by the needs and aspirations of local communities and accelerate the ambitions for place, 20-minute neighbourhoods, town centre action, community led regeneration and community wealth building.
The Place Principle, which underpins this approach, was adopted by Scottish Government and COSLA as a basis for collaborative working to ensure that future local investment is relevant to local communities for the benefit of local people.
The Scottish Government agreed with COSLA and local authority Leaders that £23 million will be provided to local authorities through the PBIP in 2023/24. East Lothian Council is making a proportion of its funding allocation available through grant funding for projects where financial commitment (such as contractor appointment) can be made before 31st March 2024.
The supported projects must be able to demonstrate the wider aims and potential benefits that will be provided within the local communities and/or wider East Lothian population linked to Council Strategies. (East Lothian Plan, East Lothian Council Climate Strategy, etc.)
This document provides guidance to the application process and should be read carefully before submitting an application for funding.
Fund Structure 2023-24
East Lothian Council have been allocated funding from the Scottish Government through PBIP. The funding has been allocated to support capital project delivery linked to regeneration activity and place-making projects that will make a measurable difference within our communities.
The Regeneration Project Capital Fund has a total budget of £100,000 for 2023-24 to assist with the delivery of capital project costs. It is anticipated that this funding will support a MINIMUM of 2 individual projects.
Applications will be invited in a single funding round. It is anticipated that the fund will open again for applications in 2024/25 with an increased funding allocation to support additional capital projects.
How Much Can Be Applied For?
Grants of up to £50,000 can be made from the Regeneration Project Capital Fund at 75% of the funding required. The funding MUST be used to support the capital delivery costs associated with a regeneration project. The funding is NOT conditional on a prior application for Regeneration Project Development Funding being awarded. It should however be demonstrated within the application that the proposed capital project is/can be fully funded and is deliverable should funding from the Regeneration Project Capital Fund be secured.
Eligible Area
Applications are invited to support capital project costs from communities across East Lothian. Scoring criteria will take account of areas identified within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) however this will form only part of the assessment and will not preclude ANY area being supported through the fund.
Key Dates for 2023-24
· 30th October 2023 – Round 1 Application Period Open
· 1st December 2023 – Round 1 Application Submission Deadline
· 20th December 2023 – Round 1 Grant Offers Issued
· 31st March 2024 – Deadline for confirmation of funding expenditure / commitment
· 30th September 2024 – Deadline for completion of all funded works / services and submission of monitoring report
Grant Payments
Grants will be paid up to 75% of eligible capital project costs. Match funding or in-kind contributions to the value of 25% of capital project costs will be required from other external funding sources or applicants own funds.
Grants can be drawn down via submission of a claim form and supporting information either at the end of the project or in interim payments as expenditure is incurred.
Interim payments will be made up to 90% of the agreed funding with the final 10% of grant funding payable when all valid cost evidence and reports are submitted at the end of the project.
All grant expenditure must be complete or, at least work or contracts signed or commenced by 31st March 2024. All funded works must be complete and funds claimed by 30 September 2024.
All projects must be completed and evidence, including reports and evaluation, submitted no later than the dates noted above in order to receive the final grant payment.
Application Process and Assessment
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Stage 1 – Community Groups / organisations with regeneration projects that required capital delivery stage funding to submit a completed and signed application form and any supporting information by the application submission date. (See Key Dates above)
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Stage 2 – Applications initially assessed by the ELC Regeneration Officer to ensure Fund eligibility. Applications that do not meet the fund eligibility will not be considered.
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Stage 3 – Eligible applications assessed based on the Regeneration Project Capital Fund scoring criteria (See Appendix A) and funding recommendations prepared.
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Stage 4 – Funding recommendations considered by an East Lothian Council funding board / Senior Managers to determine which projects will be offered support.
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Stage 5 – Grant Offers issued to successful applicants and letters of explanation issued to unsuccessful applicants.
Please Note: The decision of the East Lothian Council funding board / Senior Managers is final and there is no appeals process for unsuccessful or partially funded applications.
General Conditions of Grant / Restrictions on Funding
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Any funding awarded is for capital project expenditure only and all eligible costs must exclude reclaimable Value Added Tax.
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The Grantee will notify East Lothian Council as soon as possible if an underspend is anticipated.
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If the Grantee does not use the grant in the financial year 2023-24, (or as noted in the guidance) unused grant is to be repaid to East Lothian Council unless otherwise agreed in writing.
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No part of the Grant shall be used to fund any activity or material which is party political in intention, use, or presentation or appears to be designed to affect support for a political party.
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The Grantee shall keep East Lothian Council informed of the use of their grant through the submission of project monitoring reports (if appropriate) and an end of project evaluation in autumn 2024. East Lothian Council will issue a template for these returns.
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The Grantee shall, where reasonably practicable, acknowledge in all publicity material relating to the funded project, the contribution of East Lothian Council and the Scottish Ministers in a manner to be agreed in advance.
Completing the Application Form – Click here
The following guidance relates to the sections of the Regeneration Project Capital Fund Application form. Should you require and clarification, further information or assistance completing the form then please contact: regeneration@eastlothian.gov.uk
Section A – Organisation / Group Details
This section seeks information about your group / organisation including its name, address, legal form and charitable status. Details are also required on the group / organisations structure and constitution as well as what its main purpose is.
Details for a Primary (day to day) and Secondary contact are also requested for correspondence during the grant process.
A copy of the Organisation / Group Constitution and a link to / copies of Minutes from the last three meetings of the Organisation / Group MUST be provided as part of the application submission. Failure to submit the required documentation will result in the application not being considered.
Section B – Project Details
This section seeks information about the project including its title (which can be changed at any time provided this is communicated), its location, any partner organisations involved and what type of project category it is. (Selected from a list within the application)
A short descriptive summary for the proposed regeneration project is required and should include what the capital project is (eg new build clubhouse, repair works to existing building, formation of new community garden etc), what it aims to achieve within the community, (eg. Increase participation in group activity, reduce loneliness, increase understanding of climate mitigation etc.) and what the requested funding will be used for. (eg. Construction costs, installation of new equipment etc.)
An indication / summary of how the project will meet any East Lothian Plan Objectives will be required.
Each application will be scored against a set of funding criteria and priorities to ensure the successful projects are best placed to meet the demands of their communities and deliver regeneration activity. A statement is required as to how the project will meet each criteria. Further information is available in Appendix A.
Where a Professional Advisor (Architect, Project Manager, Surveyor etc.) is appointed to lead the capital project delivery then confirmation of their contact details is required including what Professional Memberships or Accreditation they possess.
Some projects may require statutory consents (Planning Permission, Listed Building Consent, Building Warrant Approval etc.) to allow the capital project to be delivered. These consents should be obtained in advance of any physical works taking place and should be noted on the application form and copies of the approval notices enclosed with the submission.
Many capital projects may require development of drawings and/or a specification for the works. These should be noted and copies of the relevant documents / drawings enclosed with the submission.
It is important when dealing with building works that the applicant confirms the ownership arrangements for the property. Grants can be offered to lease holders provided a legally bound lease agreement can be provided along with owner consent for any works to be carried out. The remaining duration of any lease agreement and conditions imposed will require to be agreed/approved as part of the grant application process. Further information may be required.
Insurance cover for any capital project delivery and ongoing cover must be confirmed and copies of any insurance schedules enclosed with the submission.
An indication on the likely timescales for the funded project are requested as are any other relevant timescales linked to the project development. (This could include other funding decisions or statutory approvals)
Section C – Finance
This section seeks information about the costs identified for the project and the grant funding required. The application to the Regeneration Project Capital Fund can be for an individual project cost (contractor, supplier, equipment etc.) or it can be a contribution towards an overall package of funding to support the capital project delivery costs.
Any capital project works should be competitively tendered to a minimum of 3 contractors/suppliers and the received costs summarised on the application form. Copies of submitted tenders and/or a tender report from the appropriate professional advisor should be enclosed with the submission.
Where 3 competitive tenders cannot be obtained for the works then please provide reasons and mitigation for a reduced number to demonstrate best value and enclose relevant supporting evidence with the submission.
Total project costs should be noted on the application including any professional fees, statutory consent fees and any other associated costs which can be included in the capital project delivery.
Other funding sources and amounts should also be identified, including own funds if applicable. The status of other funding sources should be confirmed as either Secured (grant offers issued/ accepted) or Pending (grant application submitted / being processed).
Identification of the amount requested from the Regeneration Project Capital Fund should be noted. Please remember that the maximum grant available is £50,000 on the basis of supporting 75% of the eligible capital costs for the project.
The Regeneration Project Capital Fund cannot fund work that has already been completed before any grant application / grant offer has been made.
Please include your group / organisation bank details wit the application submission to ensure that successful applicants can draw down funds as soon as claims are submitted.
Section D – Privacy Notice
This section provides information on how we will collect, use, and dispose of any personal information / data that is collected as part of the grant application / grant offer process. Contact details are included should you wish to seek further information on this process or to make a formal complaint about how the information / data is used.
Section E – Declaration
The person signing this Declaration must be an Authorised Contact (Director, Office Bearer or equivalent). All parts of the declaration MUST be completed including a signature and the date of submission.
An electronic signature is acceptable if the application form is returned from the email address of the authorised signatory/recipient and accompanied by the following wording:
Please find attached the application form and supporting information from [Insert Contact Name & Organisation / Group Name] to East Lothian Council Economic Development Regeneration Team relating to the Regeneration Project Capital Fund 2023/24, which I have signed.
I confirm that I am authorised to sign the Application Form on behalf of [Insert Organisation / Group Name] and I have signed by way of electronic signature.
Section F – Supporting Documents Checklist
Please use the Checklist to gather all documentation required. Some may not apply to your project but, if you are in any doubt, please contact regeneration@eastlothian.gov.uk
East Lothian Council reserves the right to update or revise this guidance note without prior notice. (Current Revision – October 2023)
For further information or assistance with your application please contact:
Economic Development – Regeneration Team
John Muir House – Brewery Park – Haddington – EH41 3HA
Telephone: 01620 827 827 Email: regeneration@eastlothian.gov.uk
Regeneration Project Capital Fund 2023/2024
Appendix A – Application Assessment Criteria and Scoring
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 01 CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND/OR ADAPTATION
Identification / description of how the proposed project will help address issues related to Climate Change Mitigation and/or adaptation based on the East Lothian Council Climate Strategy Outcomes:
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Outcome 1: East Lothian Council will be a Net Zero and Sustainable Council.
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Outcome 2: Active Travel and Sustainable Transport are used for everyday journeys, to drastically cut emissions from transport and improve air quality.
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Outcome 3: Net Zero, Energy Efficient Homes and Buildings that are adapted for a changing climate.
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Outcome 4: A Resource Efficient and Sustainable East Lothian and the route to Zero Waste.
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Outcome 5: A Low Carbon and Sustainable Economy.
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Outcome 6: A Healthy and Resilient Natural Environment and the route to Carbon Neutral.
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Outcome 7: East Lothian’s Communities are places encouraging a Low Carbon Lifestyle and are prepared for the effects of Climate Change.
MAXIMUM SCORE = 10
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 02 DEMONSTRABLE NEED / DEMAND FROM THE COMMUNITY
Evidence based identification / description of how the proposed project has been developed with AND meet the needs of the local community. This should include evidence of community consultation activity (Reports / statistics) and/or engagement events, as well as assessment of the results and recommendations.
MAXIMUM SCORE = 10
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 03 DELIVERABILITY
Identification of the proposed project deliverability status. This should include delivery timescales (Within the funding timescale); funding commitments (Fully funded or partial/pending funded); assessment of potential project risks and associated mitigation measures.
MAXIMUM SCORE = 10
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 04 COMMUNITY BENEFIT
Description of the likely community benefits that the proposed project will deliver, who will benefit and how. Description of the wider impact that these benefits will have within the community and the issues that can be mitigated through delivery of the proposed project.
MAXIMUM SCORE = 10
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 05 IMPACT
Identification / description on what impact the proposed project will have in the local area including projected outcomes. (People engaged, buildings repaired etc.) This impact could be physical (repairs / redevelopment / improvement of the built environment / amenities including green spaces etc.) and or socio / economic. (People into employment, businesses supported etc.)
MAXIMUM SCORE = 10
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 06 SUSTAINABILITY / VIABILITY
Identification / description of how it is anticipated the proposed project will achieve a long-term sustainable future to ensure any initial investment will be maintained and developed in the future. This may include future funding plans, strategic goals for future development, business planning, financial projections etc.
MAXIMUM SCORE = 10
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 07 EAST LOTHIAN PLAN
Provide details of which objectives within the East Lothian Plan will be met by delivery of the proposed project, and how any monitoring / evaluation demonstrating the success in relation to these objectives will be carried out and recorded.
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Objective 01: Grow Our Economy – Increase sustainable and inclusive economic growth as the basis for a more prosperous East Lothian.
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Objective 02: Grow Our People – Give our children the best start in life and protect vulnerable and older people.
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Objective 03: Grow Our Communities – Give people a real say in the decisions that matter most and provide communities with the services, infrastructure and environment that will allow them to flourish.
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Objective 04: Grow Our Capacity – Deliver excellent services as effectively and efficiently as possible within our limited resources.
MAXIMUM SCORE = 10
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 08 SCOTTISH INDEX OF MULTIPLE DEPREVATION (SIMD)
Internal assessment tool to determine if project delivery area is within the 20% most deprived data zones in Scotland.
MAXIMUM SCORE = 5
To completing the Application Form – Click here
Regeneration Project Capital Fund | Funding | East Lothian Council
