Grants chance for charities

Charitable groups across Stirling can now apply for additional funding of up to £3000.

Foundation Scotland are re-opening the Stirling-wide fund which was established to support the charities and community groups in the area.

Grants of between £250 and £3000 are available to fund projects providing services and activities that can help to address key themes, including support for older people in retirement; employability skills development; support for young people not in education, employment or training and financial resilience.

Since the fund was originally launched in 2011 groups in the area have received over £45,000 in grants.

Awards have helped Balfron Lunch Club to roll out a meals-at-home service for those who are housebound and unable to attend the lunch club. Cash from the fund has also helped Town Break to run an arts project for a year and Green Routes Stirling to provide training support and equipment for staff.

Jane Martin, from Foundation Scotland, said:“Over the last few years the grants programme has been successful and we really want that to continue. We are particularly keen to receive applications from projects that haven’t received funding previously but have the potential to meet more than one of the key themes, for example mentoring programmes for employability development or projects that seek to transfer skills across generations.”

Groups do not need to be registered charities to apply but must be established on a not-for-profit basis. Application forms and guidelines are available to download at www.foundationscotland.org.uk/ programmes/ stirling-wide-grants-programme/.

The deadline for applications is November 1.