Money for good causes

EDINBURGH HAS made a bid for more than £12million in Shared Prosperity Funding from the UK Government as the council asks for support for a series of poverty-tackling community projects.

From money for employment initiatives and skills development to new measures to help Edinburgh’s most disadvantaged through the cost-of-living crisis, up to 32 projects to reduce inequalities between communities could benefit from funding.

The shortlist also includes an initiative to create a number of new community growing areas, projects designed to support people into work and an innovative ‘GreenTech’ Accelerator programme to promote entrepreneurial skills and new start-ups. A ‘Residents First’ programme of exclusive access to cultural events is also planned, alongside a new youth work space and events for older people at risk of social isolation.

There will be negotiations with the UK Government before initial funding can be released. If successful, the money will be provided by the UK Government under the Shared Prosperity Fund, which helps build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by funding projects which support local business, people and skills and boost communities and local places.

Cllr Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Our communities make our city and we’re so lucky to have a great number of incredible people working so hard to support local projects and bring forward new ideas. It hasn’t been easy for the panel to narrow this shortlist down and I’m really grateful to everyone involved. They have chosen an exciting and diverse mix of important projects each and every one of them designed to tackle poverty and improve lives at a local level. This funding allocation really will mean the world to those involved and will allow us to help thousands of people.”