2. Finding the Fund and Applying
STP Funding Workshop
Finding the Fund and Applying
Edinburgh, 16 September 2015
Michael McKernan, East Renfrewshire Council

3. Role – Senior Economic Development Officer
Dedicated remit to help grow the Council’s and strategic partner’s external funding practice
Provide briefings and support to the Council and partners to increase our share of external funding
Project development for a wide range of projects – capital & revenue, thematic basis
Add value to the bidding process - provide support to Council and partners on marketing and project applications
Link funding opportunities with main policy areas – employability, business development, regeneration, welfare reform mitigation, town centres
Horizon scanning on new policies and issues affecting external funding
East Renfrewshire traditionally seen as funding ‘cold-spot’ however with dedicated resources we have secured over £4m from external funding bodies in the last 12 months

4. Finding the Fund and Applying
Step 1 –
Planning your project
Step 2 – Identifying
the
correct
funder
Step 3 – Writing your
project application
Step 4 – Project
success –
during &
post funding

5. Step 1 – Planning your project
Identifying need
Do you have support for your project? What is the need/demand? Consultations/surveys?
Is the need being met locally/nationally?
What is available locally?
Displacement? Duplication?
Partnerships?
Your expertise?
Does your organisation have the necessary skills/experience to deliver the project?
Project budget & resources
What will the project pay for?
Does it require match-funding?
What resources do you have/need? Time; funds; venue; experience; staff & volunteers?
Outcomes & impacts
Need to be SMART
What will the project achieve?
Showcase progress
Can be measured/assessed
Evaluation & monitoring
Important to funders & beneficaries
Can be assessed/measured
Results can be used for baseline information/future bids & programmes

6. Step 2 – Identifying the right funder for your project
Choosing the right funder:
Eligibility of applicant – public, 3rd sector, local community group, private; legal status; location
Project matches eligibility criteria
Project can deliver outcomes
Match to aims/mission of project
How big is the grant?
Is match-funding required?
When will the grant be released? cashflow issues – grant payments in arrears?
Project application deadlines – does this fit your project timescales?
Finding funders:
Local authority
Private sector
Community foundations
Local CVS
Scottish Government
Europe
Word of mouth
Successful projects
Search funding databases – e.g. STP, GrantFinder
SLOG

7. Step 3 – Writing your application
Clearly demonstrate what you want the project to achieve & align with funder’s eligibility criteria
Cashflow budget/ How much money do you need/when do you need it?
Step 3
What are you delivering and when?
Monitoring – why/who/what/when?
Demonstrate need & objective – match what beneficiaries need with funding provider
Be persuasive – opportunity to sell project to funder
Use factual information - not anecdotal
What are the funders motivations, aims & objectives? Speak to them
Demonstrate partnership, added value , no displacement & no duplication of services/activity
Ensure sustainability/exit strategy – further funding? Staffing/maintenance costs

8. Step 4 – Ensuring success of the project & beyond
Effective record keeping – electronic/hard copies
Have a clear delivery plan
Step 4
Partnership meetings/steering groups – keep everybody in the loop
Ensure that the project delivers against what is written in the application
Meet or exceed project targets
Clearly define roles & responsibilities – who/when/why/what
Reliable financial reporting & monitoring procedures
Marketing & communications – communication action plan, use of social media etc
Effective MIS in place to capture all relevant information
Does the project require an independent evaluation? Exit strategy?

9. What funds are available in Scotland?
Literally hundreds of external funds available. You may wish to focus on:
Community Funding
Comic Relief Local Communities Programme
Peoples Postcode Trust Local Communities Programme
Hugh Fraser Foundation
The Robertson Trust
Regeneration
Scottish Government Capital Regeneration Grant Fund
Building Repair Grant – HS
Heritage Enterprise
Vacant & Derelict Land Fund
Town Centre Communities Capital Fund (TCCCF)
Environment
Parks for People - HLF
Community Action Grant – SNH
Natural Projects Grant – SNH
Grow Wild Funding
Healthy Towns
Cycle Friendly and Sustainable Community Fund
Sports Facilities Fund – Sport Scotland
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation – Food Strand
Culture & Arts
Creative Scotland
Foyle Foundation – SGS
Museum Galleries Scotland
BBC Performing Arts Fund
Employment & Training
European Social Fund – LAs
Skills Development Scotland
DWP
Low Carbon Skills Fund
City Deal

10. Win a bigger slice of external funding
STP - Vision
Meet the need/demand of the local area
Build capacity and resources for successful bids
Develop partnership relationships
Widening the scope of services in your area
Enhance perception of areas to funders
Harness
internal /external expertise to strengthen position
Review of market place on area/thematic basis
Win a bigger slice of external funding

11. Q&A

12. Michael McKernan,
External Funding Officer
East Renfrewshire Council T: