Voluntary Action Fund

Small Grants, Big Difference!

PRESS RELEASE, 12 OCTOBER 2011

The Voluntary Action Fund's (VAF) Community Chest Grant Scheme has been going since 2008. Funded by the Scottish Government, it is targeted at Scotland's smaller community groups and voluntary organisations. The Community Chest provides grants of up to £1,000 and free training to community groups with an annual income under £25,000.

VAF's effective targeting over the last three years has resulted in over 500 very small community groups across Scotland improving their service delivery and accessing training on vital issues such as Managing Money in a Small Organisation and Making Successful Funding Applications. The Community Chest successfully attracted applications from groups within six local authority areas where take up of grants had traditionally been lower such as North and South Ayrshire, Inverclyde and South Lanarkshire.

Most of the grants awarded went to very small community groups with income under £10,000 which helped them develop and sustain their services to local people. One recipient commented "Committee members are more confident and knowledgeable, accounts are easier to manage, volunteers are now claiming expenses without feeling guilty". A modest grant to the Carmichael Playgroup in rural South Lanarkshire helped them not only buy soft seating, toys and play mats but also helped them make their volunteer management committee much more effective in developing playgroups services for the local community. A small grant to the Ayrshire Sikh Association, based in Irvine, North Ayrshire, enabled them to access match funding to hire a community centre which meant that the community could meet together for the first time. The Association also used the grant to network with the non Sikh community to promote cultural awareness and diversity.

Chris Smith, Programme Manager at VAF commented, "the success of the Community Chest programme demonstrates the value of small grants to small local community groups to help them sustain and develop services vital for some of Scotland's most vulnerable people."

Ends:

Steven Paxton, Business Development Manager
T: 01383 620780
E: steven.paxton@vaf.org.uk
W: www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk
A: Dunfermline Business Centre
Unit 14, Izatt Avenue
Dunfermline, Fife
KY11 3BZ

Notes to Editors:

Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) is an independent charitable grant making body which invests in voluntary and community based organisations across Scotland. The funding and support we provide enables voluntary groups to grow and develop and undertake projects that challenge inequalities and overcome barriers to being involved in community life.

Community Chest Programme (CCP)
The CCP is funded by the Scottish Government Third Sector Division, which has made available £100,000 for the year up to March 2012.