Grants

New Grant Programmes 2012-2013

Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) currently manages grant programmes that are funded by the Scottish Government   - VAF is Scotland's leading independent grant-making body investing in voluntary and community based organisations throughout Scotland. The funding and support VAF provides enables community based organisations to involve volunteers, undertake projects that challenge inequalities and overcome barriers to being involved in community life.

Our grant programmes meet the needs of disadvantaged communities through encouraging volunteering and tackling discrimination.

VAF were the first funding agency to provide support to funded organisations aimed at driving up performance and success. Our "Funding Plus" model of Investment Support is structured to generate successful projects which have a high degree of impact as well as to provide a structure for capturing the learning which is generated.

The package of support offered varies across different funding programmes and responds to the needs of the projects funded.

"Funding Plus" support includes:

  • support for the planning and delivering of projects
  • support for monitoring and compliance with grant conditions
  • support for project evaluation
  • facilitation of networks across projects which promote integration and learning
  • free training designed to help groups sustain and develop their activitiesThe Volunteering Development Grant

The Volunteering Development Grant (VDG)

The VDG is a small grant of up to £10,000 available to charities that want to improve and develop their capacity to involve volunteers.

This grant is available to registered charities working in Scotland who:

  • Do not currently involve volunteers to any significant extent but who want to add value to their existing services or develop new ones that can involve volunteers, or 
  • Already involve volunteers but want improve and develop their capacity to deploy and support volunteers.

The grant could be used to increase the hours of an existing staff member or buy in support to help develop volunteering opportunities and practices. It could also be used to pay for volunteer expenses and training for staff, committee and volunteers.

VAF would welcome, and consider a priority, applications that will improve the volunteering opportunities for people who are disadvantaged or excluded. For example who are disadvantaged or excluded through unemployment or a disability or health problem; or due to their ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation or offending behaviour.

The deadline for submitting the application form and all documents is 5pm, Friday 8th June 2012.

For more information and to download the application form and guidance notes click here 

 

Grants
Chef from Reid Kerr College provides cookery classes for the Neilston Development Trust Community Cafe volunteers

Cookery classes for Community Cafe Volunteers, Glasgow