Grant Schemes
The Voluntary Action Fund receives funding from the Scottish Executive to enable us to support voluntary and community organisations in taking forward social change. The grant programmes are linked by the common threads of social inclusion and support for organisations to become stronger. The projects they fund are all focused on providing real solutions to identified community need. Each grant programme has its individual criteria and priorities as well as a direct link to government policy.
GO4 Volunteering (Please note this scheme is now closed)
This scheme was designed to help small voluntary organisations and community groups that rely on volunteers to be more effective and confident in involving volunteers. This scheme was phenomenally successful and we thank all those organisations who made an application.
Volunteering Scotland Grant Scheme
The Volunteering Scotland Grant Scheme (VSGS) is funded by the Scottish Executive. It is playing a key role in implementing the Volunteering Strategy for Scotland through funding the development of high quality volunteering opportunities.
More about the Volunteering Scotland Grant Scheme
Race Equality Integration and Community Support Fund (Please note this scheme is now closed)
Between June 2004 and February 2005, the Scottish Executive conducted a comprehensive Review of Race Equality Work in Scotland. This Review highlighted many needs and proposed a Framework for Action which aims to:
- eliminate racial inequality and disadvantage
- combat racism and race crime
- drive up public sector performance on race equality and improve access to and benefit from public services
- foster integration and promote dialogue and understanding between communities
To support these aims and to encourage change, the Scottish Executive launched this new Fund. This was designed to meet the above aims as well as improve the provision of services to minority ethnic communities, develop the capacity of majority and minority communities to engage with this agenda and to develop the organisational capacity of the minority ethnic voluntary sector.
In May 2006, 36 projects were funded to deliver a programme of work driving these goals forward. Most are working over two years and because of this all funding has been allocated.
More about the Race Equality Integration and Community Support Fund
Scottish Refugee Integration Fund (Please note this scheme is now closed)
The Scottish Refugee Integration Fund (SRIF) was established in 2003 by the Scottish Executive to to support projects with outcomes which complement and assist the implementation of the SRIF Action Plan which was also published in this year. Since then funding has been awarded on a year by year basis to a wide range of projects which assist the integration and support of asylum seekers and refugees.
The SRIF Action Plan was itself drawn together by the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum which was established to allow Scotland's statutory and voluntary agencies to work in partnership to support refugees more effectively.
The Scottish Refugee Integration Forum Action Plan has identified a number of key actions which would be likely to make a real difference to the lives of asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland. These actions related to improving access to services, translation and interpretation support and breaking down barriers to employment. All projects supported through the Fund are actively involved in working towards the delivery of these actions.
In 2006, VAF became involved in providing investment support to the SRIF funded projects and in 2007 has also been involved in the assessment of applications to the Fund. Funding is awarded on an annual basis, with awards made annually in March. All funds are currently committed, but should further funding become available information will be posted here.
More about the Scottish Refugee Integration Fund
Race, Religion & Refugee Integration Funding Stream
More about the Race, Religion & Refugee Integration Funding Stream