Funding available for Caithness groups working to tackle poverty

Community and third sector organisations in Caithness are invited to apply for funding support to help create employment opportunities and tackle poverty.

A total of £38,000 is available in Caithness from the Deprived Area Fund up until March 2017 to assist defined disadvantaged communities to develop and implement activities that improve the quality of life and regenerate their communities.  Priority is given to projects that directly deliver employability outcomes for individuals who live within the targeted area and who are furthest removed from the labour market.

Key criteria for applications to the Deprived Area Fund include:

• Effective targeting - proposals must respond to identified community needs (primarily within the identified data zones) including published statistics and evidenced community and client group engagement and consultation.
   
• Identified employability aims. Proposals must have identified and evidenced employability outputs and outcomes.
   
• Proposals must complement and add value to other related services and programmes tackling poverty and inequality.
   
• Proposals must engage with local communities and build community capacity and leadership.

Chair of the Caithness Committee, Councillor Roger Saxon said: “Since 2011/12 nearly £2.5m has been disbursed through the Deprived Area Fund to areas across the Highlands to specifically assist community led projects which focus their activities on helping people learn new skills and get into the jobs market. Here in Caithness over the years the Fund has been used to support a lot of good work which has had a positive impact on people’s lives but there is more work to be done. I therefore encourage organisations to apply and get their applications submitted before the deadline.”

The closing date is Friday 8 July 2016. Appraisals of the proposals will be undertaken by officers of the Council in liaison with partner organisations. The final decision will be made by the Director of Development and Infrastructure and Chair of the Caithness Committee.   

Copies of the application form along with guidelines and details of who to contact for further information is available from The Highland Council’s website www.highland.gov.uk . Applicants should ensure they are not using Deprived Area Funds to duplicate local work programme activity or to significantly benefit work programme contractors.

Completed applications should be sent either:

o          By email to policy6@highland.gov.uk

o          By mail to

The Highland Council, Grant and Discretionary Funding Applications, Highland Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX