WIREDGOV

A NEW multi-million pound fund which will allow Scottish communities to buy, manage or develop buildings or land yesterday (WED 13 July 2016) opened for business.

Between now and 2020 up to £45 million of Big Lottery Fund cash will be available  through Community Assets to support community led projects to develop or build assets for their community use. Groups can apply for grants from £10,000 to £1 million and, where needed, will receive professional technical support and advice from Community Asset mentors to turn their project ideas into reality.

Speaking yesterday at the Whiteinch Centre in Glasgow, Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said: “This new funding will allow even more communities to follow in the footsteps of organisations like the Whiteinch Centre, which, this year, reaches its own key milestone – the tenth anniversary of community ownership.  The Big Lottery Fund has 15 years of experience in supporting local communities to take greater control of their futures through the acquisition, management and development of local assets. And we know the positive difference this can make.

“Community Assets is part of a wider funding offering here in Scotland aimed at supporting activity which is people centred, strengths based and has good local connections. It recognises that there is strong appetite in communities across Scotland to purchase and develop local assets which can bring huge, lasting benefits such as sustaining jobs and helping connect people to activities and services.”

Big Lottery Fund is the leading non statutory funder of the voluntary and community sector and since 2006 has awarded over £768 million to over 27,000 projects here in Scotland.

The Whiteinch Centre in Glasgow first received National Lottery funding of £291,074 in 2003 to help with the capital costs of the building, and has since received a further five grants worth £519,644  to develop the centre and turn it into the thriving community asset that it is today.

Ian Morrison of the Whiteinch Centre Board, said: “We are delighted to host Big Lottery Fund as they announce the launch of Community Assets.  Over the years support from the Big Lottery Fund and others funders has helped us build a centre at the heart of the community meeting local needs and making a difference in people’s lives day to day.”

Between now and 2020, the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland has £250 million to support people and communities dealing with challenging circumstances. Community Assets is the third and final stream of funding to open following the launch of Improving Lives and Community Led in November 2015.

Big Lottery Fund Press Office contact: Landa Sullivan
Telephone: 0141 242 1458 or 07823 552889
Email: landa.sullivan@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @BIGSCOTLAND #biglottery
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Notes to Editors:

• The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. We are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
• The Big Lottery Fund Scotland is focussed on helping people and communities most in need throughout Scotland through its five-year £250m funding scheme as well as small grants schemes Awards for All and Investing in Ideas. 
  •Since June 2004 we have awarded over £8 billion to projects across the UK that change the lives of millions of people.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £35 billion has been raised and more than 490,000 grants awarded.