Pictured: Equi-Power Central Scotland RDA secured a grant to help provide free equestrian services to young people with additional support needs
Does your community group have an idea for a project that will make your local area an even better place to live but need funding to make it happen? Apply to
Community Choices now!
Community Choices is Falkirk Council’s participatory budgeting initiative that puts control over how public money is spent into community hands.
It provides groups with a way to apply for funding and the local community a chance to vote and decide how public money is spent.
Applications are now open for:
- Small grants (up to £5,000): great for small-scale projects that will make a real difference to the lives of people living in each ward.
- Place-based capital grants (over £5,000): perfect for big projects that need a capital investment to build something new, improve an asset or purchase equipment.
Closing date for applications is midnight on 01 December 2023.
Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council, said: “We launched the Community Choices funding stream in 2021 and since then nearly £2.5m has been awarded to 123 local projects across the Council area.
“No matter how big or small a project, we have no doubt that each and every one has made a real difference to local people and communities.”
“We are now in our fourth round of funding, and we are hopeful that many more groups will be inspired to apply, putting forward ideas that local communities can get behind and vote for. This is the beauty of participatory budgeting. It helps empower communities by shifting decision-making over how public funds are spent from the Council to the people.”
Community information sessions
A series of community information sessions will take place across the Council area from 23 October to 09 November.
The in-person and online sessions will provide groups with all the information they need to know about applying for a Small Grant or Place-based Capital Grant, with the Council’s Community Choices team on hand to answer any questions people may have.
Our community information sessions page has more information on dates, times, locations and to register for an online session.
Transforming lives
Equi-Power Central Scotland RDA (pictured above) is just one of the many community groups to secure a small grant. It received £4,920 from Community Choices to provide free equestrian services to children and young people with additional support needs (ASN).
Amanda Namey, Service Manager, Equi-Power Central Scotland RDA, said: “Pupils with ASN and disabilities have enjoyed some fantastic experiences because of Community Choices. The funding made the difference between young people with ASN being able to attend, grow in confidence and excel, or not have the opportunity to do so.”
Pictured: Bailliefields Community Hub secured three grants totalling £100,500 to improve buildings and its car park)
Bailliefields Community Hub has secured two place-based capital grants and a small grant totalling £100,500 since the first phase of Community Choices launched two years ago.
With the help of the funding, Bailliefields Community Hub has started to transform its facilities in Brightons. The charity has added a modular building and resurfaced its car park. Next it will convert a disused cow shed into a new community hall.
Stephen Sutton, Chair and Trustee, Bailliefields Community Hub, said: “Our aim is to create ‘a place for all.’ Securing funding through Community Choices has been pivotal in helping us realise our vision. Without the grants it would have been much harder, and taken much longer, to bring our plans to life.”