Does your group or organisation need money?

If the answer is “yes”, then you will be interested in a special event I am hosting to give organisations in my constituency information about possible sources of funding for their activities and projects. There will be information about all sorts of grants and funds – both big and small – and I would like to invite you and your organisation to come along.

There will be short presentations from the Big Lottery Fund Scotland, and the Lloyds TSB Foundation Scotland, followed by an opportunity for one-to-one discussions with representatives from each of those organisations to discuss any specific ideas, proposals or projects you might have. There will also be information you can take away about both these organisations, which as you will probably know make grants of several millions of pounds each year to organisations in Scotland’s communities.

Information will also be available about a wide range of other grants and funds which might be of benefit to your organisation, including the following:

‘Here to help’ grants – funding for projects that empower young people.
B & Q community grants – for environmental, sports or community projects.
O2 community grants –  awards between £100-£1,000 to  individuals and groups for projects that will improve their local area
Grants for groups working with or providing information about forces’ veterans
Global Schools Partnership – grants to assist school links & twins with schools in developing countries
Waste Action grants – grants of up to £2,500 to recycle, reduce waste projects.
Scottish Community Foundation Community - grants to assist charities and groups improving the quality of life and life chances in Scotland.
Co-op Community Fund - supports all kinds of community projects.
Scottish Community Foundation - funding for charities and community groups .
Awards for All in Scotland - grants of between £500 and £10,000 for people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities
New Ideas Fund - grants of £100- £5,000 to community and voluntary groups.
And a range of other possible sources of finance for local organisations.

This event will be held on Friday November 16th, at the Prentice Centre, Granton Mains Avenue (opposite the new Telford College), from 11 am to 1 pm. Buses 8, 16, 17, 32, and 38 stop outside the centre.

Please do circulate this to any other organisations or colleagues who you think may be interested in this event.

Your organisation is welcome to send along as many representatives as possible, but please send details of names and addresses in advance to my office, email doranka@parliament.uk

Yours sincerely

Mark Lazarowicz
MP for Edinburgh North & Leith

P.S. As a local community organisation in our area, you might be interested in a speech I recently made in the House of Commons on the role of community and other non-governmental organisations. You can find the speech here  (My speech starts half-way down the page – but the entire debate is quite interesting!)