Listen
Further support for Third Sector
24/06/2009
A leading social enterprise, recycling business, and support service for homeless young people are among the latest organisations to be supported by Scottish Government Third Sector funding, it was announced today.
Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said a further seven grants from the £12 million Third Sector Enterprise Fund would help a range of organisations expand their services.
He also announced details of a £900,000 grant to social enterprise the Wise Group from the £30 million Scottish Investment Fund.
Enterprise Fund awards include:
- Spruce Carpets, a Glasgow-based recycling business providing refurbished carpet at low cost to people on low income or those resettling after homelessness, which has been offered £99,620 from the enterprise fund
- Southern Uplands Partnership, which has been awarded £42,200 from the enterprise fund to help its work raising the profile of the Southern Uplands
Announcing the awards at a Wise Group business seminar in Edinburgh, Mr Mather said:
"Scotland's Third Sector has the unique ability to connect with vulnerable people and create employment opportunities - something we must take advantage of in an economic downturn.
"Nineteen organisations have now received support from the new Third Sector Enterprise Fund, created as a result of the Scottish Government's decision to increase Third Sector funding in Scotland by 37 per cent.
"This, combined with a £900,000 Investment Fund grant for the Wise Group, will help these organisations play an important role in helping to position Scotland's economy for a strong recovery."
Other organisations to be supported from the latest batch of funding are:
- Go Country, which provides outdoor activities for disadvantaged groups in Renfrew and has been offered £93,495 to extend its services
- Scottish Sports Futures, which promotes the importance of attitude and fitness to young people in Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Stirling, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Renfrewshire and has been offered £91,088
- Streetwork, which provides crisis support to young people sleeping outdoors in Edinburgh city centre and has been offered £100,000
- Falkland Heritage Trust, an environmental organisation which has been offered £66,096
- and Glasgow-based Penilee Credit Union which has been offered £13,644
The £900,000 pounds award to the Wise Group will enable it to invest around £2 million of its own money into the longer-term development of the business, enabling them to deliver more contracts and generate profit that they will re-invest in the business.
Laurie Russell, Chief Executive of the Wise Group, said:
"The SIF award will enable the Wise Group to transform our ability to deliver on our overall capabilities and performance, deliver significant social returns, and support the Scottish Government in achieving its National Outcome targets. It will also allow us to harness our strong ability to support sustainable economic growth, build on our economic recovery programme and help Scotland emerge faster and stronger from the current downturn."
Craig Campbell, Chief Executive of the organisation which administers the Investment Fund, Social Investment Scotland, said:
"The Scottish Investment Fund is designed to help social enterprises like the Wise Group grow their operations and ultimately increase revenues for the benefit of the people they are seeking to help. The on-going development of both established and emerging social enterprises is making a positive impact on Scotland's economy. Through a range of initiatives including the SIF, we are keen to help social enterprises become sustainable businesses and make an economic as well as social contribution to Scotland."
Izzie Johnstone, CEO of Spruce Carpets, said:
"Spruce is delighted to receive this investment. It will resource the much needed development of our services, products and allows us to grow our recycling business."
Flora McDowall, Project Officer with the Southern Uplands Partnership, said:
"We are very pleased to have been awarded this significant grant from the Scottish Government. The Southern Uplands Partnership is now in a position to take forward longstanding plans to develop a low carbon demonstration unit, provide quality office space and, ultimately, generate a sustainable, grant free income stream."
James Stevenson, Manager of Penilee Credit Union, said:
"The grant will help us provide more effective service to our members and ensure that all members' data is secure, it will also improve our overall efficiency and meet our service objectives in a professional manner."
Ian Reid, CEO and Founder of Scottish Sports Futures, said:
"This new Government initiative will enable us to look at ways of diversifying our income streams. In particular we will be inviting the active participation of the private sector in developing the scope and reach of our programmes and together helping build a Safer, Stronger and Healthier Scotland."