Q. What is the Wider Role Fund?
A. The Wider Role Fund is available to support registered social landlords (RSLs) undertake projects in their local communities which make life better for the people living there. Wider Role funding has been available since 2000 and has supported a wide variety of projects. RSLs often work in partnership with other organisations to deliver Wider Role projects.
Q. Who can apply for Wider Role funding?
A. Registered social landlords, including housing associations, registered with the Scottish Housing Regulator.
Q. What is the timetable for applications?
A. Applications are accepted on an on-going basis throughout the year. There are no deadlines. However, potential projects are discussed by RSLs and the Wider Role team at the beginning of the financial year and at a subsequent meeting in September/October and an anticipated programme of activity will be agreed in principle. At the meetings project eligibility will be looked at and if approved the RSL can then work up an application. Applications will then be considered by the Wider Role Team and a decision on the outcome will be given to the RSL within 6 weeks of submitting a complete application.
Q. What are the priorities for Wider Role Fund?
A. Wider Role funding is now focused on addressing the causes of poverty. Projects for 2008-09 should be have at least one of the following priorities: improving employability and making early interventions to tackle poverty for and with vulnerable people/disadvantaged communities; developing joint work on community regeneration with local authorities and community planning partnerships; and improving quality of place in your neighbourhoods.
From April 2009 proposals should reflect the following priorities:
- making early interventions for vulnerable individuals, families and disadvantaged communities;
- focused action on improving employability as a key means of tackling poverty
RSLs should, where possible, work in partnership with others to ensure that there is no duplication of effort. This will mean working with other RSLs, with 'third sector' organisations and wherever possible local authorities and community planning partnerships. Successful Wider Role projects will generally have some funding from other sources to demonstrate partnership working.
Projects should complement the principles of the Fairer Scotland Fund.
Q. What type of projects are funded?
A. The Wider Role Fund has supported a wide variety of projects reflecting local priorities and needs. These include:
- employability training and work experience programmes
- help and information services on financial inclusion
- capital funding for community facilities in areas of deprivation.
Often projects combine more than one outcome. We will include links to example case studies shortly.
Q. How much funding is available for Wider Role?
A. £12m per annum is available for Wider Role projects for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Q. How much funding is available for each project?
A. There is no upper or lower limit on grant awards. They can range from £5,000 to over £250,000. However, the average award is between £50,000-£60,000. Grants are available for both capital and revenue projects.
Q. How much funding is available for each RSL?
A. There are no set limits applied to individual RSLs. Funding is now allocated on a national basis by the Scottish Government's Wider Role team and there are no regional allocations. This ensures that projects consistently reflect the government's strategic priorities.
Q. How do you ensure consistency across Scotland?
A. A key principle in the delivery of the Wider Role Fund is that it fits with local strategies and reflects local priorities. This inevitably means that Wider Role activity varies across the country from community to community. The Wider Role team manage the fund across Scotland and are committed to ensuring consistency in their dealings with RSLs and their appraisal of RSL applications.
Q. Can the RSL use another organisation to deliver a Wider Role project?
A. There are a number of ways in which an RSL can be involved in Wider Role activity:
- As a direct provider of a service
- By creating an 'arms length' organisation to provide the service
- By commissioning another third sector organisation to provide the service.
When the RSL works with another third sector organisation to deliver the project it should be a genuine partnership. The RSL cannot expect to simply transfer funds from the Scottish Government to the wider voluntary sector.
Q. How do I apply for Wider Role funding?
A. RSLs should approach their local contacts and discuss their outline proposals. When these have been approved they can be developed into applications.