Cost of Living – Capital Fund

Aims of the Fund?

The fund has been established to provide money to support capital expenditure incurred specifically to tackle the impact of the cost of living crisis on communities in West Dunbartonshire.

Who may apply?

Any organisation appropriately constituted or set up.

What can the Grant be used for?

The fund is available to help with capital costs incurred directly as a consequence of activity to help alleviate the impact of the Cost of Living Crisis on people living in West Dunbartonshire. Applications to the fund must establish a clear link to the Cost of Living Crisis and describe how your project will help the target group.

To qualify as capital expenditure it has to either create an asset or enhance an existing asset that lasts over one year. For example:

• Create and/or purchase a new tangible asset (such as purchase of a vehicle or computer equipment)
• Enhance an existing asset by either
  • Upgrading an existing asset (such as replacing single glazed windows with double glazed)
  • Extending the life of an asset (i.e. making it last longer)
  • Extending the use of an asset (such as a building extension or room conversions).

Revenue expenditure relates to the day to day running costs associated with projects (such as staff costs and running events) and cannot be funded from this Capital Fund

How are applications assessed?

The fund is competitive, and applications are considered on individual merit. Organisations most likely to attract funding are those which make the most convincing arguments for funding. Consideration will be given to a range of factors including:

• the number of local people involved in, and benefiting from the activity, relative to the amount of grant being requested
• the group’s own fund-raising efforts including any matched funding which would contribute to the overall cost of the activity/project.

How much is available?

The total amount of funds available is capped at £1,000,000 over four years (£250,000 per year). This is year 2 of the fund. Grant levels, although not fixed to an upper or lower level will therefore also be restricted. Value for money will be a main factor, and applications for larger amounts may have less chance since smaller grants allow more groups to be assisted.

The Fund may make a grant conditional upon additional matters being produced to their satisfaction and the Council reserves the right to request evidence of how the funding had been used and the outcomes achieved. In the event that the funds were not used in a manner consistent with the funding award the Council may take steps to recover it in part or in its entirety.

Are there any types of application unable to get a grant?

Yes:

• Activity to take place outwith West Dunbartonshire.
• Application made by an individual alone.
• Activity which is not lawful.
• Applications supporting any political party or from any applicant whose activities are political.

Specifically Grants will not be given for:

• unspecified expenditure
• activity which is not capital in nature
• repayment of loans
• retrospective funding

The Fund will not normally provide grant to replace funding withdrawn by another agency.

How to apply

If you need a hard copy of the application form please contact grants@west-dunbarton.gov.uk

Check the form is fully completed including relevant contact details. 

Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via the e-mail address on the application form within three weeks of submission.

When to apply

The fund is open for applications from 02 October 2023 until 15 December 2023 or earlier if the fund is fully exhausted.

Queries

Please send any queries on this fund to grants@west-dunbarton.gov.uk