Community groups that were unsuccessful in their application to the Glasgow Communities Fund (GCF) have been offered advice and support for future funding applications.

The GCF introduced by the city council in October 2020 looks to support third sector organisations that want to help develop the skills of individuals and communities or support activities that allow communities to become involved in the social, economic, and cultural life of the city.

The fund also supports organisations that remove or minimise disadvantages experienced by people with protected characteristics.

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Phase two of the fund provides a three-year funding programme of £49.3 million from 2023 – 2026 to 220 organisations city-wide.

A further £6.5 million of funding has been ring fenced to support financial inclusion and legal support activity delivered by organisations within the Glasgow Advice and Information Network (GAIN), over the three-year funding period.

A report presented to members of the well-being committee highlighted that for groups unsuccessful in February last year, further follow-up feedback, including meetings, were provided in response to individual requests. 

During the meeting, councillor Shannon Greer said: “You touched on the fact that [for] organisations that were unsuccessful – your team met with them to help them get extra funding.

“Do we record how many of these organisations go on to get the additional funding that they require.”

A council officer advised that these groups were signposted to the council’s capacity building partners for additional advice. 

They said: “I should clarify we didn’t meet with organisations to support them in the process of getting additional funding on the back of being unsuccessful in the Glasgow Communities Fund.

“We signposted the organisations to our capacity building partners – they’re the experts in that field.

“We did meet with some organisations on the back of requests as a follow up on the feedback we provided – some organisations asked for meetings with officers and we were able to meet them through that.”