Renfrewshire Council

Recovery Change Fund

What the Recovery Change Fund is, who can apply, what the funding can and can't be used for, how to apply, how and when we decide who gets funding.

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What the Recovery Change Fund is

In response to a key recommendation from Renfrewshire's Alcohol and Drugs Commission, the Recovery Change Fund supports the development of local groups and organisations which provide social connection and support recovery for people affected by drugs and alcohol in Renfrewshire. It supports initiatives that will make a positive impact on individuals, families, and communities affected by alcohol and/or drug use.

It also provides opportunities to support piloting new ideas and projects related to mental health, recovery, stigma, and social isolation. These ideas and projects could inform future service design in Renfrewshire. Future sustainability is a particular focus for the fund.


Who can apply

Any community or voluntary organisations with a constitution and bank account can apply.

Any consortium of community and/or voluntary groups working together can also apply. If you apply as a group, the lead organisation must complete the application, including providing constitution and bank account details.


How much you could get

You can apply for grants up to £10,000. We will only consider applications for grants over £10,000 in exceptional circumstances. As we aim to fund as many projects as we can, please only apply for the funds you need for your project.


What the funding can and can't be used for

The funding could support creating new or developing existing activities, including project costs, training, volunteer expenses, staffing costs for new projects, equipment, expansion costs, and research or consultation exercises, among other things.

For example, you could use the funding for:

  • expanding existing activities to support alcohol and drug recovery to a different area in Renfrewshire
  • piloting a new project relating to mental health, stigma, recovery, or social isolation
  • providing new activities such as group work sessions or costs for purposeful activities, such as art classes, fishing trips, teen-only drop-ins, etc.
  • courses or training sessions on practical topics such as food safety, or paying for someone to teach groups about mindfulness or safety and harm reduction tactics
  • promotion and marketing for your activities, or research and consultation exercises to find out what people in your area need or want activities to look like.

The funding can't be used for day-to-day running costs for existing projects or groups, individual grants for one person, or major capital works.

We will work with successful applicants to monitor the outcomes delivered by projects and initiatives supported through the fund.


Before you apply

Before you apply online, make sure you read the assessment criteria.

Applications are assessed on the following criteria:

  • Impact: the extent to which activities will make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by alcohol and/or drugs, and how this can be evidenced.
  • Social connection: the extent to which the initiative provides opportunities to reduce social isolation and loneliness for individuals and families impacted by alcohol and drug use.
  • Sustainability: how you could sustain the level of support you would be offering beyond the funding period.
  • Innovation: how new and innovative the project is, particularly for applicants piloting new ideas.
  • Experience and track record: the extent to which your organisation has past experience of providing support to individuals, families, and communities
  • Partnership working: the extent to which projects work in partnership with others, including the wider recovery network.

The geographic spread of applications will be assessed too.


How and when you can apply

You can apply for the Recovery Change Fund online until Tuesday 28 February 2023.

You can apply for the Recovery Change Fund online until 

In your application, make sure you include:

  • general details
  • bank details
  • supporting documents
  • project proposal
  • project costs.

General details

You must provide contact details, legal status, the aims and main activities of your organisation or group, and the geographical areas that you cover.

Bank details

You must provide the organisation's bank details, including the names of all the bank signatories and their position in the organisation. You must include the organisation's current bank balance and any significant items of expenditure set against the balance.

Supporting documents

You must upload:

  • last 3 months of bank statement
  • annual accounts or income & expenditure statement that is less than 15 months old - if your organisation is less than 15 months old, you should submit estimates of income and expenditure for the first 12 months
  • constitution or memorandum and articles of association that are dated and signed.

Project proposal

You must explain the purpose of the project and the anticipated outcomes, how the need was identified, what the project will do and how you will deliver, monitor, and evaluate it.

Project costs

You must provide the total costs of the project and the amount of funding you're applying for. You must also note any previous funding your organisation or group has received from Renfrewshire Council in the past three financial years (2019 / 2020 to present).


How we assess and decide on your application

Once submitted, a panel will assess your application and put forward their recommendations to the Leadership Board for approval in April 2023.

Following this meeting, we will inform you whether your application was successful or not.

If your application was successful, you'll need to agree to the conditions of the fund before we set up payment arrangements with you.


If you need more information about the fund

If you want to talk with someone about your project, get in touch with us at recoverychangefund@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

If you're having technical issues with the application form, or if you need to submit a paper copy, email rcgrantapplications@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0141 618 7076.