Green Spaces, Parks, and Playgrounds Fund

The Green Spaces, Parks, and Playgrounds Fund fund provides investment where a community can demonstrate a sustainable plan to improve and maintain the condition and use of a green space or community asset.

Constituted voluntary or community organisations can apply.

What we are looking for

We are looking for projects that will:

• regenerate and make physical and environmental improvements to green spaces, parks and play areas and villages across Renfrewshire
• promote sustainable community use of green spaces, parks, and play areas and villages
• increase levels of external funding into Renfrewshire to develop and use green spaces, parks, and play areas
• support communities to manage or deliver services in green spaces, parks, and play areas
• strengthen community capacity in Renfrewshire by increasing regular participation in community events and activities.

What your project needs to demonstrate

You will need to show how your project demonstrates these factors when you apply for funding.

Positive impact

Positive impact for local communities:

• You have identified the community need and support for your project, as well as clearly showing the changes your project will bring.
• You can clearly explain the impact your project will have and how you will know whether you have achieved change.

Involvement of the wider community

The wider community are involved in the design and delivery of the project:

• You can evidence how the community are involved in the development of your idea and supportive of your plans.
• Your plans show how the community will continue to have a voice in the delivery and oversight of your project.
• You can demonstrate a clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, making sure that different types of people are supported and empowered to engage with your project.

Good working relationships

Good working relationships and partnership with others:

• You can demonstrate that you are able to develop and sustain good working relationships with others.
• You have a commitment to partnership working.

Viability and sustainability

The project is viable and sustainable:

• You can demonstrate how your project can be financially viable.
• Your organisation has the appropriate skills experience and qualifications and access to the resources required to deliver the project and to sustain the benefit or has a plan for engaging people and accessing the resources required.
• Your organisation has suitable governance arrangements in place for the scale of the project and has clear succession plans in place for the recruitment of Board members or trustees.
• Your organisation has the agreement of the landowner and the relevant permissions and licenses in place to allow the project to be delivered.

Fits with the fund objectives and criteria

Strategic fit with the fund objectives and criteria:

• Your project meets some or all of the fund objectives - the strongest projects will meet the greatest number of objectives.
• Your project supports the strategic priorities of Renfrewshire Council and Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership.
• Your project is complementary to existing facilities and provisions in the local area and does not duplicate existing provision where unmet need or demand from the local community cannot be demonstrated.

Value for money and additional funding

Value for money and leverage of additional funding or resources

• You can demonstrate value for money.
• You can identify and secure other funding sources to support the development of your project, including the leveraging of additional funding into Renfrewshire.

The information and evidence required to be provided on each of these areas will be proportionate and appropriate to the scale and type of project involved.

Examples of projects

Examples of projects could be:

• upgrading or developing play areas or equipment to promote access for the community and create stimulating and enjoyable environments for all ages and abilities
• visual and physical improvements in parks and open spaces that improve the experience for visitors and residents or enhance features and points of interest
• opening areas of woodland or other open spaces for sustainable community access and use
• use of previously underused open spaces to improve the environment and provide increased leisure, art or design features, or recreational opportunities
• development of growing grounds or allotments.

Levels of funding

There are 3 levels of funding. We will consider applications for revenue or capital projects based on what the grant would be used for.

Grants up to £5,000

This is for small scale revenue or capital projects to support communities to:

• develop ideas
• get early quick wins and visible change happening
• to encourage and kick start community activity
• deliver visible environmental improvements.

Grants from £5,000 to £10,000

This is for larger scale revenue or capital projects that:

• generate sustainable physical improvements and investment in green spaces, parks and play areas and villages
• meet most if not all of the objectives of the fund
• should be able to demonstrate clear evidence of support from the wider community.

Grants over £10,000

For revenue or capital projects that will:

• deliver significant improvements and will
• be expected to have additional sources of funding or plans for securing additional funding.

Making additional applications

You can make more than one application to the fund to take forward different phases of a project.

Each application will be considered on its merits, but the decision will consider:

• if previous funding was made
• the overall value for money being delivered for the Council
• the performance of the applicant in relation to delivering the previous elements of the project funded.

Advice on becoming a constituted community group

The Communities and Public Protection Service can help groups access specialist advice on how to establish a constituted community group or access additional external funding.

Guidance and practical support for projects

We can give you guidance about developing and implementing your plans or practical support with your project. 

This can include access to tools, equipment, services and facilities needed to add momentum and impetus to your vision and give confidence that change can be delivered.

Contact the Engage Renfrewshire's Community and Voluntary Action Team:
 

Information you need to provide

You need to provide us with:

• a bank statement less than 3 months old
• a copy of your most recent annual accounts or an income and expenditure statement - these should be less than 15 months old, dated and signed as approved - you can include a link to the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) or to a Companies House submitted file
• a signed, dated copy of the organisation’s Constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association - you can include a link to the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) or to a Companies House submitted file
• any other relevant reports or information to support your application as supporting evidence, including media coverage, press cuttings, images, past publicity materials, reviews and letters of support, consultation carried out and results to evidence support of community, results of any surveys or professional opinion sought, business case or plan - this information should be submitted in electronic format where possible.

If it’s a new organisation, you should submit estimates of income and expenditure for the first 12 months.

Complete and send us the Voluntary and Community Organisations application form.

Send your application to us by email or post:

When you have applied, we will work with you to:

• develop a more detailed understanding of the project and organisation
• assess your proposal.

We’ll make a recommendation with the final decision depending on the level of funding you’ve applied for.

If it’s less than £5,000, the Director of Communities, Housing and Planning will award the grant.

If it’s more than £5,000, the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board will award the grant.

Conditions of the grant

All grants will be subject to Renfrewshire Council's standard grant conditions.

We will pay the grant to the organisations or individuals named in main application form.

Grant awards are not transferable to other organisations or entities and must be used to deliver the agreed project.

For grants from £1,000 up to £10,000

All grant payments will be authorised by the Council

• subject to satisfactory compliance procedures outlined in the grant conditions
• subject to scrutiny of any grants claims and receipts or invoices by the Council.

Once agreed, all grant payments will normally be made in one or two instalments at the Council's discretion.

For grants of £10,000 or more

All grant payments will be authorised by the Council

• subject to satisfactory compliance with the bookkeeping and accounts procedures outlined in the grant conditions
• subject to scrutiny of any grants claims and receipts or invoices by the Council.

Once agreed, all grant payments will normally be made on a quarterly basis and may be paid in advance at the Council's discretion.