Funding for community groups to support local parks

MyParkScotland have announced the launch of the first round of the Parks4Life Community Fund. 

The primary goal of the Parks4Life Community Fund is to support community groups to deliver on their aim in bringing their parks to life and make the best of our parks for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.

Grants of up between £500 and £1,500 are available to community and Friends groups who work to improve, promote and develop a park or greenspace across Scotland. Funding could be used to help your group put on or expand an event to attract visitors to the park, skills training for your volunteers or something more practical such as a small planting scheme.

The Parks4Life Community Fund is open to any constituted community or Friends group, in Scotland, who are working to improve and bring life to their parks and greenspaces. All applying groups should have their own bank account.

Applications which will get priority...

• Applications intending to “activate your park” through events such as a gala day or focussed park clean that will bring people to your park or greenspace.
• Promote the work or community and friends group and the role of the park or greenspace.
• Purchase of tools and materials that will help your group
• Applications from groups across Scotland and in particular groups where their park or greenspace is in an area that scores highly on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), particularly those in the 20% of most deprived areas.

The aim of the fund is to:

• Fund groups from across Scotland
• Fund a range type of projects to showcase the variety of work undertaken by groups
• Provide funds to established and new groups that support parks and greenspaces
• Bring attention to the great work that community and Friends groups do to enhance parks and greenspaces

The Parks4Life Community Fund opened for applications on Monday 10 June. Applications will be assessed, and funding allocated every 2 weeks, and the scheme will close once all funds have allocated or on Friday 30 August.

In this pilot round of the Parks4Life Community Fund there is a limited amount of funding available so therefore encourage to submit their application as soon as possible.

The Parks4Life Community Fund will offer grants annually and groups can only apply for one grant in each financial year.

You can find all the relevant information including the application process and contact details at Parks4Life