Dumfries and Galloway Council is constantly trying to improve the help it gives to the Third Sector, who are a valued partner in delivering high quality services.

The Third Sector Strategic Budget provides core funding to cover running costs for one or three years to organisations in Dumfries and Galloway that work across the whole region, or at least two Area Committee areas, or are considered to be strategic e.g. local initiative, independent museum or day centre for older people. 

Third Sector Strategic Budget applications are invited from organisations whose services fit with the following service areas: Adult Services; Children's Services; Community Learning & Development (including Economic Regeneration); Cultural Services – Arts; Cultural Services – Museums; Day Centres for Older People

We must receive applications for funding to the Third Sector Strategic Budget for 2010/11 to 2012/13 by 5.00pm on Saturday 31 October 2009. The call for applications to the Third Sector Strategic Budget is advertised in local newspapers in early September each year. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

Applications to Area Committees, Sports Councils and Annandale & Eskdale Sports & Leisure Trust continue to be accepted throughout the year until budgets are fully committed. Area Committee, Sports Council and Leisure Trust applicants should note that only one year applications will be considered by Area Committees, Sports Councils and the Leisure Trust.

Third Sector Funding applications for 2009/10 to 2011/12 were considered by Resources Committee in early March 2009. Funding payments will start in April 2009 (the council's financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March each year). Area Committees and local Sports Councils (including Annandale & Eskdale Sports & Leisure Trust) start the decision making process in April 2009. If you are not sure whether the closing date applies to YOUR application, contact the Voluntary Sector Funding Co-ordinator.

If you require a printed application pack please contact us.

You must provide us with a copy of your organisation's constitution (the set of rules your organisation follows). If your organisation is a company limited by guarantee, send us a copy of your memorandum and articles of association. Your constitution must be signed and dated as formally approved/adopted – this must have been carried out at the relevant meeting. If you know we already have an up-to-date copy of your constitution, you do not need to send it to us again. If you need help with developing your organisation's constitution, please contact your local Council of Voluntary Service. During 2009/10 i.e. no later than March 2010 you need to revise your constitution to include a statement regarding authorised signatories. Elected Members have agreed that applicant organisations to the Third Sector Strategic Budget must have a minimum of two authorised signatories who are not connected and this must be agreed and recorded within the organisation's constitution. 'Connected' is defined by the Charities & Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 as:

"Any person to whom the [signatory] is married, is the civil partner of the [signatory] or with whom the [signatory] is living as husband and wife or, where the [signatory] and the other person are of the same sex, in an equivalent relationship.

Any child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, brother or sister of the [signatory] (any spouse of any such person).

For the purposes of the above, a person who is another person's stepchild or brought up or treated by another person as if the person were a child of the other person, is to be treated as that other person's child."

You must also provide us with a copy of your organisation's most recent set of audited or examined accounts. These must be examined by an independent person who you reasonably believe has the ability and experience to examine them properly. An independent person is someone who is not a member of your organisation. The person who examines and certifies your accounts as a true record does not have to be a qualified auditor or accountant.  However, they do need to have relevant experience, for example, perhaps they work or worked in a bank or post office and working with figures was part of the job. 'Certified' means that the person who examined your accounts must write a statement on the accounts to say that they are a true record, and sign and date this statement. If your organisation is new, you can send us income and spending plans for your first year.

Each applicant is allocated a Lead Officer from the Council service appropriate to their area of work.  Each eligible application is assessed through a 4 stage scoring process consisting of:

Stage A - Technical checks by a member of the Third Sector Support team.

Stage B - Check of accounts and financial management arrangements by a Finance Officer.

Stage C - Check including governance arrangements, past performance and fit with Community/Corporate/Service/Operational Plans by the nominated Lead Officer. 

Stage D - All scored applications are passed to a Moderating Panel consisting of three senior members of staff from the relevant service.  The Moderating Panel looks at all applications for the relevant service area and ensures that recommendations to Committee fit within the available budget.

Successful applicants need to sign Acceptance of Award Conditions before funding can be released.  A contract must be signed if the agreed award is £10,000 or more, and regular satisfactory monitoring reports are required for further instalments to be released. 

Remember there is also support available from local Council Community Learning & Development staff and local Councils of Voluntary Service.

Acknowledging Dumfries and Galloway Council Support:

The following information applies to Third Sector organisations receiving funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Your organisation must ensure that Dumfries and Galloway Council's financial support is acknowledged in all publicity associated with your organisation. You are required to use the Council's logo, preceded by the words, 'Supported by'.

The logo for Dumfries and Galloway Council is available to download here along with the relevant guidelines for its use

You must provide copies of all instances of use of the council logo to the Voluntary Sector Funding Co-ordinator. Your organisation must disclose the award separately in your annual accounts. Your organisation must acknowledge the Council's funding in your annual report and your Chair or Secretary's report at AGM. You must supply copies of any such documents to the Council on request.

Dumfries and Galloway – The Natural Place

Dumfries & Galloway Council endorses 'The Natural Place' brand initiative which has been developed in conjunction with the former Dumfries & Galloway Tourist Board (now VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway) and Scottish Enterprise Dumfries & Galloway to help raise awareness of the region.

As a condition of award your organisation should view the guidelines and, where appropriate, incorporate 'Dumfries & Galloway' and a 'natural place to ...' or 'naturally ...' strapline in your promotional materials such as leaflets, flyers, posters, adverts and banners.

Full details of how to use the strapline and examples are contained in a booklet which may be obtained by contacting the Voluntary Sector Funding Co-ordinator. It is essential that you send any copies of printed materials to the address below.

For tourism-related projects, VisitScotland can provide guidance on marketing and you may wish to send a draft of your proposed promotional materials as you develop them and they will be happy to offer advice if desired.

Marketing
VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway
64 Whitesands
Dumfries
DG1 2RS

Tel: 01387 245550 (Reception)
Fax: 01387 245551

There are also a wide range of funding opportunities for both individuals and organisations from £100 up to £1,000,000 + available from various sources and some links are provided in our Grants and Funding - Useful Links.

It is recommended that before completing application forms for funding from any source it is worth contacting the organisation concerned and talking through your plan or project.

Some key considerations when applying for funding include:

1. Why is the project needed?
2. How does the project deliver against local and regional priorities? 
3. Are there alternatives to fund this project?
4. Projects objectives and planned outcomes?
5. Will you be able to monitor progress and know when targets have been met?
6. Do you have an accurate cost break down of your project?
7. Do you have a contingency plan?
8. Are there possible risks for the project?
9. Do you have other partners involved?
10. How much of your own investment have you put into the project?
11. What are your exit routes after funding has ceased?