Tyne Esk Fund highlights achievements
Since November 2022, the Tyne and Esk Rural Communities Development Fund has awarded more than half a million pounds to 52 local groups and projects – but its value to our communities has been calculated as much more.
The Rural Communities Development Fund is part of the Scottish Government’s Community Led Local Development Rural Programme. It involves community decision making from the ‘bottom up' by dedicated volunteers who form a Local Action Group (LAG).
Projects that have benefited have a focus on supporting communities, individuals and businesses advancing inclusion, equality, and diversity within rural areas of East Lothian and Midlothian.
As part of the programme, the Tyne and Esk group has reported on social value outcomes ranging from benefits to young people, supporting volunteers, and environmental gains. Using nationally accepted Social Return on Investment (SROI) principles, which apply a monetary value to non-financial benefits, it has been calculated that, in 2022/23 the SROI to £1 of funding was £4.86 and in 2023/24 that figure was £7.72 to every £1.
As well as this tangible social benefit calculation showing the value of its own direct grants, in 2023 the Tyne and Esk Programme also funded a subscription to Funder Finder, an online facility enabling businesses, community and charitable organisations to access this useful tool for identifying funding streams relevant to their projects. The subscription has brought in £3.56 for every pound invested.
David Orr, CEO of The Fraser Centre Community Trust in Tranent, said: “We would like to thank Tyne and Esk for their continued support to our charity. In the past two years Tyne and Esk has allowed the Trust to improve the accessibility of our venue for everyone. They have not only supported us with the addition of a new projector for our 20,000 cinema visitors; they have financed a hearing loop system and captioning glasses for people with loss of hearing. This technology ensures we can reduce barriers for people to people enjoy our cinema.
“Tyne and Esk has also supported our music evenings for local young people with the addition of staging equipment to provide them with a professional performance experience. Funding support from Tyne and Esk has made this possible and we are thoroughly grateful for their support.”
Tyne and Esk LAG Co-Chair Anne Hastie said: “The Social Return on Investment calculation really demonstrates the value of the Tyne and Esk funding to our rural communities, not just in the cash paid out but in the social benefits we get in return. Another positive – being able to show the SROI of a project helps groups in applying for further funding from other sources, so the benefit then multiplies. I would encourage any community-focused businesses or groups to take a look at our website for more information and look out for future funding announcements.”
For further information on the Tyne and Esk Programme and projects that have been funded go to the website. Follow them on Facebook and X for future funding announcements.
To access the Funder Finder for organisations, go to their website.