New funding to tackle poverty and inequality in Clackmannanshire
Over the past 18 months, nearly £1million of funding has been distributed through decisions made by local residents through Clackmannanshire Community Voice panels.
Through earlier funding rounds, Community Voice has worked to bring clarity and local context to some of the biggest challenges facing the county: preventing homelessness, improving mental health support for people under 25, improving support for women and girls, employment that lifts people out of poverty, and a better experience of finding and providing information.
"A Fairer Clackmannanshire" programme is open to ideas that cut across all of these themes, and to new ideas that Community Voice has not yet heard. Community Voice does not want to design a fix. It wants to invite organisations to develop new, joined-up approaches to the enduring challenges of poverty and inequality in Clackmannanshire.
Funding from across Clackmannanshire Council services is pooled with Invest to Save funding and wider external investment to create a new resource that supports projects and initiatives which address issues affecting those who live and work in Clackmannanshire. This represents a radical shift towards a preventative and relational model of public services, seeking to support work which provides early intervention for issues in new, collaborative ways.
There are three routes to funding within this round.
- Small grants of up to £5,000 for organisations with an annual turnover of up to £100,000
- Larger grants of up to £25,000 for organisations of any size
- Continuation grants of up to £50,000 for organisations already funded through the Transformation Space whose funding ends before 31 March 2027 (or has already ended), where early impact can be shown.
Projects can test a new idea or scale up and deepen existing work. Activity that simply continues what an organisation already does is not eligible. Each organisation may submit only one application in this round.
Community Voice will particularly welcome proposals that are shaped by the insights of people with lived experience, value local knowledge, skills and expertise, bring organisations together, especially those that don't usually work together, or work across more than one issue and build local capacity, support the local economy through local suppliers, and reduce environmental impact.
Community Voice has set out the future it hopes this work will help create. In that future, good local jobs pay fairly, homes are secure and affordable, and money worries are caught early. People feel safe, respected and free of stigma when they ask for help. Information is clear and services work as one connected system. The local economy works for local people.
Community Voice members would encourage local groups to apply and had their own messages for applicants:
“The scope of this round is broad, which gives people room to be imaginative and to work together. The tiered grants should appeal to smaller community groups too, and hopefully make applying feel less daunting. Poverty runs through everything, from housing to mental health. If one organisation can help with one part and work with another to tackle a different aspect, it has the potential to take the force out of the domino effect of poverty and make a bigger difference to local people. This funding round covers everything we’ve discussed in Community Voice so far. I love the emphasis on collaboration and on involving people with lived experience throughout.”
How to apply
The deadline for applications is midnight on 9 December 2026, and funding decisions are expected in late February 2027. Applications can be made via the Fund Information Page.
In November, Foundation Scotland will hold two webinars for larger grant applicants and three in-person drop-in events across Clackmannanshire for small grant applicants. Organisations interested in the events, or in applying for a continuation grant, should contact Rae Sedman at rachelsedman@foundationscotland.org.uk
For further information about the Transformation Space visit the website.