The Spagan Community Fund

About this fund

Grant size: £1,000 - £20,000

The Fund has been operating since 2018 to benefit community activity on Barra and Vatersay. The Board has now asked Foundation Scotland to provide assistance with developing their current approach to the distribution of Spagan funding applications.  

This will happen in three phases:

Phase 1 – the Spagan Fund will be open on a rolling basis from 1st July 2024

Phase 2 – a Fund Strategy will be developed for the Spagan Fund, setting out refreshed aims and criteria for the Fund and how an independent Community Panel will be established to make decisions on future Spagan funding

Phase 3 – the Community Panel will be established and the Spagan Fund will then be relaunched. We expect this to be in place later in the year. 

Purpose of this fund

The purpose of the Fund remains to support the work of community organisations serving the community of Barra and Vatersay.  

Grants may support a wide range of costs, such as equipment, events, running costs and the maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. 

Who can apply?

Community groups and organisations working to benefit people in the area of benefit and which meet Foundation Scotland’s standard eligibility criteria can apply. Applicants must have a constitution and be set up on a not-for-profit basis. They do not need to be a registered charity but the activity or project they are requesting funding for must be charitable/for community benefit. 

What can’t be funded?

Foundation Scotland maintains a standard list of exclusions which cannot be funded.  This includes anti-renewable energy activities, including activities contrary to the interests of Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh Ltd, and any activities likely to bring them, Foundation Scotland or the community into disrepute. Please note this fund does not support applications from individuals. In addition, it currently does not support multi-year applications. 

How are decisions made?

Currently decisions are made by the Board of Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh Ltd. Decisions will be made within 6 weeks of being received, so please ensure you allow sufficient time to apply before your event or activity is scheduled to take place, as we cannot provide funding for things that have already taken place.

Once the Fund Strategy has been developed and approved by the Board, decisions will be made by an independent Community Panel representing Barra and Community.

Funding decisions are final but applications that do not receive funding awards will receive feedback and where possible, signposted to other sources of funding or advice.