As part of the #ShiftThePower Scotland Comic Relief Programme, we work alongside communities across Scotland to support Community Led Grant Making.

This puts communities at the heart of designing and deciding how funds should be spent in their area. Each community funds work which addresses the four Comic Relief themes – Mental Health Matters, Gender Justice, Safe Place to Be, and Children Survive and Thrive. You can read more about these themes here. We are excited that this fund is open to both un-constituted and constituted community groups, alongside grassroots charities.

Methil Small Fish Fund is now OPEN.

The community will be funding local ideas and activities that bring people together over the summer. Grants of up to £700 are available and you can read more about what the community will be funding and who can apply in the Methil Small Fish Information and Guidance.

If you’d like to find out more, please come along to one of the drop-in information sessions – you’ll find the details in the ‘Information Sessions’ tab below.

This Small Fish Fund is run by local people for local people. The aim is to support and encourage local groups to run activities. The money comes from Comic Relief for community led grantmaking in the local area. We have £15,000 for this first grants programme for summer activities. The grants are administered by Corra, and they are supporting the Doon the Dam group to run the fund.

Doon the Dam is a group made up of local people who are each involved in community groups in the local area. The group came together to encourage community engagement around the River Leven project.

The aim of the Small Fish Fund is to bring people together, improve community spirit, help the recovery from Covid, and for people to have fun.

This fund is for charities, community (not for profit) groups or groups of three or more people who have ideas to benefit people in Methil, Methilhill, Buckhaven, Denbeath, Wemyss villages, Kennoway, Windygates, and Leven.

  • Applicant organisations/groups should have an income of less than £100,000.
  • Groups could be formally constituted, or informal groups who don’t have a constitution. Of the people running a group, at least one third of them must not be connected to the others. (e.g. in a group of three people, one person should not be related to the other two).
  • Groups of young people that are supported by a larger organisation but have a degree of independence. For example, where the group of young people make decisions about what to do and are instrumental in the running of those activities, with some support.

The fund is for activities to run during the summer, for any ages of people.  A project might be a one off event, or a series of activity sessions. We are keen to encourage new ideas.

Projects should broadly fit into at least one of the following Comic Relief themes:

  • Mental Health Matters – improving mental health and tackling stigma.
  • A Safe Place to Be – supporting people who have experienced homelessness or have been forced from their homes to live safely.
  • Children Survive & Thrive – for younger children.
  • Gender Justice – contributing to gender equality by reducing violence and discrimination based on gender and sexuality.

You can read more about these themes here.

Please note that the closing date for sending in applications is 5pm on Saturday 25th March 2023.

Please read the Information and Guidance before you download the application form.

How much can you apply for?

Grants up to £700 for costs related to the event or activity such as travel, materials, childcare, food, entry fees and insurance. We would prefer to fund a whole project or, if it is a bigger project, to provide the final funding to enable an activity to happen.

Writing your application

Thinking about your project:

  • What will change as a result of the project and who will benefit?
  • How does the project fit into one of the themes?
  • How many people will take part?
  • What do you need to run your project and what do these cost?

How will funding decisions be made?

The Doon the Dam group will:

  • Consider which applications fit the guidelines.
  • Invite those that best fit to events on Saturday 29th April 2023 9:30-11:30 am and Saturday 6th May 2023 1-3 pm. If invited, these dates must be attended in order to qualify for a grant.
  • Give feedback to those that don’t fit.

At the events:

  • Each group will present their project idea to the Doon the Dam group and other invited applicants.
  • Everyone will discuss the projects and there will be a collective decision making process.
  • The decision making process is more collaborative and less competitive.

For more information and help to fill out the form, please come along to a drop-in information session on either Saturday 4th March (10am to 12pm) or Tuesday 7th March (5pm to 7pm) at St Agatha’s, 160 Methil Brae, Methil, KY8 3LU.