***The fund is now closed to new applications.***

Update 9 December 2021 – This year’s Scottish Government’s Programme for Government included a commitment to introduce a new £16m third sector fund to replace the CYPFEIF & ALEC Fund in April 2023. Scottish Government will therefore no longer be launching a new Families and Communities Fund in April 2022, but instead extending the CYPFEIF & ALEC fund for a further year while developing options for a new third sector fund to commence in April 2023.

Update 2 October 2020 – In light of the uncertainties associated with the continuing pandemic and the need for stability, Ministers have decided not to run the Family and Communities Fund in the financial year 2021/2022. Arrangements for funding from April 2022 will be outlined in due course.

Update 15 April 2020 – Further to the earlier announcements of the delay in announcing the results of the Families and Communities (FAC) Fund application process, due to the delay to the UK and Scottish budgets and the unprecedented challenges currently being faced by the third sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ministers have now taken the decision that they will extend the existing Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention & Adult Learning and Empowering Communities (CYPFEI & ALEC) Fund until end March 2021 and that the Family and Communities Fund will now commence with effect from 1 April 2021 for a two year period, i.e. until 31 March 2023, in line with the original application process. Ministers hope to be in a position to confirm those organisations which have been successful in their applications to the Families and Communities Fund by the end of September 2020.

Update 27 March 2020 – Scottish Government hoped to confirm the results of FAC Fund applications by the end of March, with the fund commencing from 1 July 2020.  However, due to the unprecedented challenges currently being faced by the Third Sector as a result of the  COVID-19 pandemic, Ministers have taken the decision to delay any announcement of funding through the FAC Fund for a further three months.  Instead, Scottish Government will extend the current CYPEIF & ALEC Fund until September 2020, with the aim of ensuring that there is as little, additional, disruption to the sector as possible at this difficult time.

Update 14 February 2020 – The Scottish Budget 2020-21 is now progressing through the Scottish Parliament. Since the timing of the UK Budget delayed the publication of the Scottish Budget, the Families and Communities Fund will now start in July 2020.

The announcement of funding decisions for the Families and Communities Fund will be made after the budget process is complete. The amount available for the fund will be up to £12.5 million in year 1 and up to £16 million in years 2 and 3, dependent on the Scottish Parliament agreeing the budget.

Update 23 December 2019 – As a result of the delay to the UK Budget because of the UK election, and the knock on delay to the Scottish Budget, the Scottish Government has as yet been unable to make the announcement of which applicants will receive funding through the Families and Communities Fund. All applicants were sent an email letting them know this.

As soon as further information relating to the timing of the fund becomes available, this will be shared with all applicants via email.