New Funding for the Enhancement of Parks and Greenspaces in Scotland

Grants of between £500 and £1500 are now available to constituted community and friends’ groups that are working to improve parks and greenspaces in Scotland.

The funding is provided through the first round of the Parks4Life Community Fund, established through donations and support to Scotland’s only crowdfunding site specifically for parks and greenspaces, MyParkScotland, and is managed by Greenspace Scotland.

The Fund is intended to support community groups to deliver on their aim of bringing their parks to life and making the best of parks in Scotland for the public to enjoy now and in the future.

Funding can be used for a range of costs, including events, skills training for volunteers, or small planting schemes.

Priority will be given to the following:

• Projects that aim to ‘activate’ the park through events eg, a gala day or focussed park clean that will bring people to the park or greenspace.
• Promoting the work of the community and friends’ group and the role of the park or greenspace.
• Purchase of tools and materials that will help the group.
• Groups where their park or greenspace is in an area that scores highly on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), particularly those in the 20% of most deprived areas.

It is anticipated that projects will be delivered within six months of a grant offer being accepted.

Applications will be considered, and funding allocated every two weeks. Groups are encouraged to apply as early as possible.