Launch of Round 3 of University of St Andrews Community Fund

The University of St Andrews has today (Monday 12 July 2021) launched Round 3 of the Community Fund to support groups and community activities in St Andrews and the surrounding area.

Launched in April 2020, the first two rounds saw a wide range of local causes benefiting from a financial boost.

The Community Fund has donated more than £68k to local projects since its launch, including Fife Migrants Forum, who received £3000 to support the running of a new Conversational Café in north east Fife. The Café provides people with information and signposting on how to access further education and employment opportunities, alongside advice and support to prevent poverty and increase access to local support services.

The Cosmos Community Centre received a donation of £900 to increase wellbeing opportunities and support for the local children they care for. Assisting the children to learn through play, the donation facilitated the purchase of new games and activities to ensure the individual skills and interests of the children are a key focus. The donation also provided staff with opportunities to take part in additional training courses to support youngsters, such as Child Mental Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Applications for Round 3 of the Community Fund will be accepted from organisations and groups from across Fife, providing their activities have an impact on St Andrews and the neighbouring communities.

The types of projects which are eligible for funding of between £250 and £3000 include those which:

• Benefit communities in the local area (St Andrews and neighbouring communities)
• Increase engagement between the University and the community
• Promote knowledge exchange and widening participation
• Promote environmental sustainability
• Promote diversity and inclusion
• Celebrate St Andrews and the local area’s heritage, whether physical or cultural.

All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The fund will prioritise small, grassroots charities and community organisations over larger organisations.

Local branches of national charities are eligible to apply if they are financially independent and locally managed, and national charities if they have a distinctive offering to the local community.

University Community Engagement and Social Responsibility Officer, Lesley Caldwell, said: “I am delighted that we are now able to launch the final round of the inaugural year of the University of St Andrews Community Fund. The impact the fund has had throughout this difficult period on groups and organisations across Fife, and most importantly their users, has gone beyond our expectations.

“The community in which we live and work is a key part of University life, and it’s only right that as an institution we play a key part in supporting our community. The Panel and I look forward to receiving applications for the next round and I look forward to continuing the relationships we have built with those we have already funded.”

Visit the University Community Fund page on the University website to find out more and to access application documents.