THURSDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

Community Innovation Fund information sessions in Angus

A series of information and advice sessions is being held across Angus for interested applicants to learn more about NHS Tayside’s Community Innovation Fund.

The Community Innovation Fund (CIF) aims to help community groups to develop local improvement projects that will benefit the health and wellbeing of their local population. The Fund is financed through the Tayside Health Fund.

All sessions run from noon until 2pm at the following venues in Angus:

• Monday, 29 October -  Pitstop, Sensory Stop Garden, 1A Academy Street, Forfar DD8 2HA

• Tuesday, 30 October - Kirrie Connections, 5 Bank Street, Kirriemuir, DD8 4BE

• Wednesday, 31 October - Learning Tree, 32-34 Guthrie Port, Arbroath, DD11 1RN

Richard McIntosh, Community Capacity Building Officer with NHS Tayside and first point of contact for enquiries about the Fund said, “We are holding these drop-in sessions so that anyone with an idea that would help their local community can come along and have a chat with us and find out more about how we can help - often people just need a little support and funding to get started.

“The Fund can really go to the heart of a community to make a difference. It can support local people to make decisions about the changes they want to see to help them improve the health, wellbeing and resilience of their own communities.

“The Community Innovation Fund hopes to support new, innovative projects which will work in partnership with communities in disadvantaged areas, promoting quality of life, overall health and wellbeing and creating a stronger sense of community and social relationships.”

Community groups can apply for any amount between £500 and £25,000 over a three-year period to establish new and innovative projects.

Anyone interested in applying or finding out more information should come along to the information sessions or visit the website www.communityinnovationfundtayside.scot.nhs.uk.

Notes to editor:

• Any community-led organisation can apply to the Community Innovation Fund for funding for a project in a community in an area of need.

• The project must show ongoing benefits and improvements to the community.

• The Fund enables people to identify issues of concern in their community and to take improvement action.

• The Fund aims to help people to form partnerships with others who can provide assistance to work together to bring about change.

• The Fund has already supported

o Arbroath - Men’s Shed

o Brechin Community Garden

o Forfar Open Garden Space

o Friockheim Community Hub

o Hospitalfield House, Westway, Arbroath

o Kirrie Connections

o Learning Tree, Arbroath

o Links Park Community Trust, Montrose

o Pitstop, Sensory Stop Garden

Contact:

Anna Michie

NHS Tayside Communications

01382 424138