Link Group fund for ‘community champions’ celebrates £100,000 milestone | Latest news

220 organisations across Scotland, who share Link Group’s aim of making a positive impact in people’s lives through reducing poverty and exclusion and improving wellbeing, have benefitted from £500 grants from the Link in the Community Fund. Over £100,000 has already been distributed to local community groups, with further rounds of funding already in the works.

Link Group Head of Community Wellbeing, Grant Alexander, said: “Smaller community groups directly address their community’s needs, often acting as lifelines for some of its members, but we recognise these grassroots organisations often struggle to access traditional grant funding.

“Being able to support hundreds of people and families across our communities through the Link in the Community Fund is a milestone to celebrate. We know that the connections these incredible local groups have with people in their communities mean that the £100,000 will have quickly reached those who need it most.”

The Fund is generated via Link Group partner C~urb’s contracts with suppliers and selects grant recipients for each round through different funding themes, highlighting key areas that make a meaningful difference in bringing people and communities together. Recent themes have included food and healthy eating, promoting active lifestyles, environment and placemaking, and building community connections.

Colin Culross, Link Group Executive Director, Commercial, said: “The Fund presents a fantastic example of the life-changing effect that partnership working can have in building and strengthening our communities.

“I’m delighted to see Link Group and C~urb’s collaborative efforts result in £100,000 reaching grassroots organisations throughout Scotland, with tangible improvements to the quality of life already having an impact across the communities we support.”  

Sarah Smith, Executive Director, Communities for Link Group, added: “We established the Link in the Community Fund to support local groups who are aligned to Link’s wider aim of building sustainable communities. To have so far been able to provide some much-needed financial assistance to 220 groups across Scotland is a wonderful milestone in our ambition to help communities thrive.”

“The Fund has also created some great opportunities for us to meet some of these amazing community champions and to hear first-hand about the vital work they and their organisations do.”

One such organisation is Roots, an independent food bank regularly hosting community engagement events in Bonnybridge. We spoke to one of their dedicated volunteers, Theresa, about the project:

Another organisation who met with Link to discuss the Fund’s impact was Spartans Community Foundation: a charity that provides support and opportunities through sport in the North Edinburgh area. Jennifer Pullen introduces their valuable work: