FUNDING of up to £50,000 is on offer for community groups and organisations working on regeneration projects.

The Regeneration Project Capital Fund has been developed and funded through the Scottish Government’s Place-based Investment Programme (PBIP).

The scheme, which will be administered by East Lothian Council, will provide financial support to allow community groups and organisations to progress projects such as new facilities; to repair and/or upgrade buildings; the installation of climate change mitigation measures and improvement of outdoor community spaces.

The funding aims to support communities to address local issues and assist with the development of wider regeneration potential.

The Regeneration Project Capital Fund (RPCF) follows on from the successful round of project development funding offered through the UKSPF Regeneration Project Development Fund, to provide community groups with a route to continue projects to a conclusion.

The RPCF can fund up to 75 per cent of capital project delivery costs and can also be used to attract other funding to support a larger community project.

Funding must be committed by the end of March next year.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “The supported projects must be able to demonstrate how the funding will assist with the delivery of wider regeneration aims within the area, including the vision for the long-term benefits for the local communities and wider East Lothian population, aligned with both the East Lothian Plan objectives and East Lothian Council climate strategy outcomes.

“A maximum grant of £50,000 will be available per community group or organisation towards project costs.

“As the available funding is limited, grant applications will be assessed and scored competitively against a set of eligibility criteria.

“The fund will have a single round in 2023/24, with the deadline for submission of applications set at 5pm on Friday, December 1.”

Further information is available via the council website.

It is anticipated that the fund will open again for applications in the new financial year with an increased funding allocation to support additional projects.