Community projects benefit from SPA and Lintel Trust

Lintel Trust (part of the Link group of social enterprises) has approved £60,000 worth of funds from the Scottish Procurement Alliance’s (SPA) Community Benefit Fund for six local community projects. The awards are the first of the new financial year.

The community projects were nominated by the SPA Founder Partners and compliment the Community Benefit Clause of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, adding to the value achieved through procurement activities.

Projects include:

Welcome to Hawthorn – designed for the successful integration of new families moving into Hawthorn Housing Co-operative homes.

Linstone Community Support – various activities including paid work experience for tenants completing an employability programme; tenant involvement in the redesign of a community hub (with input from Impact Arts); and a community tea dance for older, isolated tenants.

Equal Voices – a digital project in Perth and Kinross introducing intergenerational activities and encouraging minority groups to work together to share digital skills.

Tackling Holiday Hunger 2018 – an extension of last year’s successful pilot project delivered in South Ayrshire. It includes fun holiday activities and a nutritionally balanced packed lunch for children who would normally receive free school lunches and can go hungry during school holidays.

Environmental Roots – a four-week pre-apprenticeship programme delivered to Wheatley Group tenants who require additional support to access Modern Apprenticeship opportunities. 

River Clyde Energy Support – an extension of a successful pilot project last year. It aims to tackle fuel poverty and financial exclusion through the provision of home visits for tenants in Inverclyde. 

Lintel Trust and SPA have been working together to distribute up to £300,000 in grant awards across Scotland. The SPA Community Benefit Fund is accumulated from procurement efficiencies generated by SPA partners from procurement of construction and refurbishment works to social housing stock.

A total of £130,000 was awarded to 13 different community projects during 2017/18 and feedback proves the benefits achieved by the projects far outweigh the sums of money awarded. 

Kate Christie, Senior Business Development Officer at Lintel Trust, said: 

“The outcomes of last year’s projects were impressive – evidence housing associations and local authorities have their fingers on the pulse of what communities need.

“The quality of projects approved this year is further evidence of this. It is really encouraging to see two successful pilot projects from last year have been extended to include additional areas.” 

Clive Feeney, Director at Scottish Procurement Alliance, added:

“Social value underpins the aims of the Scottish Procurement Alliance and we are delighted with the positive outcomes from the first year of the Community Benefit Fund.

“We are all excited to see the projects put forward for this year’s funding and the direct impact they will have on the tenants and communities involved.”