Survive & Thrive Fund Now Available

Survive & Thrive Fund available to support local VCS through Recession 

 
A £50,000 Survive and Thrive fund has been devised and awarded to MKCLIP (MK Community Local Infrastructure Partnership) from Milton Keynes Council and will soon be delivered by the Milton Keynes Community Foundation who will be awarding grants of up to £5,000 through their existing grants structure. 

The aim of the fund is to help ensure community activity is maintained and that the smaller VCS groups can survive the recession. Groups eligible to apply will need to demonstrate how their service has been affected by the recession.  This could include organisations whose income streams have been hit, those who may be facing an increased demand on their service and need more resource, or those required to offer a new service in response to the current climate. 

The fund was in-part realised through the research findings carried out by Kitchen's Ink in February 2009 which investigated the effects of the recession on the sector in Milton Keynes.  The report illustrates how those VCS organisations which help others in crisis ie counselling, advice, welfare rights are facing significantly increased demands on their services as the effects of the recession start to be felt, some are described as 'bursting at the seams'.  Findings suggest some radical thinking should be applied to help the city emerge from the recession stronger, more creative and more resourceful to face the future.  The Milton Keynes Community Foundation are keen to ensure they remain at the forefront of offering support for sector throughout this time.

To find out whether your organisation is eligible to apply for funding, please contact the Milton Keynes Community Foundation who will be awarding grants later this month. Tel: 01908 690276.

Date Issued Tuesday 1st September