Voting results

The full public vote results will be available on Participate+ on 29 March, and on this website on 02 April, after the Easter Bank Holiday.

Over £800, 000 will be split between Falkirk’s 9 electoral wards and a Falkirk wide category.

Place-based Capital Grants are allocated by electoral ward; there is also a Falkirk-wide Capital Grants category for projects that will benefit the whole community. Groups cannot apply for the Place-based Capital Grant Fund and the Falkirk-wide Capital Grant Fund simultaneously.

During the first three phases of Community Choices, a total of 53 Place-based Capital projects were successful in the public vote.

The type of community projects being carried out in our communities ranges from upgrading the Redding Pit Disaster memorial, to repairing the roof on a local community theatre.

Successful project applications should have a clear vision and ambition for a positive future and should seek to result in communities which are fairer and healthier or more connected and inclusive.


Who can apply?

As for Small Grants, the groups who can apply include:

  • Constituted groups or clubs
  • Registered charities
  • Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIO's)
  • Not for profit companies
  • Community Interest companies (CIC's) with no private benefit
  • Community Councils
  • Community Trusts

Private businesses and individuals are not eligible to apply. While faith-based organisations may apply, we cannot fund the practice of religion, or any activities that actively promote religion or particular belief systems. We cannot fund activities that are exclusive to only those who practice that religion.

Nature of your organisation

Your organisation should have:

  • A group constitution
  • A group bank account and 3 months of bank statements
  • A recent set of independently examined Annual Accounts (or management accounts if the group is less than 1 year old)

Along with your application form, constitution, bank statements and accounts, for Place-based Capital Grants you will need to submit the following:

  • 3 written quotations for significant works / expenditure, at least one of which should ideally be from a supplier based within Falkirk district
  • Lease / landowner's permission (if applicable)
  • Planning permission / building warrants (if applicable)

Visit our Planning Permission page for more information, or email dc@falkirk.gov.uk.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all necessary statutory permissions are in place, and that in relation to the project, anyone acting on behalf of the group, is complying with the law, ensuring that all relevant health and safety regulations and good practices are adhered to.


What are eligible Capital Projects?

The Place-based Capital Grants programme is different to the Small Grants programme as there are strict limits on the types of projects that are eligible. It can only be used for certain types of projects – these are capital projects.

The rules about what can be used for capital spend and revenue spend are rigorous and we can work with you to ensure that any projects requesting capital funds meet the definitions for capital expenditure.


Capital expenditure vs Revenue expenditure

Capital expenditure

Money that is spent on things (assets) that are expected to last for a longer period of time – eg renovating a community centre, purchasing a minibus, etc.

Revenue expenditure

Money that is spent on day-to-day things which don't last a long time – eg transport costs, new printer, cost of community event, staff costs.

Examples of eligible projects

The Place-based Capital Grants programme can be used to invest in resources and facilities for the benefit of the community and must be able to continue to offer public benefit throughout their lifetime.

Projects are expected to create something new (an asset) or improve an existing asset such as a structural improvement to a building, for example.

There are 3 main types of capital expenditure:

  • Building something new, such as a new sports pavilion
  • Improving an asset which could be renovating an existing community hall
  • Purchasing equipment like a minibus

What is not eligible?

Projects that are not capital projects are not eligible for Place-based Capital Grant funds. Examples include:

  • Routine maintenance and repairs
  • The purchase of small items of furniture or equipment, eg a shelving unit, a disabled toilet seat
  • Repainting parts of a building
  • Installing new electricity sockets
  • Replacing taps
  • General salaries and expenses

Some projects that are capital projects but are excluded in this round of Community Choices (and are therefore not eligible for capital funds) include:

  • public parks and installation of play equipment
  • school-based projects
  • CCTV
  • purchase of existing buildings

60% rule

To ensure that expensive single projects cannot use up all the funds available in their Ward, Place-based Capital projects are limited to applying for 60% of a Ward's allocation.

Procurement processes

As part of your application for Place-based Capital Grant funding, you will need to submit 3 written quotes for significant works; ideally at least one of these should be from a supplier based within the Falkirk Council area.

Community Asset Transfers

An award from the Place-based Capital Grant programme can help further a Community Asset Transfer; if your project seeks to secure funds to transfer an asset (eg a community centre) into community ownership, your proposal would need to demonstrate that you have plans in place to undertake an Asset Transfer.

Help and support will be available to take forward the more technical aspects of your project ideas; email us:

Find out more about Community Asset Transfer and the Community Empowerment Grant, which can also offer funding for this type of project.


Apply

Applications closed on 01 December 2023.


Where to get help if you need it?


How does the programme work?

  • When the programme is open for applications, download and complete an application form.
  • Email the completed application form and accompanying documents to community.choices@falkirk.gov.uk.
  • Council officers and the Advisory Panel review all applications for eligibility.
  • If eligible, your proposal will be put to the public vote.
  • If successful in the public vote, the Community Choices team will meet with you.
  • Following the meeting, an award letter with T&C's will be issued, it should be signed and returned.
  • Groups should not spend any Community Choices allocation until the signed award letter has been received by the Community Choices team.