University launches £30k St Andrews community fund

Applications will be accepted from organisations and groups across Fife providing their activities have an impact on St Andrews and neighbouring communities or demonstrate a clear opportunity to increase engagement with the university.

The types of projects which are eligible for funding of between £250 and £3000 include those which: benefit communities in the local area (St Andrews and neighbouring communities); increase engagement between the university and the community; promote knowledge exchange and widening participation; promote environmental sustainability; promote diversity and inclusion; and celebrate St Andrews and the local area’s heritage, whether physical or cultural.

Although the fund was conceived before the Covid-19 crisis, the university recognises that key to a community’s recovery and the very fabric of life in communities are the many small voluntary bodies responding to the needs of residents with a will and bravery which must be commended.

Therefore, during this period the university would particularly like to receive applications that consider opportunities and activities which offer solutions to community needs during the Covid-19 crisis.

All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The fund will prioritise small, grassroots charities and community organisations over larger organisations.

Local branches of national charities are eligible to apply if they are financially independent and locally managed, and national charities if they have a distinctive offering to the local community.

Students from the university have also been helping this week.

Students donated vital personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies for use by care workers and NHS frontline staff throughout Fife.

Led by the St Andrews Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSASTA), a group of 23 Chinese students currently at the university, the donated items include 1300 face masks, surgical gloves, goggles and disinfection tablets. Students donated their own supply of PPE related to their course of study at the university.

For more information about the fund visit www.st-andrews.ac.uk/community/community-fund or email [email protected].