In 2025 VANL reviewed and relaunched the Community Solutions Thematic Fund, taking on feedback from consultation events with partner organisation across the local community and voluntary sector shaping how the fund would look.
A key piece of feedback received consistently by the Community Solutions team throughout the consultation period was the need for longer term funding to allow organisations to deliver more effective projects and as a result over the last few months, while in discussion with University Health and Social care North Lanarkshire around the approach to this year’s funding we would like to share the approach we are taking
Stage 1- Year One Extension Funding Stage: On the 8th December 2025 all projects funded under the two main stands of the fund (Innovation and Volunteering) were contacted with the offer of applying for an additional year of funding for their projects. Applications submitted by these organisations will be assessed by a panel in the same way they were in year one, only based more heavily on the progress and impact made by the project being delivered currently. Decisions for this stage of the fund will be made on the 4th February with decisions being communicated to organisations week beginning 9th February, with funding award letters and payments schedules issued to successful applicant’s week commencing 23rd February.
Stage 2- Year Two Application Stage: Once stage 1 projects have been awarded, applications will be opened in the same format as last years fund on 16th February. The amount of funding being made available will be announced at the same time and applications will close on the 27th March. Decisions for this stage of the fund will be made 11th and 13th May with these decisions being communicated to organisations week beginning 25th May, with funding award letters and payments schedules issued to successful applicant’s week commencing 1st June.
More details around applications, guidance and supports for this stage will be released when the fund launches.
If you have any questions please get in touch by emailing thematics@vanl.co.uk
