Elected Member Briefing - Fairer Communities for All - process update

About this Briefing Note

Report by: Elaine Ritchie, Strategic Lead - Housing and Communities

EMBN Number: 163-25 

Date: 19 December 2025

Subject: Fairer Communities for All - process update

Responsible Officer: Karen Evans, Team Leader - CLD

Details

Purpose

To brief Perth and Kinross councillors on the successful delivery and outcomes of the Fairer Communities for All (FCFA) process, including funding distributed, community engagement, and early learning to inform future community grant processes. 

Briefing Information 

Background 

Fairer Communities for All is a simplified approach to distributing community grant funding, introduced as part of the 2025/26 budget. It established a single application and assessment process for both the Community Investment Fund and the Participatory Budgeting Fund. These funds were approved through a budget motion to "support projects that help our communities address the cost-of-living crisis and build a better future." and to meet three council key priorities: 

• Working in partnership with communities 
• Tackling poverty 
• Developing a resilient, stronger and greener local economy 

The new process was shaped by community feedback, making it easier to navigate and giving local people greater influence over how projects are developed and how funding is allocated. 

Outcomes 

The Fairer Communities for All (FCFA) funding cycle has concluded successfully across Perth and Kinross. 

A total of £597,000 was made available to local groups and organisations to help tackle the cost of living and reduce inequalities, allocated as follows: 

• NHS Charitable Foundation Partnership: £100,000 
• PKC Community Investment Fund (CIF): £247,000 
• PKC Participatory Budgeting (PB) Fund: £100,000 
• PKC Warm Welcome Fund (WWF): £150,000 

A total of 6,998 votes were cast across Perth and Kinross, demonstrating strong public support and legitimacy for the funded initiatives. 

Detailed information on successful projects will be published online from January 2026.  

Detailed information on warm spaces projects are already available on the interactive online map page. 

Partnership Recognition 

The NHS Charitable Foundation commended the approach and impact of FCFA: 

"This partnership really highlights the incredible work taking place across the region and the positive impact these initiatives will have on people's lives. We're excited to see the tangible difference this funding will make in the communities involved, each project has tremendous potential to create lasting change." 

This public endorsement underscores the integrity, transparency, and community-centred nature of the process. 

Engagement and Voting (Including Green Living Fund) 

The voting stage was delivered in collaboration with the Green Living Fund, ensuring residents were asked to vote once for projects spanning multiple funding streams. 

Results events incorporated outcomes from both FCFA and the Green Living Fund, simplifying communication, increasing clarity for communities, and reducing participation fatigue. 

The streamlined, joint approach boosted participation and improved the user experience for residents deciding on investments in their local areas. 

Delivery and Elected Member Involvement 

The process was designed and delivered by the CLD Team, with valuable support from elected members at key stages: Local needs data analysis, screening of applications and results events across the area.  

This partnership approach strengthened local accountability and ensured projects aligned with community priorities and evidence of need with higher levels of funding being made available to the areas with significantly higher inequalities.  

What Worked Well (Early Learning) 

Feedback received confirmed that community groups preferred a single, coordinated process that handled multiple funding streams. This reduced duplication and administrative burden for groups, provided clearer timelines and expectations and enabled a more coherent, needs-led distribution of funding. 

The high voter turnout and transparent events enhanced trust and buy-in from communities. 

The partnership approach of working with the NHS Charitable Foundation and Green Living Fund strengthened the reach and impact of local investment. 

However, we recognise that improved communication with some elected members could have helped clarify the approach and reduced misunderstandings during the process. 

Evaluation and Continuous Improvement 

To build on the positive feedback and address communication concerns, a full evaluation of the FCFA process will be carried out in January 2026. This review will incorporate feedback from groups on the changes introduced this year and assess outcomes, equity, accessibility, and efficiency. The findings will inform improvements to future community grant funding processes and partnership models. 

A workshop will also be held with elected members to gather their feedback.