Merging colleges have the opportunity to submit a bid to the Scottish Funding Council for funding to deliver their merger. The Scottish Funding Council have said they will look favourably on funding proposals which have been developed with full engagement with students’ associations and which include allocations for student engagement and for students’ association development. This is a great opportunity for students’ associations in merging colleges. Partnership Boards will be submitting their bids at different times – some as early as September – so talk to your college to be sure you don’t miss out.
Partnerships for Change is there to help students’ associations and colleges work together to develop their bid. A model proposal for funding for students’ association merger activities has been developed which can be used as a basis for discussion between students’ associations and colleges and can be developed and tailored to reflect their needs. We would suggest bids include funding for activities to:
- Enhance the ability of student officers to engage effectively with the merger process.
- Enable students’ associations to deliver a cross-college student consultation.
- Enable the different students’ associations to work together to develop a plan for their own merger.
We would suggest asking for funding for a dedicated staff member who can provide the students’ association with day to day support on delivering these objectives.
The fund is aimed primarily at merging colleges but federating colleges will also be able to apply if the funding will help them make efficiencies. If your college is federating talk to them about their plans.
Edinburgh College will hold their Vesting Day on the 1st October 2012 and formally merge. Edinburgh Students’ Association will also officially merge on that day with a full time Sabbatical Officer at each campus (former colleges) and one full time President. Edinburgh College Students’ Association received £20,000 initially from the Scottish Funding Council to deliver a students consultation and have now agreed significant funding with their college going forward. The SFC will fund £100,000 both this year and next year, and the college will contribute the same, giving funding of £200,000 per annum for the next two years. Congratulations Edinburgh!
If you have any questions or would like support on developing your bid please contact your Regional Consultant. Their contact details may be found here: http://www.sparqs.ac.uk/upfiles/Contacts.doc
