Local support helps Ceteris win funding from Royal Bank of Scotland for ClacksWISE Community Project

Ceteris is one of just three not-for-profit organisations across Scotland to receive the great news that they will benefit from a share of £140k funding as winners of the latest round of Royal Bank of Scotland Skills & Opportunities Fund grants.

Eighty-eight organisations applied to gain funding for community projects that support people in disadvantaged communities to gain financial capability skills, or to start or develop a new business, now or in the future – essentially helping them to help themselves.  A shortlist of 10 was then put to the public vote and a regional board, before the winners were revealed.

The Clackmannanshire Women into Self-Employment (ClacksWISE) project will help enterprising women looking to return to work, supporting them to start and grow sustainable businesses and providing them with the best chance of success, resulting in a positive economic contribution in Clackmannanshire.

Margaret Mary Rafferty, Managing Director of Ceteris explains, “The funding will allow us to provide a new start-up business hub facility in Alloa to introduce the women participating in the project to the concept of self-employment. It will allow us to provide free access to the new start-up hub for up to nine months, as well as enabling us to provide advice, support, training, mentoring and coaching in soft and business skills to participants.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for us. The local community really came together for us and we received numerous messages of support from the general public, local businesses and across social media”

It is estimated that the ClacksWISE project will engage with 25 women initially, with 15 participating in the full project and 12 expected to complete business plans and start a business.

The project will officially launch with an information session at 2pm on June 27th at Broomhall Castle following the Clacks Women into Business Networking Lunch at 12 noon.  However, if anyone would like further information or an informal chat about the project please call Alison Davidson, Business Development Manager at Ceteris, on 01259 726430 or email adavidson@ceteris.co.uk.

Thom Kenrick, Head of Community Programmes at RBS said: “Supporting not-for-profit community organisations is a crucial part of our commitment in making a real, long term difference for disadvantaged communities in the UK and Ireland. Since launching the Skills & Opportunities Fund, we’ve already helped nearly 50,000 people. What’s great is that the public have a say in choosing the winners, with almost 30,000 people voting for the causes they care about.

Ross McEwan, RBS CEO added: “Building stronger communities is important to us at Royal Bank of Scotland. We are extremely proud to be able to support not-for-profit organisations at the heart of making a difference in some of our most disadvantaged communities in Scotland. There is so much inspiring work going on in our communities to help people turn their lives around and to be able to play even a small part in this, is a real privilege.”

The Royal Bank of Scotland Skills & Opportunities Fund was set up in 2015 to create opportunities for people in disadvantaged communities to gain qualifications, find work or start a business. Since then over £500k has been distributed to good causes through the Fund.

You can find out all about the winning organisations and the inspiring projects that will be making a difference in communities across Scotland at: skillsandopportunitiesfund.rbs.com/winners/.