The Regeneration Team have responsibility for the management and payment of the Gala and Similar Annual Events Fund and the management and updating of the Gala and Similar Annual Events Fund webpage
News
- The Gala and Similar Annual Events Fund for 2024 is now closed.
General
Every year the council agrees a sum of money to be allocated to organisations that provide a gala or similar traditional style annual event for residents of a town, village or locality in West Lothian. This fund is called the Gala and Similar Annual Events Fund. In 2024, a total of £40,000 was awarded to to 28 groups. The grant was awarded as a 'financial contribution' to the costs of holding their events. The Gala and Similar Annual Events Fund is managed as set out in the Guidance Notes for Applicants (revised 2023) available below.
Privacy Notice
You should be aware that as part of the application process information provided by the applicant will be recorded within our filing systems. For further information about how your information will be dealt with please see our privacy notice:
You can apply for funding from the Gala and Similar Annual Events Fund if you meet the following criteria:
You are a constituted gala committee or other organisation
Your organisation has a bank account in the name of the organisation
Your organisation and your gala or event has a link with a town, village or locality in West Lothian
Your organisation is set up specifically for, or has provision in its constitution, to provide an event for the benefit of the local community.
Applications to the fund must be for the provision of a gala or similar annual event that will take place during the gala/festival season, May to September, in any given year
Your gala or other event needs to be insured. If your group is a gala committee you will be contacted by Zurich Insurance in connection with the provision of Public Liability Insurance which is provided and paid for by West Lothian Council. If you have any questions please contact regenerationteam@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window) and we will pass your enquiry onto the relevant council officer.
If you are organising a gala or other similar event you may need a licence or permission, such as a public entertainment licence or permission to hold a parade or procession. Please visit the council's Entertainment Licences and Permissions web page. for more information
The Health and Safety Executive have developed and published a guide for voluntary groups that put on public events i.e. galas. It is called "Guidance On Running Events Safely" and you can open it here http://www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety/ (opens new window)
Emergency Services
For the purposes of Health and Safety you must consult with and inform the emergency services that you are holding either a gala or other event. You must also provide first aid cover for your event, no matter how large or small. For your convenience I have attached the links to the various emergency service and first aid web sites below.
