Regenerative Futures Fund will help tackle root-causes of poverty, racism and climate change
Edinburgh, like many cities, faces serious and systemic issues of poverty and racism, and these are deeply connected with environmental challenges.
Time after time local charities across the city have proven they are well-placed and able to provide the solutions needed to deliver real impact for their communities, but they are seriously constrained by the existing funding model of short-term cyclical or project funding, lack of trust and lack of understanding.
Launching today, The Regenerative Futures Fund is a pioneering ten-year community fund for Edinburgh that puts decision-making power into the hands of those who are most often excluded.
It supports approaches that improve the lives of local people living in poverty and experiencing racism, and that contribute towards a just, green transition, by enabling equity and power-sharing.
The fund is specifically designed to step into the space of long term, unrestricted funding, placing trust in communities that they themselves can allocate resources where they are most needed, and where they will make the biggest impact.
The fund also brings together long-term commitments from some of the biggest funders in the country, contributing to and collaborating on the pooled fund, including Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund, The Robertson Trust, Turn2us Edinburgh Trust, Foundation Scotland and crucially City of Edinburgh Council, but completely removes them from the decision-making process.
Instead, they are giving local individuals and organisations the agency and the resources they need to create a brighter future for all residents of Edinburgh.
With nearly £6 million pledged to date, the team is actively inviting others to join the impressive coalition of funders, corporate partners, and philanthropists committed to a just and sustainable Edinburgh to fully realise the ambitious 10-year programme.
Leah Black, Co-Head said “We have a wealth of incredible organisations in Edinburgh who are passionate and capable of delivering the changes we all need to see but unfortunately the current funding landscape can often stand in their way.
“Traditional funding programmes do little to address the root causes of poverty and inequality; short timescales, restricted single-issue support and overall, a real lack of trust in the organisations delivering on the ground. A radical shake up is needed and that is why we are coming together to launch The Regenerative Futures Fund.
“The Regenerative Futures Fund is different. Collaboratively designed by local people in community organisations, campaigners, funders and the local authority, this £15 million, ten-year pooled fund presents a unique opportunity to support and learn with others to enable a long-term community-led approach to systemic change.
“We are committed to meaningful, long term and unrestricted funding. This means that organisations will be given the freedom to think and plan for the long-term.”
Through the fund, grants of up to £100,000 per year will be offered to around 10-15 Edinburgh-based organisations, over 10 years.
Aala Ross, Co-Head said: “The Regenerative Futures Fund directly addresses the huge problem we have with short-termism. Transformative thinking – and doing – requires long-term resource.
“We struggle to think and act long-term due to the dominance of short-term and restricted funding, resulting in ‘sticking plaster’ and siloed solutions to our biggest societal issues.
“We are frustrated with restrictions and barriers of short-term, restrictive and power imbalanced funding for social sector organisations. We know that this is a funding programme with a difference, and we know that other cities and funders will be watching and we will openly share our learning across the next ten years.”
Edinburgh City Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Here in Edinburgh we have an ambitious target to end poverty by 2030, and we remain committed to making our city fairer. We know that this isn’t an easy task but we need to be bold and drive the change that is so greatly needed.
“The Regenerative Futures Fund will empower local people and the third sector to directly fight poverty and inequality in our communities. We need a city-wide partnership fund to help us end poverty together. This innovative model is unique to Edinburgh.
“With backing already in place for £6 million, including £100,000 of Council funding, the team is well placed to start working alongside those with firsthand understandings of poverty. This will help make a lasting difference – ensuring their voices are at the heart of decision-making.”
One of Scotland’s biggest funders, The Robertson Trust has contributed £1 million to the Regenerative Futures Fund, the largest award they’ve made in this strategic funding period, and their first ever ten-year award.
Jim McCormick, Chief Executive of The Robertson Trust said: “The Robertson Trust is committed to preventing and reducing poverty and trauma in Scotland by funding, supporting and influencing solutions to drive social change.
“As an independent funder, we recognise our responsibility to explore new approaches, particularly to address the root causes of poverty, racial injustice and climate risks. Our partners tell us consistently that lasting change cannot be achieved through short-term funding.
“That’s why we were drawn to The Regenerative Futures Fund’s long-term vision, its ambitious cross-sector collaboration, and its deep commitment to shifting power towards people and places with lived experience of these deep-seated challenges.
“Our £1 million award over ten years – the largest and longest commitment of strategy period to date – reflects our commitment to long-term change. We share the Fund’s bold vision and look forward to learning about power-sharing and ambitious collaboration to achieve transformative change in Edinburgh.”
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation have contributed over £500,000 to the Fund. Gillian Goode, Funding Manager at Esmée Fairbairn Foundation said: “Regenerative Futures Fund is an ambitious vision to reimagine and demonstrate an alternative model of citizen-led change for the City of Edinburgh.
“Communities have no shortage of ideas for how to explore and create innovative solutions and address the inequalities that exclude people from being part of that experience; what they often lack is stable and secure resourcing and the right to decide how best to use it.
“We are grateful and excited to have the opportunity to learn alongside communities, other funders, City of Edinburgh Council, other partners and stakeholders how we might work together differently in future towards sustainable change that can meet everyone’s social and economic needs and safeguard our climate and natural world.”
Independent charity Foundation Scotland is involved as both a key funder and the host of the Fund overall.
Helen Wray, Head of Philanthropy at Foundation Scotland said “This is an ambitious fund that ultimately aims to empower people to play a central role in improving their lives and those of others – to have their voices listened to and be active in shaping their own futures.
“We talk about this kind of approach often, but rarely do we see it so powerfully laid out. The Regenerative Futures Fund has the potential to create a compelling model for others to follow. We will fully support them to make that ambition a reality.”
Eligibility checkers and application details for both the lived experience panel and interested organisations are now live on the Fund website.
Those interested in contributing to the collaborative pooled fund and building a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for Edinburgh should get in touch with Leah Black: leah@foundationscotland.org.uk
For more information about the Regenerative Futures Fund including eligibility criteria and application information visit https://regenerativefuturesfund.org.uk
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