£900,000 for organisations working with birth parents
Parents who have had a child taken into care will receive support from community services through £900,000 of Scottish Government funding this year.
The annual investment, delivered through the Corra Foundation, will be shared in 2024-25 by 11 organisations who work closely with birth parents who see their mental health decline following the loss of their child.
Many of these parents have dealt with multiple traumatic life events, such as childhood trauma, substance misuse, mental health issues or experience of domestic abuse.
The community organisations work to help empower birth parents to take control of their lives, develop new skills and build their self-confidence.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “The Scottish Government is committed to keeping The Promise and keeping families together where it is safe to do so. Taking a child into care should only be done in the best interests of the wellbeing of that child. It is a hugely traumatic experience that impacts on the whole family, and doesn’t just stop.
“Sadly it is often the case that birth parents are left with little support after their child is taken into care – leaving them isolated having to deal with the situation alone, often when they are at their lowest point. However, much evidence and positive outcomes have been gathered by those working with birth parents as part of this programme.
“Feedback from birth parents involved in the programme to date has been extremely positive, with some calling it ‘life changing’. I am pleased we can continue this and show our appreciation for the Corra Foundation and all the groups they work with and the parents they support.”
Carolyn Sawers, Corra CEO said: “The funded services provide vital support to birth mums and dads. The relational, compassionate support the organisations provide means birth parents feel safe, valued and cared for.”
Cyrenians, NHS Lothians LEAP, and Edinburgh Alcohol and Drug Partnership have been successful in a recent Corra Foundation grant bid to develop and implement a Women’s Recovery House in Edinburgh.
The House, for patients moving on from residential recovery in the LEAP program, offers women who do not have a safe home to return to the opportunity to continue their recovery supported by their peers.
The first of its kind in Edinburgh, the house creates a level playing field for women, who until this point have had limited options available upon completing the 12 week LEAP programme.
Amy Hutton, Director of Services at Cyrenians said, “This is a fantastic step forward in supporting the recovery community, particularly women who have been underserved in this area for quite some time.
‘We know, from experience, that highly traumatised women don’t fare well in standard service delivery environments, so to be able to offer a bespoke, safe home, truly is groundbreaking.
‘Men in Edinburgh completing the LEAP programme have benefited from a similar model for many years, so this new Women’s House really levels the playing field and helps us continue providing peer support to women who otherwise would be isolated in their recovery.”
This new funding not only allows the partnership to provide accommodation beyond the LEAP programme, but will also support the development of a Wellbeing Coordinator, providing assistance to patients throughout the LEAP programme and during their stay at the Recovery House.
Viki Fox, LEAP Manager for Cyrenians added: “The number of women attending our LEAP programme has been increasing year on year. To have this move on option available for those who would otherwise be discharged into an unsafe home, or indeed, homelessness, is a fantastic step forward to improving their quality of life and ability to stay in recovery.
‘By providing additional support through our wellbeing coordinator we will be able to offer practical and emotional support that will help build self-esteem and independence.
‘Recovery is only the first step – learning to live again beyond addiction takes time, and without support can feel overwhelming and thankless. The support from Corra Foundation allows us to address this need directly, and ultimately will provide women in Edinburgh the chance to rebuild their lives on their own terms.”
Support for parents who have had children taken into care will continue through a £435,000 award, delivered through the Corra Foundation,
Many of the parents have dealt with multiple traumatic life events, such as childhood trauma, substance misuse, mental health issues, or experience of domestic abuse.
The group helps those who see their mental health decline following the loss of their children, helping empower parents to take control of their lives, develop new skills and build their self-confidence.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto met Corra Foundation staff to hear how the funding awards to councils and charities is improving the lives of birth parents.
Ms Minto said: “Taking a child into care should only be done in the best interests of the wellbeing of that child. It is a hugely traumatic experience that impacts on the whole family, and doesn’t just stop.
“Sadly birth parents have been left with little support leaving them isolated having to deal with the situation alone often when they are at their lowest point. However, much evidence and positive outcomes have been gathered by those working with birth parents in this project.
“Our previous funding supported services that users called life changing and I am pleased we can continue this and show our appreciation for NHS Grampian, the Corra Foundation and all the groups they work with and the parents they support.”
Carolyn Sawers, CEO of the Corra Foundation said: “Corra Foundation are delighted to be able to continue to support this vital work.
These projects are a wonderful example of the importance of relational ways of working.”
More than £15 million has been awarded to a range of projects supporting people affected by problem substance use.
These include residential rehabilitation services, support for those affected by addiction and homelessness and programmes working with children and families affected by a loved one’s substance use.
The number of lives lost to drugs is still too high in Scotland and these funds are vital for those services working on the frontline to help those affected and their families.
Simon Community Scotland is one of the latest recipients, receiving £408,000 to deliver a new Edinburgh-based project, ‘We See You’, offering people who are homeless and using substances a safe space and access to a range of support services.
Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Elena Whitham said: “The National Mission funds have now supported 300 projects but we know there is much work still to do.
“These organisations save lives and we want to support them so they can extend as far into their communities as possible and offer people the support they need when and where they need it.
“Through our £250 million National Drugs Mission, we are focused on supporting everyone affected by problem substance use, delivering real change on the ground and implementing evidence-based approaches to improve and save lives.”
Simon Community Scotland CEO Lorraine McGrath said: “We are delighted to have been awarded funding for our ‘We See You’ project in Edinburgh.
“The project brings a wide range of partners together to work with people who often feel excluded from services, creating an inclusive response that improves health, saves lives and challenges what is possible.
“Simon Community Scotland has been driving service change and innovation in reducing drug deaths and harms within the population we support. This is an exciting step towards achieving even greater health improvement in Edinburgh.”
These recent awards for multi-year funding are made through the Corra Foundation which supports the Scottish Government with its funding processes as part of the National Drugs Mission. £65 million has been awarded through Corra over the duration of the National Mission to support third sector and grassroots organisations.
A total of 300 grants have now been made from the funds set up as part of the National Drugs Mission.
Cash-first approach will help those facing hardship
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison has announced an additional £2.4 million in funding to help people struggling to afford food and other essentials.
The funds will go to four organisations to distribute mainly on a ‘cash-first’ basis to people in immediate need in the face of the cost of living crisis.
A focus on crisis payments and shopping cards will allow people to choose for themselves what they need.
Ms Robison announced the funding on a visit to Prospect Community Housing in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, where she heard how staff are helping residents through debt and income advice services.
She said: “I know people are struggling with the cost of food and other essentials right now, and this additional funding will get more support to some of those who need it most this winter.
“We are working with partners to prioritise urgent cash-first action when it comes to food insecurity and this will take some of the pressure off food banks.
“This funding has the potential to directly reach 7,500 people, and many more will benefit than this, as the Corra Foundation and Fareshare will between them distribute it further to an estimated 900 organisations.
“We want people to make sure they are getting all the support they are entitled to, so I encourage anyone who is struggling financially to get advice on what support they may qualify for – through their local authority, a local advice service, or Social Security Scotland as well as checking out our cost of living website.”
Carolyn Sawers, Chief Executive at the Corra Foundation said: “This £1 million contribution to the Household Hardship Fund from the Scottish Government provides a dignified cash first approach for those most impacted by the cost of living.
“Organisations which have received money through the fund have told us it is making a significant difference helping families with the essentials of food, fuel, and household items.
“Corra is committed to working alongside others in tackling the long-term issues of poverty. The Household Hardship fund is an important step in responding to the crisis that people across Scotland face today.”
Sally Thomas, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), said: “Housing associations and co-operatives are doing everything they can to help tenants keep their heads above water, heat their homes and put food on their table this winter. However our members are increasingly reporting that tenants are facing impossible decisions on and between household bills and food as costs soar.
“It’s simply not right that anyone in Scotland should be going hungry this winter. As we continue to face this unprecedented crisis, this money will be critical to helping ensure social landlords can provide a response to food insecurity that is tailored to the needs of their tenants and communities, maintaining dignity and choice.”
Allocations from the £2.4 million:
£1,000,000 to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations for cash-first responses to food insecurity via their members
£1,050,000 to Corra Foundation for their Household Hardship Fund, providing grants to organisations working to alleviate poverty with an emphasis on cash-first responses food insecurity
£100,000 to Citizens Advice Scotland to expand their shopping card pilot, offering an alternative to a food bank referral
£250,000 to FareShare for regional purchasing where needed to supplement the supply from surplus and donations
In 2022-23 the Scottish Government has allocated around £3 billion in a range of measures which will help mitigate the impacts of the cost of living crisis on households, of which £1 billion is for support only available in Scotland and not elsewhere in the UK.
The Scottish Government’s Cost Of Living website provides information and support for people who need urgent help with money, food or fuel, Visit gov.scot/costoflivingsupport
Frontline and third sector organisations invited to apply
Drug support services are benefitting from a £65 million boost to drive down the number of drug deaths each year.
Life-saving organisations which help people who use drugs turn their lives around and offer support to their families are invited to apply for this Government funding which will help people on their road to recovery.
The cash will go to initiatives like Aberdeen Alcohol and Drugs Action which was given almost half a million pounds earlier this year to deliver a “Sharp Response Service” to people in their homes, ensuring they were given immediate access to advice and support to help them get back on track.
The money, from the additional £250 million national mission funding, is being channelled through the Local Support Fund which is open all year round and two further funding pots, which are reopening today (20 October) – the Improvement Fund for organisations delivering residential rehabilitation and associated services and the Children and Families Fund which gives financial help to those working with the loved ones of those affected.
All funds are administered through the CORRA Foundation, a charity which aims to make grants available to projects which make a difference to people and communities.
Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance said: “The number of lives lost to drugs is still too high in Scotland and these funds are vital for those services working on the frontline to help those affected and their families.
“These organisations save lives and we want to support them so they can extend as far into their communities as possible and offer people the support they need when and where they need it.
“£65 million of the additional £250 million set aside for the national mission on drug deaths over the course of this Parliament will go directly to these funds and we are determined to make every penny count.”
Aberdeen Alcohol and Drugs Action Service Manager Simon Pringle said: “The Drug Improvement Fund has allowed ADA to offer a more flexible service to clients who find accessing mainstream or statutory services – including treatment – difficult.
“Since receiving the funding we have offered help to over 150 individuals helping them access support, engage with NHS Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), re-engage with services and receive sterile injecting equipment.
“We have been able to target those most at risk and see them quickly – usually the same day – therefore reducing the risks of overdose or other harms. Without the fund we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this.”
Corra Foundation in partnership with Comic Relief are welcoming applications from community groups, organisations and charities for the latest round of #ShiftThePower Scotland Comic Relief Fund.
#ShiftThePower supports organisations with passionate people to make meaningful change in their communities.
Up to £20,000 is available to grassroots organisations and charities with an income of £250,000 or less, whose work fits one of two strategic themes:
Children Survive and Thrive
Supporting children to survive and thrive during the first years of life (0-5 years old) through targeted work and opportunities for children and families facing disadvantage.
Mental Health Matters
Supporting people with mental health issues or challenges to share their stories, live free from stigma and discrimination, and build positive relationships and experiences.
The Children Survive and Thrive strand will fund organisations supporting children at risk of, or experiencing, disadvantage.
Examples of this could include supporting parents, carers and communities, ideas that test new ways of supporting pre-school children or support for staff/volunteer training in early years settings.
The Mental Health Matters strand will prioritise organisations that have a focus on mental health issues alongside preventative approaches that support people before mental health issues escalate.
For example, the funding could be used to improve support networks or accessibility or relevance of services for people experiencing, or at risk of, poor mental health, especially those from marginalised groups.
The fund is seeking applications that demonstrate how the money will support people and increase the reach, capacity or quality of an organisation’s work or how it will support new ideas or approaches.
It is open to applications from today (17th January) and will close at midday on 8th March 2022.
The team at Corra is encouraging groups to get in touch to discuss their ideas before sending an application.
My name is Darryl Gaffney du Plooy, and I am one of the Co-leads for the Social Action Inquiry (Scotland). The other Co-lead is Deborah Menezes.
We are currently looking for people to help shape the direction of the inquiry. We have given these roles the name of Guides because lived experience will be crucial for us to navigate sensibly and sensitively through the complex landscapes of Scotland’s Civil Society.
We are inviting applications from any age and all backgrounds. We have produced Easy-Read materials and are welcoming applications sent via video and audio file for people who prefer these forms of communication.
We appreciate that our deadline (12 noon, 22nd of October) might be too short for some people but we would like to communicate that we will be looking to recruit more Guides in 2022.
I also wanted to mention that we will also soon be ready to share with you a programme of activities for us to listen, learn and build bonds with people, places, and communities in Scotland.
Our intention is for the activities to mirror our approach to the inquiry, as in, focusing on relationships, being inclusive & participatory, and orientating energy towards action.
If either or both of these developments interest you, please share and if you would like to get in touch feel free to do so. We will be delighted to hear from you.
Invitation for Guides of the Social Action Inquiry in Scotland
Do you want to live in a Scotland where communities can make positive differences to their way of life? A Scotland that values social action and helps to make it happpen?
We invite you to be part of our Social Action Inquiry team to shape the direction of the inquiry by adding your voice and experience into the inquiry process
What is the Social Action Inquiry?
The Social Action Inquiry is being set up to find out more about how communities can take action that makes a difference. It will look at what helps, and what gets in the way. It’s hoped that it will help influence how Scotland rebuilds after the coronavirus pandemic.
The Inquiry’s vision is:
A Scotland which recognises the value of social action and its potential to enable us to overcome the challenges we face in the 21st century.
This independent inquiry will be led by people with direct, lived experience of Scottish communities which have felt powerlessness over decisions affecting their own lives, and that this power has been exercised by others.
It will support people to find their voices, take action, and use what they learn to help create wider change. For more details, see our website – socialaction.scot
To help the Inquiry we are inviting people to become Guides.
What will a Guide do?
To allow for the Inquiry to create a more inclusive and sustainable journey the Guides will help shape the direction of the Inquiry. For more details on the role please download our invitation to become a Guide file below (General or Easy-Read versions).
Work, Hours and Pay.
The Guides will meet once a month for one full day, online or in-person.
The Guides will be offered £200 per day for their time.
The panel of Guides will be reviewed every six months. This is to ensure diverse perspectives can contribute into the Inquiry.
I would like to be a Guide. How do I do that?
You can choose apply that in four different ways:
Write your answers on our application form (attached below).
Write a personal statement (no more than 1000 words) telling us why you would like to be a Guide.
Send us a video, no longer than 10 minutes, telling us why you would like to be a Guide.
Send us an audio file, no longer than 10 minutes, telling us why you would like to be a Guide.
We have chosen these four different ways because we know writing applications can be difficult for people. Guiding questions with how to design your application can be found by downloading the ‘Invitation for Guides’ file below (General or Easy-Read versions)
When is the closing date for applications?
Applications are open until 12 noon on the22nd of October
We will let people know if they are being invited to an interview by the 29th of October.
Interviews will be arranged for the week beginning the 1st of November.
How to submit your application.
A copy of the application can be downloaded below.
Video and Audio Files should be sent by WeTransfer, or via the communication platforms Telegram or Whatsapp to 07867 181 040.
Please send a confirmation email to hello@socialaction.scot informing us which platform you have used to submit your application.
If you would like to speak to someone above being a guide before you apply or have any additional queries regarding the role or any information noted above, please email: hello@socialaction.scot
Corra Foundation are welcoming applications from community groups, organisations and charities for a number of funds currently open.
Focusing on a variety of themes, the grants open are aimed at supporting communities at local level, from support for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic charities delivering projects on mental health, to funding for grassroots organisations working with homelessness and small funding pots for neighbourhood projects.
The Armed Forces Third Sector Resilience Fund, Enabling Neighbourhoods and Communities Fund and The Local Support Fund are administered by Corra Foundation on behalf of the Scottish Government. #ShiftThePower Scotland Comic Relief Fund is delivered by Corra Foundation working as an intermediary partner with Comic Relief in Scotland.
July closing dates for two of the funds – Armed Forces Third Sector Resilience Fund and Henry Duncan Grants are fast approaching. Please see below for more information and links to guidelines and applications.
A round-up of current funds from Corra Foundation:
Supporting Third Sector Armed Forces community organisations whose operations have been affected by COVID-19. Up to £75k available towards running costs until the end of March 2022.
Up to £30k, multi-year funding for grassroots organisations and charities working under 2 themes:
Gender Justice – contributing to gender equality by reducing violence and discrimination and promoting increased opportunity for women, girls and LGBTQI+ community.
A Safe Place To Be – homelessness support including for refugees & asylum seekers.
Up to £3,000, open to groups with strong local relationships with the community and which support people to connect and improve wellbeing – whether that’s community garden projects, children’s groups or local sport clubs.
Supporting small community-based groups delivering frontline services to people who use or used drugs, people in recovery and families affected. £1,000 to £10,000 available per year, up to 5 years.
Organisation Grants – open to charities with an annual income up to £500,000 and a core focus on supporting people of any age who experience mental ill health. A maximum of £8,000 per year granted up to five years.
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Project Grants – open to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic led charities with annual income up to £500,000, delivering projects that support people of any age who experience mental ill health. A maximum £8,000 per year up to three years.
Micro grants – open to small charities and voluntary groups with an annual income up to £50,000, supporting communities experiencing disadvantage to improve mental health and wellbeing by reducing isolation and loneliness. This includes Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and rural communities. One-off grants of a maximum £1,000.
It is estimated that around one in three people in Scotland experience mental ill health in any year. The health, economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are likely to increase people’s need for mental health support.
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities have been among those most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. This is likely to affect people’s mental health, for example through fear and anxiety, experience of illness or loss of loved ones.
Corra also acknowledges the impact that racial injustice has on mental health and well-being. Research has shown that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities are disadvantaged when accessing mental health and well-being services, including the quality of care they receive. This is due to racism, structural and institutional inequalities, fear, stigma and discrimination.
For these reasons, Henry Duncan Grants 2021 includes a strand focused on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
These are project grants, rather than core, reflecting the fact that much of the work done to support mental health among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities is delivered by organisations that do not have mental health as their primary focus. Corra believes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is fundamental to its ten-year strategy. As a result, the team are working proactively to reach, and be accessible to diverse communities.
