Tag: Foundation Scotland

Scotland’s Social Action Inquiry is looking for Guides

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. 

As well as the option to submit a written application The full details on how to apply can be found at Good Moves or on our Social Action Inquiry Website.

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.      

Best wishes

Darryl Gaffney du Plooy

Co-lead Social Action Inquiry

Darryl@socialaction.sco

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:   

  1. Write your answers on our application form (attached below).  
  2. Write a personal statement (no more than 1000 words) telling us why you would like to be a Guide.    
  3. Send us a video, no longer than 10 minutes, telling us why you would like to be a Guide. 
  4. 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 the 22nd 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.  

 Completed written applications should be sent to hello@socialaction.scot  

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    

Downloads

Invitation for Guides Easy Read

Invitation for Guides

Application Form Easy-Read Version

Application Form

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

Privacy Statement and References for Video and Audio File Applications 

Coronavirus: Community learning the lessons from the RRR Fund

Foundation Scotland have worked with Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) to produce a final evaluation of their Response, Recovery and Resilience (RRR) Fund.

The evaluation offers insight into the difference the RRR Fund has made to groups and communities across Scotland and the challenges that lay ahead. By the time the fund closed in April 2021, it had supported 1190 organisations across the country. Thanks to the National Emergencies Trust and the generous support of our donors, more than £7.4 million was distributed.

This report is the second evaluation of the RRR Fund. The first Rapid Evaluation of the RRR Fund was published in May 2020 and focussed on the first few weeks of the Response phase.

The July 2021 evaluation focuses on organisations who received funding in the Recovery and Resilience phases and includes survey data from more than 150 grantees plus detailed feedback from several focus groups.

The evaluation includes 14 recommendations and learning points within the following headings:

  • Impact on communities and project beneficiaries
  • Impact on community projects/organisations
  • Impact on Community Infrastructure
  • Challenges and Opportunities

The evaluation also includes several case studies from North Edinburgh’s Fresh Start, the Village Storytelling Centre in Glasgow, Headway in East Lothian, Clifftops Project in West Dunbartonshire and the Whitburn and District Community Development Trust in West Lothian.

Joyce Cattanach, Development Officer for Headway East Lothian, said:”Our Funders were wonderful in their response to the pandemic and the impact social isolation and loneliness would have on our already disadvantaged community.

“We sourced additional funding streams that had set up emergency responses; built up a strategy; and changed our outcomes and activities to respond and enable us to continue to work in a different way.”

The survey data, focus group feedback, and SCDC recommendations within the evaluation will help shape future funding and service development at Foundation Scotland. 

To read more, view or download a copy of the full report using the link below:

RRR-Fund-Final-Evalutation-July-2021Download

Strategic partnership announces extension of bespoke mental health training

Community foundation marks Mental Health Awareness Week by extending important partnership with SAMH to deliver bespoke training for ‘third sector heroes’ 

Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, is recognising Mental Health Awareness Week by announcing it will provide a further £30,000 towards its ground-breaking partnership with SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health).  This new award takes the total committed to £50,000 in a matter of weeks.   

Last month, the funder announced it is was awarding the national charity an initial £20,000 to deliver 40 workplace training sessions specifically designed for those working or volunteering in the third sector.

Organisers experienced unprecedented demand for all 400 places across the 10 courses being snapped up within 48 hours. As  a result the registration was closed early and a waiting list established for those unable to attend in the first round.   

This new award will extend the reach of the programme to organisations not yet signed up and will ensure everyone on the waiting list can attend.  The partnership anticipate that collectively the two awards will reach over 900 third sector workers and volunteers working across the country.  

The expansion of this strategic collaboration with SAMH showcases the Foundation’s unparalleled commitment to the third sector and all those working within it.  

Funded in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, these awards recognise mental health as a key priority need through the pandemic.  This new £30,000 award is the third strategic crisis grant provided to SAMH by Foundation Scotland.  

The charity previously received £20,000 for this training in April and over £100,000 in October 2020 to design and deliver a partnership programme offering mental health support to key workers.   

The funding will allow SAMH to deliver a further 600 tailored workplace places. Individuals will get to choose from a range of virtual sessions including A Manager’s Guide to Mental Health in the Workplace, Introduction To Suicide Prevention, Maintaining Wellbeing and Building Resilience.

These courses aim to develop participants’ knowledge, skills and confidence to protect themselves and provide support to colleagues.  These practical, solutions-driven, courses are free to attend and will enable organisations to become more resilient, helping them further support the people who need them.    

Feedback from those who have already taken part in the training hailed the sessions as “excellent” and “extremely useful”.  

Participants reported they liked the fact it was not purely theoretical, that they found it useful to share experiences with others in similar positions and to learn from each other. 

 Others reported that they have benefited from gaining practical solutions, feel equipped to confidently approach those they work with who experience mental health problems and that the training will be useful for both their workplace and their personal lives.  

Richard Rutnagur, Director of Strategic and Business Development, SAMH, said “It is fantastic news that we will be able to reach even more organisations to help them build their knowledge, skills and confidence in vital areas like workplace mental health and suicide prevention.

“The overwhelmingly positive response to our first round of training demonstrated the urgent need to support the third sector staff and volunteers who have worked so tirelessly during the pandemic.  

We are grateful to Foundation Scotland for their continued support, and look forward to further developing our partnership.” 

Helen Wray, Programmes Manager at Foundation Scotland said: “We are proud to be extending our support to third sector heroes during Mental Health Awareness Week.  

“At Foundation Scotland, we recognise the vital and urgent need to protect and maintain the wellbeing of those who have worked selflessly to deliver support throughout the crisis.  

“We recognise it is often these very people who feel like they can’t talk, or even have time to think about their own issues as they are so focussed on helping others. Supporting others just isn’t sustainable long-term unless you are looking after yourself and others within your organisation.    

“Increasing the availability of this training will reach more individuals and more organisatons in need.  The support will ensure those working or volunteering across the sector feel equipped, trained and able to cope with the increasing pressures they face.  We will be directly contacting eligible groups next month so they can sign up to benefit.” 

Foundation Scotland has to date awarded over £7.3 million to over 1,100 charitable groups supporting the most vulnerable people through the crisis. This support has already reached over 2 million people living across Scotland.   

For more details about Foundation Scotland visit: 

https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/

Foundation Scotland introduces social investment funding

Major funder announces integration with Resilient Scotland creating significant social investment opportunities to help Scotland recover

Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, is extending its dedicated support for the third sector.  The major grant funder now offers innovative social investment opportunities to social enterprises in Scotland.

The move comes as Foundation Scotland and Resilient Scotland announce their integration.  Social investment, offered through the experienced Resilient Scotland team, will expand on the community foundation’s core grantmaking services providing access to a greater range of funding options.

The new ‘Investing in Enterprise Fund’ offers between £10,000 and £500,000 to social enterprises as blended finance. Up to 50% of the funding will be through grants with the remainder through loans, enabling them to become more sustainable, accessing opportunities less reliant on grant funding. Support will help successful applicants to raise funds and only repay part of the total sum. Foundation Scotland will reinvest all returned funds for additional social investment.

Chris Holloway, formerly Head of Resilient Scotland and now Head of Social Investment at Foundation Scotland, said: “The integration of Resilient Scotland into Foundation Scotland makes perfect sense for us as an organisation.  However, most importantly, the move will offer significant benefits to Scotland’s thriving social enterprises. 

“Collectively our knowledge, support and experience will enhance the holistic support provided to Scotland’s social enterprises.  Groups will be able to come to Foundation Scotland for traditional grants, which they continue to need, and now also innovative investment opportunities. 

“This is great timing for us as we paused all new support through the pandemic; instead, we have focussed our support on our existing investees.  A huge thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund for their continued support over the past 9 years.

“For now, it’s business as usual for our current investees, and we very much look forward to opening our doors to new investees.”

Giles Ruck, Chief Executive of Foundation Scotland, said: “Across the last few years, we have witnessed a shift change from our donors.  They have understood that the funding landscape is changing, and they’ve shown an increased appetite to provide communities with wider, longer-lasting funding opportunities. 

“Across our 25-year history, we’ve never been needed more.  We understand that the sector needs our committed, innovative support to  help them build back better.  Our integration with Resilient Scotland will support this and will bring many benefits to the third sector. 

“We are encouraging all social enterprises that are looking for additional investment to visit our website or contact our team directly to discuss your eligibility”. 

Foundation Scotland is offering new social investment opportunities across 13 of the most disadvantaged local authority areas across Scotland. The Foundation expects to extend the service to the whole of Scotland at a later date, and welcome even more new enterprises to Foundation Scotland.

Later this month, the Foundation will be publishing a full evaluation highlighting the impact of Resilient Scotland’s social investments since 2012.

For more information, including details on how to apply for the Investing in Enterprise Fund visit: foundationscotland.org.uk/social-investment

Edinburgh’s new co-working hub opens its doors tomorrow

The Melting Pot is encouraging people in Edinburgh to leave working from home behind and reap the benefits of hybrid working 

The Melting Pot, Scotland’s first co-working space, is opening the doors of its new much-bigger work hub set up to meet changing working needs as we enter the “new normal”.   

Delivered in partnership with Foundation Scotland, the space will officially open on Tuesday 4th May and is set up to host charities, social businesses, campaigners and freelancers that are leading Scotland’s recovery.   

The recently renovated, three-floored city-centre space on Calton Road was previously the home to the renowned “The Venue” nightclub.  It will now become the perfect space for workers to escape the monotony of full-time homeworking and instead work, learn, connect and collaborate with others in a safe environment with all needs catered for.   

The Melting Pot’s Founder and CEO Claire Carpenter said: “We are thrilled to be opening the doors of The Melting Pot’s new home in Edinburgh’s city centre, we can’t wait to see our community putting it to good use. 

“The team and I have been working hard to get everything ready.  The new desks are set up, the social spaces are comfy, the wifi is strong, the tea and coffee all well stocked and even the printers are working!  Everything is COVID safe; we have taken care of it all.  

“Forced remote working has been a double-edged sword.  On one hand it quickly introduced people to the benefits of working flexibly – we have all proved that we do not need to be tied to the same desk 9-5.  

“The pandemic accelerated access to remote working and the positives that accompany it.  However, full-time working from home has had a detrimental impact on our mental health; we have missed our usual social connections, felt frustrated at living and working within the same four walls, it has reduced opportunities for collaboration, and this has all had a negative impact on our motivation.  Our communities have suffered. 

“However, there’s no need for us all to return to the rigid traditional structure as we move out of the crisis.

“What we do at The Melting Pot is offer people the opportunity to mix it up, to get the best of both worlds.  Organisations, colleagues and individuals can hire spaces for a day or two a week – whatever suits them.”  

“They can come into our space to meet others, learn, connect and share, and then on other days choose to work from home.  We offer a variety of affordable options that give members the opportunity to work from our space in a way which suits them best.  

“We are encouraging anyone that is interested to visit our website and find out more.  We still have spaces left, but they are filling up quickly. I look forward to seeing everyone in there together soon.” 

In recognition of the growing demand for hybrid workspaces, The Melting Pot has ambitions to extend its support to communities beyond its Edinburgh hub.  

They plan to create coworking hubs across the country to reinvigorate Scotland’s workspace infrastructure and ultimately aid the recovery from the COVID crisis.   

The Melting Pot still has memberships available, although the new space is quickly filling up.

If you’re interested in coworking in Edinburgh’s city centre you can sign up to the waiting list here: https://themeltingpot.wufoo.com/forms/zp15oxt056xkck/  

New city centre hub for organisations leading Scotland’s recovery

The Melting Pot will double capacity to meet growing demands for coworking office space post-COVID

The Melting Pot, Scotland’s first coworking space, has found a new much bigger home where charities, social businesses, campaigners and freelancers will lead the recovery from the COVID crisis. Delivered in partnership with Foundation Scotland, The Melting Pot will reopen in May at 15 Calton Road, next to Waverley station. 

Following a fun and playful social media campaign The Melting Pot unveiled their new home at a live virtual event last night. The huge three-floored, 5,500 sq.ft space will host double their previous capacity in response to the increased demand for coworking spaces and hybrid working following the pandemic.  

The Melting Pot’s Founder and CEO Claire Carpenter said: “We’re thrilled that we are finally announcing our fantastic new location – the secret is out!  

“We have all worked so hard to make sure this larger space is safe and ready; we know how much it is needed. Our community have told us how constant working from home has had a detrimental impact on their health and well-being, as well as their work.   

“The COVID crisis has alienated us from the spaces we shared with our communities. This has been necessary to protect ourselves and each other.  But for us to recover as individuals, as communities and as a society we need to safely transition back to these shared spaces. 

“Our new hub will offer our growing community the chance to get back to a new normal.  Where we can safely enjoy personal interactions again, to remember the joys of working in-person with others, to get away from the same four walls of home and to give people structure to their working life.  

“We will provide a fit for purpose workspace for a world of work that has been permanently changed by the pandemic.

“Hybrid working allows people to mix it up; to enjoy the benefits of working from home some of the time and working from our dynamic hub on others.  It’s the best of both worlds. 

“The Melting Pot provides simple solutions like desks and printers as well as a genuine sense of community for all involved. We will help employers support their teams through more changes.  We will be offering affordable options that give members the opportunity to work from our space in a way which suits them best.  

“We’ve already had to set up a waiting list on our website to help cope with interest and so I’d strongly encourage those that are interested to get in touch with us soon.” 

The new space on Calton Road was previously home to ‘the Venue’ nightclub, then became the Ingleby Gallery and was most recently Foundation Scotland’s Edinburgh office.  

Foundation Scotland will become one of The Melting Pot’s first new members.  

Giles Ruck, Chief Executive of Foundation Scotland said: “Like most organisations during the pandemic, Foundation Scotland needed to adapt how we work and evaluate how to meet our future workplace needs.

“Since the first lockdown, we’ve become fully digital, with our staff working from home across Scotland. This virtual approach has worked well for us and we will build on this by adopting a new flexible approach, including a mix of home working and using a range of regional coworking hubs and meeting spaces, across Scotland.  

“We’ve known The Melting Pot for almost 15 years, awarding them their first grant from the Foundation back in 2006. Since then, they’ve played a significant role in harnessing social innovation in the city, and we’ve continued to support their vision and growth over the years. 

“Their search for a new home in Edinburgh was in parallel with Foundation Scotland’s decision to move away from having any fixed office premises. We are changing to a new blended approach of home-working, using coworking hubs and meeting spaces.

“Our large offices in central Edinburgh offered The Melting Pot the perfect location in the city for their growing enterprise. Their creative and effective use of the space in our Edinburgh premises will be sustainable, benefit many organisations and lead to even greater social impact. 

“This new shared space for the sector will benefit Foundation Scotland too. We’re joining their community and will use our former home as a coworking hub alongside other organisations by becoming a member of The Melting Pot.

“We are very much looking forward to being one of their first new members through the doors when they officially open in the spring.  Virtually or physically, we will achieve more social impact through working together.” 

In recognition of the growing demand to join, The Melting Pot have set up a waiting list for new members which is now open on their website.

They are looking for socially conscious businesses, charities and campaigners that need a workspace that supports their work and contribution to the recovery effort. 

“Sleepy trusts” could release millions of pounds for public benefit

Foundation Scotland and OSCR to work together to revive around 400 dormant trusts in Scotland

The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and Foundation Scotland have revealed they’re preparing to launch a brand new project which could unlock additional funding for charities and other community and voluntary groups across Scotland.

“The Revitalising Trusts” project aims to identify charitable trusts registered in Scotland that appear to be inactive and support them to reactivate by using funds that are lying dormant. 

Charitable trusts typically provide public benefit by making grants or donations to other charities, voluntary groups or individuals. So-called ‘sleepy trusts’ are identified as charities that have either had no income or expenditure over the last 5 years or have donated less than 30% of their total income over the last 5 years to help good causes.

The project will also look at charitable trusts that have failed to submit annual accounts and reports to OSCR within the last 5 years.

Whilst the full value of Scotland’s ‘sleepy trusts’ has yet to be established, a similar programme was launched by the Charity Commission in England in 2018 which has so far ‘revitalised’ £32 million.

With support from local community foundations, this is now providing targeted and local support for the voluntary community sector thanks to the creation of new local funds.

There are over 3,400 charitable trusts on the Scottish Charity Register and OSCR’s initial findings have identified around 400 that may not be using their funds to full effect.

OSCR’s vision is for a trusted and respected Scottish charity sector which positively contributes to society.

Chief Executive Maureen Mallon said: “The public expects charities to use their funds to fulfil their charitable purposes and deliver public benefit, but sometimes charity trustees need a little help or encouragement to do so.

“If trusts are underperforming, we want to find out why and, through our partnership with Foundation Scotland, to offer assistance or a wake-up call where necessary.”

As the community foundation for Scotland, Foundation Scotland will be delivering this project in partnership with OSCR. The Foundation has the experience and expertise of building local funds which provide long-term benefit for communities.

Chief Executive for Foundation Scotland Giles Ruck said “This is an exciting opportunity to modernise many historic trusts, and revitalise others, and enable them to invest in our communities once again.

“We work with registered and unregistered voluntary and community groups all over Scotland. We will ensure revitalised funds can also provide support to the smaller, lesser-known community groups working on the frontline across Scotland’s communities.”

The Revitalising Trusts project is expected to launch in April following the appointment of a Project Advisor. The role of the Advisor will involve working closely with Foundation Scotland and OSCR to identify inactive trusts, and support these trusts to reactive or reorganise to deliver public benefit once again.

The post is initially a 2-year contract up to 3 days per week working from home. Previous experience working with charitable trusts, expertise in charity finance and governance and strong analytical and interpersonal skills are essential. 

Full details of the vacancy and how to apply can be found on the Foundation Scotland website.

Foundation Scotland’s crisis support surpasses £6 Million

Over 1.3 million people reached to date and essential ‘winter-ready’ funding available

Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, has announced the total amount distributed through their dedicated crisis fund now exceeds £6 million to date. 

This significant level of funding breaks all its previous records and illustrates the continued and growing needs coming from groups supporting those most vulnerable throughout the country.

The community foundation is today stressing that the Response, Recovery and Resilience fund remains open. 

Foundation Scotland is now particularly eager to support groups to get ‘winter-ready’, so they’re better equipped to deliver essential services through the darker, colder, winter months ahead.

For example, to enable groups to extend counselling and wellbeing services remotely, to purchase all-weather protective clothing, to create virtual energising activities through the cold dark months or to offer phone-based companionship for the isolated.

Helen Wray, Head of Programmes at Foundation Scotland, said: “It’s been a long seven months since the crisis began, we hoped we’d be able to get back to a little more normality by now.  However, it looks unlikely that restrictions will ease any time soon and we’re painfully aware the next few months will bring even more significant challenges as the nights get longer, darker and colder.

“The emotional, physical and financial impacts of lockdown are becoming increasingly problematic, lives have been turned upside down.  Sadly, there are even more people in Scotland experiencing extreme hardship, isolation, loneliness and fear.  

“However, we’re always encouraged by the resilience and strength we see in our communities.  Groups across the country are coming together to urgently deliver essential and critical services to those most in need.  

“We understand our support is needed more than ever. Crisis grants enable dedicated groups to offer vital services in protecting the most vulnerable from long-term impacts.  Therefore, our fund will remain open to applications for support where it is needed most.   

“For example, wellbeing services like virtual counselling and befriending will be even more important. Volunteers might need all-weather protective clothing to support those in need safely and awnings and heaters to provide services outside.  We are, however encouraging groups to apply as soon as they can.” 

The community foundation’s Response, Recovery and Resilience fund, delivered in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, has to date supported over 1.3 million people across Scotland. 

A total of £4.6 million in small grants have been distributed to 1,188 dedicated organisations delivering vital support to some of the most isolated and vulnerable people across the country.  A further £1.4 Million has been invested in strategic grants to national charities such as Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland, Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) to deliver higher-level strategic support throughout the pandemic.

With the pandemic likely to impact on services well into 2021, the Foundation is now preparing to enter the Resilience phase of the fund. 

From 1st December the fund’s renewed focus will be on providing support to organisations to look even further ahead, to future proof their services more long term.

The continued restrictions will undoubtedly increase demand for many services delivered by small organisations, so it’s vital they’re equipped to continue meeting the needs of their local communities. More details on the Resilience phase will be available on the Foundation’s website in the coming weeks.

Since launching the dedicated Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund in March, the Foundation Scotland team have worked hard to assess an overwhelming level of applications ensuring vital support reaches those most in need as quickly as possible. 

Recent figures revealed that since the start of the crisis the Scottish funder has received almost the same number of applications in the last six months as it received in the whole of the previous financial year.

The Foundation Scotland Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund continues to welcome applications between £1,000-£5,000 from constituted community groups and registered charities. 

The funder is eager to distribute funds quickly and is appealing to eligible groups to apply as soon as they can.  Unlikely many other funding streams previous applicants are eligible to reapply to access further support needed. 

For more details, eligibility criteria and to apply online visit https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/

Foundation Scotland delivers a further £1 milion to support Third Sector

Foundation Scotland announces targeted partnerships with Edinburgh charities to deliver significant COVID related support 

Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, has awarded over one million pounds through thirteen new strategic response grants. Funded in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, projects have been identified as those that will enable the funder to deliver on its key priorities designed to assist the third sector in providing specialist support needed through the pandemic.  

The community foundation has played a pivotal role distributing key funding through the crisis and the £1 Million support announced is further to the £3.6 Million already awarded to more than 900 grassroots organisations nationwide via the Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund. 

 Launched in March, the community foundation’s crisis fund was the first source of community funding to open as COVID-19 took hold of the country and has so far reached over 1 Million people in need across the country.   

Strategic support will be delivered to local organisations delivering support to those living across Edinburgh and the Lothians.  Edinburgh-based Children 1st will receive over £104,000 to help support their essential money advice, family wellbeing and outdoor activity programmes.

Shelter Scotland will receive £30,000 to support homeless people in the city.  Community Law Advice Network (CLAN) will also receive a £30,000 grant to help deliver their core services supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people.  

Working in partnership with other major Scottish funders such the Scottish Government and SCVO, Foundation Scotland chairs the newly-established Scottish Emergency Funding Advisory Board (SEFAB) which brings together essential expertise to recognise, assess and identify the key priorities for funding across the country.  

In total, the funders have identified nine priority funding themes and they work together to ensure all needs are adequately addressed.  Examples include support for those with poor or worsening mental health, those with poor access to critical services or care, those experiencing bereavement and support for those in poverty or at risk of poverty or destitution.  

Mental health challenges have been widely recognised as a key area of need throughout the crisis. In recognition of this SAMH (the Scottish Association for Mental Health) will receive a Foundation Scotland strategic grant of over £100,000 to deliver a partnership programme offering tiered mental health support to key workers.   

Graeme Henderson, Executive Director of Delivery and Strategic Development at SAMH (above), said:  “SAMH is committed to making sure people get the mental health support and information they need, when they need it.

“Frontline workers have been under considerable pressure in recent months and we would like to thank Foundation Scotland for providing this funding, so that we can help these staff who have worked tirelessly under very difficult circumstances.” 

The new strategic grants awarded by Foundation Scotland will deliver financial support to multiple funding priorities. In total over £1,168,127 will be distributed between the thirteen charities as follows:

Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) (£105,000), BEMIS Scotland (£104,000), Shelter Scotland (£30,000), Community Law Advice Network (£30,000), Children 1st (£104,750), Dundee North Law Centre LLP (£30,000), Govan Law Centre (£30,000), JustRight Scotland (£30,000), Legal Services Agency Ltd (£28,265), Castlemilk Law and Money Advice Centre (£30,000), Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (£307,000), Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland (£98,912) and the Scottish Refugee Council (£240,000).  

Helen Wray, Programmes Manager at Foundation Scotland (above) said: “We are incredibly proud of these new awards which will make a significant impact across the Third Sector.  

“This level of strategic support will enable these charities to deliver the essential support needed to help some of the most vulnerable who are suffering through the crisis. We understand that charities across the country are struggling more than ever to raise the funds they need, and at the same time many are experiencing increased demand for their services.  

“It an unnerving time for many.  We would encourage other groups to check our website for further funding programmes. We’re also keen to engage with new potential funders whose donations will enable Foundation Scotland to extend this vital support even further within Scotland’s hardest hit communities.” 

For more details about Foundation Scotland visit https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/ 

Demand for funding has almost DOUBLED since Covid crisis

Over 100,000 local people benefit from more than £610,000 awarded to the region to date  

Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, has noted a significant increase in the number of funding applications submitted in the last six-months compared to the same period last year.  

Since the start of the crisis the Scottish funder has received almost the same number of applications in the last 6 months as it received in the whole of last financial year. The number of Scottish charities and community groups receiving funding across all the charity’s funding programmes has grown by a staggering 92%.   

The community foundation was quick to respond to the impending crisis.  Their Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund launched at the end of March and was the first source of community funding to open as the coronavirus pandemic hit the country.  

Working in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust (NET), a new and additional £3.6 Million has been awarded to the sector in Scotland so far.  This sizable new source of funding has to date enabled over 900 organisations to deliver key services to over one million people through the crisis the length and breadth of the country.   

Locally, this support has reached over 100,000 locals across Edinburgh and the Lothians. 152 projects have shared a total of £616,246 in the region to date. Local organisations such as Open Door Accommodation Project, Brock Garden Centre SCIO, Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Bikes for Refugees have all received essential support.

 Edinburgh-based Street Fit Scotland received £5,000 to provide digital devices, online fitness classes and peer support sessions to 30 local people to help reduce isolation, self-harmful behaviours and suicide risk whilst supporting their mental and physical well-being.

Michelle Reilly, Founder, Street Fit Scotland, (above) said: “This life-changing award could not have come at a better time for Street Fit Scotland. Thanks to Foundation Scotland we are now able to deliver free outdoor fitness sessions in the Meadows to support the homeless community and others to re-engage back into society supporting them to get fit active and healthy.

“This is a great opportunity giving people the chance to recover from periods of isolation. All or sessions are socially distanced, and we have created the safest environment we can following all government guidance.”    

Foundation Scotland distributes charitable funds on behalf of over 400 individuals, families, companies, public bodies and charitable trusts including this key partnership with NET.  The foundation manages over 120 funding programmes and has distributed £100m to the third sector since its launch in 1996.   

Helen Wray, Programme Manager at Foundation Scotland said: “We could see the impact that COVID was going to have and we knew we needed to move extremely quickly so that we could continue to deliver reliable financial support to groups delivering essential services across the country.  

“Fortunately, our partnership with NET meant we were able to respond immediately and could open and offer new funding opportunities. At the same time, we have kept all of our other important funding streams open as normal.

“We are working relentlessly to get support to where it is needed most through this challenging time.  Since April this year, we have assessed the same volume of applications as we did through the entirety of 2019.   

We appreciate that funding is becoming harder to secure and demand for essential services is often higher than ever before. So we are delighted that due to an increase in funding from NET, we are able to continue to offer these essential awards to allow groups to apply for support where they need it most.  We are however encouraging groups to apply as soon as they can.” 

The Foundation Scotland Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund continues to offer grants of between £1,000-£5,000 to constituted community groups and registered charities.  

The fund is currently in its ‘recovery’ phase supporting organisations to plan ahead, to continue their operations in the ‘new normal’, re-establish or re-design their activities to comply with new regulations.

Examples of projects include those needing support to restart face to face services, counselling groups helping those experiencing mental health issues, bereavement and domestic abuse support services and organisations needing to increase hygiene policies to safely reopen. 

Foundation Scotland is eager to distribute funds quickly to communities in need and is appealing to eligible groups to apply quickly as they respond and recover from the crisis.    

For more details, eligibility criteria and to apply online visit https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/