Tag: Inspiring Scotland

Funding boost for Outdoor Play across Scotland

Children and families across Scotland will soon benefit from expanded outdoor play  opportunities, as 41 organisations receive funding to develop local initiatives. 

Three Edinburgh projects are set to receive funding:

  • Bridgend Farmhouse £15,625.00
  • Smart Play Network £15,972.00
  • Wester Hailes Growing Communities £19,751.00

The Outdoor Community Play Fund, managed by Inspiring Scotland on behalf of the Scottish  Government, supports free, child‑led outdoor play in communities where it can have the  greatest impact.  

Outdoor play is essential for healthy childhoods, stronger families, and thriving communities.  Access to this funding ensures that children living in Scotland’s most deprived areas, as well  as those in rural and remote communities, can access safe, high-quality and inclusive play  opportunities. 

Minister for Children, Young People, and The Promise Natalie Don-Innes said: “We want Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up. Playing outside is great for  children’s health and happiness. 

“For the first time, local grassroots groups in rural areas will receive funding to create  opportunities for children to play outside in rural parts of Scotland, and the fund will also  continue to support play charities to create opportunities for children in the most deprived  areas to play outside. 

“While the funding supports opportunities for outdoor play all-year-round, with the warmer  months approaching it’s a great time to find out what outdoor play is on near you. I’m really  pleased the Scottish Government can help make this happen.”  

Twenty-two Scottish charities working in the most deprived communities will receive funding  support to deliver free, child‑led outdoor play.

Outdoor play will be delivered using the Play  Ranger model, helping children build confidence, develop social skills, and enjoy nature in a  way that supports their wellbeing and development. 

A further 19 grassroots groups in rural and remote areas will receive funding to develop  sustainable outdoor play provision that reflects the needs, geography, and character of local  communities.

The aim of this funding is to help smaller community organisations overcome  barriers, build capacity, and commence delivery of outdoor play for children and families. 

OutLET: Play Resource, one of the organisations to receive funding, said: “We are delighted  to have received Outdoor Community Play funding this year.

“This valuable funding ensures  we can continue delivering our Wellwoods programme, providing inclusive, high-quality  outdoor play experiences for children and their caregivers.

“Families tell us these  opportunities are a lifeline – providing a welcoming space where they can support their  wellbeing, and feel confident enjoying their local woodlands and greenspaces for play,  connection and growth.”  

In addition to managing the fund, Inspiring Scotland plays a central role in strengthening the  sector by offering funded organisations a wide range of support to build capacity and share  best practice nationally.

Through hands-on guidance, practical tools, and strategic advice,  Inspiring Scotland helps enhance the quality and effectiveness of third sector delivery across the country.

Funded organisations also benefit from support to secure match funding,  increasing investment in communities experiencing high levels of deprivation as well as  those in rural and remote areas. 

Julia Abel, Director of Funds at Inspiring Scotland, said: “This welcomed investment recognises what the evidence has long shown: outdoor play is  essential for children’s wellbeing, development, and long-term outcomes.

“Inspiring Scotland  is proud to continue to collaborate with community organisations nationwide to create high quality, inclusive outdoor play opportunities that build resilience, strengthen families, and  improve life chances.”  

Funding will support the delivery of outdoor play opportunities and contribute directly to the  ambitions set out in the Scottish Government’s Play: Vision Statement and Action Plan.

By  investing in locally‑led outdoor play, the fund aims to strengthen community resilience,  support parents and families, improve wellbeing, and enable more children to enjoy  everyday play in nature.

Outdoor Community Play Awards by LADownload

Multi-year investment to support women and girls

Funding stability for more third sector organisations

More than a hundred third sector organisations that work to address violence against women and girls have received a multi-year funding agreement from the Scottish Government.

Funding of £43.28 million over two years through the Delivering Equally Safe Fund will support organisations to deliver projects across Scotland. These will provide direct services to victims and survivors of gender-based violence and carry out vital prevention work.

This two-year funding agreement marks a significant step in the Scottish Government’s commitment to developing a more sustainable funding model for the third sector in line with fairer funding principles.

It follows a multi-year commitment of £3.5 million a year over the next three years for disability organisations as set out in the draft Scottish Budget 2026-27.

In addition to the Fairer Funding pilot announced last year, this means that almost 50% of the value of third sector grants in the Social Justice Portfolio in 2025-26 are now covered by multi-year funding agreements. This approach aims to protect the sector’s future by providing the certainty organisations need to plan ahead, retain specialist staff and sustain their vital services.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We have listened carefully to the third sector about the challenges they face.

“This includes the impact of single-year funding settlements on their ability to plan ahead and retain the specialist staff who are so vital to delivering these services.

“This multi-year investment demonstrates that we have heard and responded to those concerns. It will give organisations the stability and greater certainty they need to continue their essential work to protect victims and survivors of gender-based violence across Scotland.”

The Delivering Equally Safe Fund supports the work of the Equally Safe strategy, which underpins Scotland’s approach to preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls.

The list of funded organisations is available on Inspiring Scotland’s website.

DES-Funded-Organisations-2025-26Download

Inspiring Scotland: Seven campaigns receive funding to drive social change 

Seven organisations have been selected to receive funding for campaigning projects aimed at improving the lives of people in Scotland.  

Covering a wide range of issues from access to health checks for disabled people to helping older people connect with their communities, these projects will lay the essential groundwork and build momentum for larger campaigns.  

Celia Tennant, Chief Executive of Inspiring Scotland, said: “Achieving long term, systemic change requires sustained effort and commitment. And while there is no shortage of people with the required passion and good ideas, funding for the crucial early stages of social justice campaigns is often limited. 

“Our goal was to support those with a clear vision, deep knowledge of the issues, and confidence in building larger campaigns, but requiring resources to explore ideas, gather evidence, and test approaches for maximum impact.” 

For this funding call, we partnered with Changing Ideas, an organisation with a strong track record of supporting campaigners to tackle social injustices in the UK and worldwide, and we’re excited to bring their experience and investment to Scotland. 

David Graham, founder of Changing Ideas, said: “We are delighted to fund charities and groups working for change across the environment, childcare, women’s and girls’ rights, and more.

“We see this as the first step in building momentum for wider systemic change, and we are excited by what our partners will go on to achieve.” 

Although this call focused on supporting a small number of projects, we were overwhelmed by nearly 100 applications, clearly demonstrating the strong appetite for campaigning in Scotland. 

We wish all those who weren’t selected best of luck in their efforts. 

After careful consideration and interviews with shortlisted applicants, the following seven projects were selected for funding: 

  1. Children First: £10,000 to progress their campaign against online harm to children and young people.  
  2. Coastal Communities Network: £10,000 to campaign for better access to information on water quality, increased centralised water testing, and improved access to community water testing equipment.  
  3. Enable Scotland: £9,928 to support people with learning disabilities in leading local and national campaigns to improve access to regular health checks.  
  4. Vintage Vibes: £10,000 to campaign against isolation, declining confidence and stigma surrounding ageing, and help older people feel valued and sure of their place in their community.  
  5. YWCA Young Women in Scotland: £9,983 to run a Scotland-specific campaign addressing digital violence against women and girls (VAWG), led by young women themselves.  
  6. The Motherhood Plan – Pregnant then Screwed: £10,000 to undertake the groundwork for a large Scotland-wide campaign that secures bold, credible childcare commitments from MSPs and holds the next Scottish Government to account.   
  7. Parenting Across Scotland: £8,600 to co-ordinate a campaign group with other children and families organisations to campaign for a Scottish hobby model to address the current inequity in hobby provision in Scotland.

Amy Woodhouse from Parenting Across Scotland explains how the funding is going to help the organisation realise their ambition for all children and young people in Scotland to have access to a hobby of their choice: “Hobbies are brilliant for so many reasons – they help children develop new skills, make friends and boost confidence.

“They can provide solace when times are tough and offer positive spaces for children to grow and develop. They should be a part of every childhood, but sadly they’re not. Cost, accessibility, lack of choice, transport difficulties and long waiting lists all prevent children from taking part. 

“The solutions are possible, but we need a co-ordinated national approach to really make progress. Support from the Ideas for Change fund will help us to build momentum behind our hobbies campaign and ensure that all children and young people, regardless of their circumstances, can benefit.

“We are very grateful to Inspiring Scotland and Changing Ideas for this award.”

A spokesperson for Vintage Vibes said: “We are delighted to be selected by Inspiring Scotland as one of seven fantastic organisations to run a campaign to improve the lives of Scottish people in 2026.

“Our campaign will launch later this year, building on our highly acclaimed Ten Years Bold campaign, and will aim to spread empowerment in older people across Scotland, tackling ageism and challenging stigmas. We can’t wait to start!”

Inspiring Scotland are proud to partner with Changing Ideas and the seven funded organisations, and look forward to supporting their efforts and sharing updates as their campaigns progress.

Inspiring Scotland: Supporting communities across Scotland

Scotland’s third sector is the backbone of communities across the country — delivering vital, person-centred support in the face of rising demand and financial uncertainty.

Our newly published Annual Report showcases how, in 2024/25, we worked alongside charities and funders to strengthen resilience and unlock new opportunities for impact. 

The organisations we support are often the first to respond to local needs, tackling poverty, inequality, mental health, and social isolation.

Our venture philanthropy model is designed to ease the burden, combining funding with tailored development support to help charities grow and adapt to changing circumstances. 

  • In 2024/25, we managed over £47 million in funding across 16 programmes, supporting 333 organisations.  
  • Our Specialist Volunteer Network delivered 460 projects, contributing 2,613 hours of pro bono support — equivalent to over a year and a half of full-time work.  
  • As well as continuing to focus on delivering longer term funding for the sector, we also launched new initiatives, including the Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund, supporting 14 local nature restoration projects, and expanded our Intandem mentoring programme into Dundee, thanks to new philanthropic investment.  

We’ve worked hard to keep funding flowing, championing the sector and demonstrating the difference it makes.  

Through new funding collaborations and strategic support, we’ve built new philanthropic partnerships that extend the impact of our model to others. 

Recognising volunteering as a powerful force for good, we continued to bring in skills and expertise through our Specialist Volunteer Network. Time, energy, and professional skills are vital forms of philanthropy, and we’ve seen how this generosity strengthens organisations and builds resilience. 

We’ve increasingly used the insight gained from our work to inform and influence policy. This year, we’ve done more of this work than ever before — sharing evidence, amplifying voices, and contributing directly to policy discussions. We recognise the responsibility and privilege of our position, which allows us to take messages from the frontline straight to decision-makers. 

Our work is rooted in trust, collaboration, and a shared ambition for lasting impact. Whether managing Scottish Government programmes or unlocking new sources of investment, we are committed to building a Scotland where every person has the opportunity to thrive. 

Thank you to our partners, funders, volunteers, and the organisations we support. Together, we are making a difference. 

Annual-Report-2024-25Download

Read the full Annual Report.

More support for disabled people as Improving Access Fund launched

A new fund launched yesterday offers £1.5 million in grants for projects designed to break down barriers and strengthen services that disabled people depend on.

The Improving Access Fund is a key part of the Scottish Government’s £3 million Disability Equality Plan. Jointly designed with Disabled People’s Organisations, the Fund will provide grants for projects that improve access to essential services and promote independent living, choice, and participation.

It will focus on three priorities:

  • Accessible financial advice and support
  • Inclusive participation in communities and everyday life
  • Better mental health and wellbeing.

Minister for Equalities Kaukab Stewart said: “Scotland should be a country where disabled people can live the lives they choose – supported, empowered, and included every step of the way.

“Today’s launch of our Improving Access Fund is a really important step towards that – it has been designed with disabled people, for disabled people.

“Through our Disability Equality Plan, we are making a clear commitment: disabled people are a priority for the Scottish Government. By investing £3 million in this work, we are strengthening access to the services and support that enable independence, choice, and participation.

“In contrast, disabled people in Scotland remain deeply concerned about the potential effects of planned UK Government welfare reforms. We call on the UK Government to abandon these damaging proposals and to follow the Scottish Government’s lead in investing in and enhancing the social security safety net, rather than tearing it apart.”

Heather Fisken, CEO of Inclusion Scotland said: “Disabled People’s organisations are led by disabled people ourselves and know best what needs to change.

“For too long our organisations have had to shift shape to ‘fit’ with funders’ missions and requirements, missing out on critical funding to keep our organisations running and to make the changes desperately needed so that disabled people are empowered in their own lives.

“The Improving Access Fund is different because it targets Disabled People’s Organisations and DPOs helped to design it.”  

Tressa Burke, CEO of Glasgow Disability Alliance said: “Our survey of 756 disabled members found 91% are deeply concerned about equality and human rights, feeling under attack and de-prioritised.

“This has led to poverty, exclusion, poorer mental health, and reduced participation in daily life. Glasgow Disability Alliance and our members welcome the Improving Access Fund, which will advance equality, independent living, choice, and participation.”

Lyn Pornaro, CEO of Disability Equality Scotland said: “Disabled people demand justice and access to services, buildings, events and public bodies – in the same way as non-disabled people. 

“This fund is a starting point to improving access to the key areas of focus in the Disability Equality Plan and, most importantly, in the lives of disabled people daily.”

Disability Equality Plan

The Fund is being administered by Inspiring Scotland and more details are available here

Supporting Scotland’s Autistic Adults

£2.5m. fund allocated to third sector organisations

Nine organisations working with autistic adults are to benefit from a £2.5 million multi-year fund.

The Autistic Adult Support Fund, launched in 2023, supports third sector organisations to help autistic adults reach their full potential – supporting them, their families and their carers to understand what neurodivergence means for them and improve their wellbeing.

Among the latest recipients of the fund is The Anchor charity in Greenock, which is being awarded £247,450 to help autistic adults at risk of suicide or self-harm.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said: “I am pleased to announce the recipients of this funding to provide support to autistic adults and their families and carers.

“All successful projects will meaningfully involve autistic people in the development, design, and delivery of the support. Autistic adults will be helped to thrive – the projects will support them to access services and improve their general wellbeing so they can get involved in and truly feel part of their community.

“Our commitment to multi-year funding will ensure that funded projects have the security and space to develop and grow high quality support, making the most of the skills and experiences of autistic people they support.”

Chris Paul, Chief Executive of The Anchor said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding, bringing the opportunity to support autistic adults in our community at new levels.

“As a local grassroots organisation with big ambition, we are looking forward to taking this project forward.”

Celia Tennant, Chief Executive Officer at Inspiring Scotland said: “Everyone in Scotland should have the same opportunity to lead happy and healthy lives and ensuring there is support to understand an autistic diagnosis or identity is important in making that possible.

“The volume of applications received to this fund further demonstrates not just the need for investment in this area but also the vital role that the third sector is providing in supporting autistic adults to understand their autism to improve wellbeing.

“In managing the application process for this new fund, we were pleased to be supported by a panel of autistic people and professionals from relevant areas, ensuring the fund decisions were informed by lived experience.” 

Autistic Adult Support Fund – Inspiring Scotland

Full list of funded organisations:

ApplicantType of SupportArea of DeliveryRequested Amount
HOPE for AutismGroup support, coaching, workshopsNorth Lanarkshire£101,639.52
Autism InitiativesPost diagnostic course, peer groups, one to oneScotland£486,756.00
SWAN Autism (Scotland)Post diagnostic course, one to one, group support, counselling, workshopsScotland£305,989.00
Home-Start OrkneyPeer led support groups and resource developmentOrkney£72,342.05
Into WorkAutistic wellbeing and work programmeEast Lothian; Edinburgh City;
Midlothian		£186,043.39
The National Autistic SocietyPost-diagnostic course and one t one supportNational£453,417.33
The Salvesen Mindroom CentreOne to one supportScotland£389,433.25
The Anchor SCIOOne to one supportArgyll & Bute; Inverclyde£247,450.00
Lucy Faithfull FoundationGroup work, one to one support, training for professionalsScotland£205,577.00
Total  £2,448,647.54

Support for people with learning disabilities in Scotland

Funding allocated to projects working to enhance equality

People with learning disabilities are being supported to fulfil their potential through new funding awards totalling almost £1.6 million.

The Learning Disability Support Fund is allocated to community projects working directly with people with learning disabilities to provide opportunities and build a more inclusive society.

The fund will run for 30 months from October 2025, with a total of £325,000 available for the first year and £650,000 in each of the following two years. Recipients of the first round are receiving grants of between £75,000 and £250.000.

The charity get2gether is among the successful applicants and has been awarded £108,244 to support its work arranging social activities for people with learning disabilities in safe and friendly locations in Scotland.

Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing Tom Arthur said: “We want to create a society where people with learning disabilities can live fulfilling, independent and active lives and this funding will support the important work of get2gether and many other organisations which are working so hard to do just that.

“The grants will be used to provide people with education and information on matters such as accessing health services and developing safe relationships.

“In developing the fund, we have taken into account the views expressed by people with learning disabilities in recent consultation and research and we will work closely with the third sector to ensure it makes a real difference.”

Director at get2gether Mojca Becaj said: “For a small charity like get2gether, the Scottish Government funding through the Learning Disability Support Fund is truly transformational.

“It will enable us to continue creating safe, inclusive spaces where people with learning disabilities can build friendships, relationships, and confidence as well as provide paid roles where they can step into their first paid employment — these are things that many adults take for granted but are life-changing for our members.

“We’re deeply grateful for the recognition and investment in our work and the opportunity to keep making a real difference to the lives of get2gether members.”

Natalie Kernaghan McCaughey, a get2gether ambassador said: “I work as an ambassador at get2gether, we are a member-led charity that works with adults with disabilities. We believe everyone deserves love and friendship.

“I am a paid member of get2gether staff team, I have a lived experience of learning disability and autism. My role is to work with other members to create and co-host their own social events and make connections with each other.”

Director of Funds at Inspiring Scotland Erica Judge said: “We know that the third sector plays a critical role in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities and we are pleased that this fund offers vital longer-term funding, ensuring projects like get2gether can plan their services for the next two and a half years.

“One of the important aspects of this fund is to help ensure people with learning disabilities’ voices are heard.  Not only did people with learning disabilities inform and shape the Learning Disabilities Support Fund’s aims, their voice and experience were central to the decision-making process, and they played a key role in selecting which organisations received funding.”

FUNDING AWARDS

OrganisationFunding Amount
get2gether£108,244
Project Ability£81,741
People First (Scotland)£250,000
Neighbourhood Networks£91,931
Values Into Action Scotland£175,061
Scottish Youth Dance (YDance)£206,106
Dates-n-Mates£179,318
Values Into Action Scotland – The Scottish Assembly£249,998
Association for Real Change – NIN/LIN Networks£249,474
Total£1,591,873

Improving lives for autistic adults

Fund open to third sector organisations

Autistic adults will be supported to reach their full potential through a £2.5 million, multi-year fund.

The Autistic Adult Support Fund is available to third sector organisations providing services to autistic adults – promoting wellbeing and helping them to understand what neurodivergence means for them.

Since 2023, £1.5 million has been allocated to 15 organisations, including those helping autistic adults enter, remain, and thrive within employment.

This latest round of funding is now open to applications and will provide £2.5 million for the period from October 2025 to end of March 2028.

Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Maree Todd said: “We know the third sector plays a crucial role in improving the lives of autistic people, and this fund will support organisations to help the autistic people they work with lead fulfilling, independent, and active lives.

“The grants will be used to support autistic adults to thrive, helping them access services and improve general wellbeing so they can get involved in and truly feel a part of their community.

“Our commitment to multi-year funding will ensure that funded projects have the security and space to develop and grow, and ensure that the quality of support they provide is as high as it can be.”

Celia Tennant, Chief Executive Officer at Inspiring Scotland said: “We are pleased to be managing the application process for the new phase of the Scottish Government’s Autistic Adult Support Fund.

“We know from working in this area, there is a real need to provide support to autistic adults around diagnosis or to understand their autism to improve wellbeing.

“We look forward to hearing from applicants that meaningfully involve autistic people in the development, design and delivery of the activity to improve live chances for autistic adults in Scotland.”

The Autistic Adult Support Fund is open to third sector organisations to apply until Wednesday 21 May 2025.

Improving lives for people with learning disabilities

Fund to support third sector organisations

People with learning disabilities will be supported to reach their full potential through a £1.6 million fund.

The Learning Disability Support Fund will be available to third sector organisations to enable them to promote equality and inclusion and improve access to health services and social activities for people with learning disabilities.

The fund will run for 30 months from October 2025, with a total of £325,000 available for the first year and £650,000 per year for the following two years. Organisations can apply for grants of between £75,000 and £250.000.

Minister for Wellbeing, Social Care and Sport Maree Todd said: “The last 30 years have seen enormous changes in how people with learning disabilities are supported in society, however we recognise there is more work to be done.

“We know the third sector plays a crucial role in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities and this fund will support organisations to enable those they work with to lead fulfilling, independent, and active lives as equal citizens.

“The grants will be used to provide people with education and information on matters such as accessing health services and developing safe relationships.

“In developing the fund, we have taken into account the views expressed by people with learning disabilities in recent consultation and research and we will work closely with the third sector to ensure it makes a difference.”

Celia Tennant, Chief Executive Officer at Inspiring Scotland said: “We are pleased to be managing the application process for the new phase of the Scottish Government’s Learning Disability Support Fund.

“We know from the past few years managing the Inspiring Inclusion fund the positive impact that empowering third sector organisations can have to deliver support for people in Scotland with learning disabilities to lead happy, healthy lives and create a more inclusive society.”

The Learning Disability Support Fund replaces the Inspiring Inclusion Learning Disability Fund.

More young people helped to spot signs of abuse

Engagement to tackle gendered violence highlighted at start of 16 Days

More than 27,000 young people have benefited from education and awareness-raising sessions on tackling gender-based violence over six months, thanks to 45 grassroots organisations across Scotland.

The latest Delivering Equally Safe impact report, published by Inspiring Scotland, shows that the number of young people accessing sessions on issues including consent and gender equality through these organisations is increasing. The report also includes data on the number of people who have received frontline support, and the type of support provided.

The report publication comes as the global 16 Days of Activism campaign gets underway. To mark the start of the campaign, Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart visited Monklands Women’s Aid in Airdrie to hear about their vital work to support women, children and young people.

Ms Stewart said: “Preventing violence against women and girls is key to creating a society where women and girls can live safely. I am proud to be supporting the 16 Days of Activism campaign to tackle and prevent violence against women and girls.  

“Thanks to organisations supported by our Delivering Equally Safe fund, workshops supporting young people to understand consent, healthy relationships and the signs of abusive behaviour have reached more than 27,000 young people.

“In the two years since Delivering Equally Safe started, nearly 17,000 children and young people have engaged in frontline funded support.

“Among the organisations providing frontline support is Monklands Women’s Aid, whose work to address both traditional and emerging forms of violence against women and girls is vital and innovative.”

Monklands Women’s Aid Chairperson, Christine Buckel said: “Grassroots organisations like Monkland’s Women’s Aid are the backbone of community support for those facing the trauma of domestic abuse.

“Our integrated approach ensures women, children, and young people receive tailored support when they need it most. Most importantly, we listen to and respond to those we serve, ensuring that their voices shape the services that make a real difference in their lives.

“The Delivering Equally Safe programme fund provides vital funding that enabled the organisation to deliver frontline domestic abuse interventions to 1,571 people since October 2021.”

Delivering Equally Safe impact report