Potential funding for local Scouting in Scotland
Potential funding for local Scouting in Scotland
Funding support
We know at times Scout groups and their communities need additional financial support.
We wanted to share potential local funding opportunities, show you how to search for other local funders and provide tips on how to write a successful funding application.
Please check back regularly as we will keep it up to date as we find new funds and resources.
And if you see any funds that we don't have here and you think would be useful to share with our groups, email us at hello@scouts.scot and we can add them.
I can't say enough how proud I am of all our members. As we recover from the pandemic, I know that Scouts will be vital to rebuilding our society, bringing together communities, and supporting young people from all backgrounds to connect and develop skills that will help them to succeed.
Andrew Sharkey, Chief Commissioner of Scotland
Potential funds to apply for and top tips
We've created a list of funds below that you might be eligible for. Each fund will have different criteria, and won't be right for every group. You'll need to understand what your financial situation is so you can best choose the fund that might be right for you.
These funds are Scotland or UK-wide, but there may be more funding available for local areas. It is worth checking your Local Authority website and the websites of any local funders that you're aware of.
It is also worth searching Funding Scotland, a free online database of over 1,300 funds including many local Scottish community funds.
There is some great advice on the SCVO website that might help you with writing your funding applications.
We also pulled together a few of our top tips that we always keep in mind when writing applications:
Be bold. Scouting makes a real impact – we see it every week, but the funders probably don’t. Use numbers, quotes, case studies, images and stories - whatever it takes to get the message across about the huge difference you make to young people and communities across Scotland.
Know what you’re asking for and be specific. Be clear about what it is you’re going to do, why you’re going to do it, who it will benefit and how much it will cost.
Read the small print. Make sure you’re eligible for the funding. If you’re not sure, drop the funder an email or give them a call - they might be able to help you, although this isn't always possible during busy times.
National Lottery Household Hardship Fund
National Lottery Household Hardship Fund
New funding will be available from the National Lottery Foundation to support families and individuals in need. They’re making grants of £500 to £5,000 to local charities and community groups to then distribute the funds in cash or vouchers to help with things like food and essential items, fuel and energy costs, warm clothing, phone/internet costs. This fund opens for applications on 10 March 2023.
Kiltwalk
The Kiltwalk is a great way to raise funds for Scouting in Scotland.
You can do the Kiltwalk to raise funds for Scouts Scotland, or for local Groups, projects, capital items, or international trips like the World Scout Jamboree.
You can only raise funds through the Kiltwalk for a registered charity or local community cause and have a designated charity/organisation bank account with 2 signatories, so you will need to speak to your Group, District or Region to do this. The Group, District or Region would need to register with the Kiltwalk and be added to their website. You can find out everything you need to know about that here: https://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/charity/get-involved
If you’re fundraising for something like the World Scout Jamboree, your Group, District or Region would need to collect the funds directly and then transfer to the Region towards the payment of your Jamboree fee.
On your fundraising page, you should make it very clear what you are raising funds for, so people understand exactly what their donations will go towards.
With events happening across the year, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Good luck with your fundraising!
Robertson Trust
Robertson Trust offer revenue and capital funding for registered charities and constituted community groups that help people and communities in Scotland who are living with Poverty and Trauma. There are no set closing dates and eligible groups can apply at any time.
Robertson Trust Wee Grants
• For small constituted community groups and charities with an annual income of less than £25,000
• Funding of up to £2,000 for one year only
• Could cover revenue or capital costs to support your work.
Find our more
Robertson Trust Small Grants
• For registered charities with an annual income of between £25,000 and £100,000
• Revenue funding (restricted or unrestricted) of between £2,000 and £15,000 for up to five years
• Can include the costs of equipment to support your work
Find out more
Robertson Trust Large Grants
• For registered charities with an annual income of between £100,000 and £2 million
• Revenue funding (restricted or unrestricted) of between £15,000 and £50,000 for up to five years
• Can include the costs of equipment to support your work.
Find out more
Robertson Trust Community Vehicle Grants
• For registered charities with an annual income of between £25,000 and £2 million
• Funding of up to £10,000 for a vehicle to support your work.
Find out more
Action Earth Volunteering Matters
Scout groups working towards community environmental projects may be interested in applying to the Volunteering Matters Action Earth grants. Funded by NatureScot, grants of between £50 and £250 are available to support volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to help local communities to respond to our nature and climate crises.
Activities should emphasize local nature enrichment and biodiversity improvements and could include creating or improving community gardens, shared spaces, wildflower meadows, ponds, woodlands and other wildlife habitats. Projects must be completed by January 31st 2023.
National Lottery Awards for All Scotland
You can apply to Awards for All for grants of between £300 and £10,000 to support what matters to people and communities. Applications are welcomed from voluntary or community groups, registered charities, sports clubs, not-for-profit companies, social enterprises, schools and statutory bodies.
Applications should do at least one of the following: bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities, improve the places and spaces that matter to communities, or help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.
There are no deadlines and applications can be made at any time.
Reach
The Bank of Scotland Foundation Reach Fund will support Charities with an income of £1 million or less can apply for funding between £1,000 and £25,000.
Disadvantage - examples include charities addressing primary disadvantage such as homelessness, abuse, mental health or poverty, or secondary disadvantage such as debt issues, learning disabilities, illiteracy, lack of employability skills or health issues.
Social Exclusion - examples include charities addressing exclusionary challenges for minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT people, drug users, institutional care leavers, the elderly or the young.
Community funds
If your group is in the vicinity of a windfarm, you may be eligible for a community benefit fund. The Foundation help to administer many community benefit funds that exist across Scotland to support the communities living near windfarms.
You can find out more about each fund and how to apply through the link below.
Tesco Community Grants
Charities and community organisations can apply for grants of up to £1,500. Tesco community grant funds thousands of local community projects across the UK including projects that support young people.
Co-op local community funds
The fund chooses new causes every 12 months. Keep an eye on the website for more details.
Groups may be eligible for the co-op local community funds for projects that bring people together to access food, helps improve people’s mental wellbeing, creates opportunities for young people to be heard and make a difference or helps people protect local biodiversity or tackle climate change.
Find out more here
Foyle Foundation
Their Small Grants Scheme is designed to support charities registered and operating in the United Kingdom, especially those working at grass roots and local community level, in any field, across a wide range of activities.
Their priority will be to support local charities still active in their communities which are currently delivering services to the young, vulnerable, elderly, disadvantaged or the general community.
Charities that have an annual turnover of less than £150,000 per annum can apply for between £2,000 and £10,000.
People’s Postcode Trust – Magic Little Grants
Magic Little Grants 2023 is launching very soon. After successfully distributing £500 grants to 2,650 charitable organisations in 2022, we’re incredibly excited to announce that 2023 is going to be even bigger and better than ever before... you won't want to miss out!
Applications will be open from 1st March until 31st October 2023.
With a simple 20-minute application process and an outcome within six weeks, the Magic Little Grants fund reduces the work required for grass-roots organisations to access the funding they need to launch or strengthen their services. The following criteria apply:
Organisations must either be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £250,000.
Funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core costs associated with ongoing work.
Organisations and the projects for which they apply must be located within England, Scotland, or Wales
People’s Postcode Trust
Grants of between £500 and £25,000 are available to local charities and other not-for-profit organisations based and working in Scotland to make a difference to their community.
Funding is for projects in Scotland that have a clear link with one of the Trust's themes which include enabling participation in activity, supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality, improving mental wellbeing and responding to the climate emergency.
In 2022 funding rounds will open at 9am on the first weekday of each month from February to October. The Trust will accept a limited number of applications in line with the amount of funds available for that round. Applications will then close until the start of the next month. There are no deadlines but rounds may close extremely quickly.
More information here
Trefoil fund
Personal development grants are available for young people under the age of 25 with additional needs. The purpose of the grant is to allow the young person to participate in a project which would otherwise not be available to them. For more info
Paths for All: The Smarter Choices, Smarter Places
The Paths for All Smarter Choices, Smarter Places fund aims to support projects that encourage people to change their everyday travel behaviours and choose more sustainable or active travel options. Grants are available for between £5,000 and £100,000 and need to be match funded.
Co-op Foundation Future Communities Fund
This new fund will offer unrestricted and flexible grants of up to £30,000 a year for five years to organisations helping diverse young people develop the skills to become future leaders and activists.
Open to organisations with an annual turnover of £250k or less. Deadline is 23rd December 2022. For further information and to check eligibility please visit their website.
Gift Aid
Gift Aid is a fantastic tool for Scouts to raise vital funds. If you're not already claiming Gift Aid, this is something that you could look into now that could make a big difference to your group financially. There is a bit of work required to get it set up, but you can potentially claim back for up to 4 years of Gift Aid that you've missed out on, and once you're set up your group will benefit for years to come.
Find out more information and how to apply on the Scouts UK Gift Aid webpage.
