Take a look at the funding we currently offer.
We are here to prevent and reduce poverty and trauma in Scotland, by funding, supporting, and influencing solutions to drive social change
Through our ten year strategy to 2030, we’re focused on tackling the causes as well as the impacts of poverty and trauma, two of the most significant and connected challenges facing Scotland today.
We work with communities, third sector organisations and partners around four key themes: Education Pathways, Financial Security, Nurturing Relationships and Work Pathways. Across each, we use all our tools, from our grant-making and learning support to our partnerships and voice, to help create the conditions for everyone in Scotland to thrive.
As we move towards becoming a social change organisation, we aim to enable earlier and fairer support, challenge unhelpful power dynamics, and champion the role of communities in shaping solutions.
Guided by our values of Ambition, Integrity, Connection and Equity, we are also committed to advancing equity, diversity, participation and rights (EDPR), anti-racism, trauma-informed practice and climate action in everything we do.
As one of Scotland’s largest independent funders, we provide funding to alleviate poverty and trauma in Scotland. We do this by:
We support capacity and skills development within the third sector and communities by:
We build on and influence learning and practice by:
We are not afraid to take on difficult issues and will take risks in pursuit of positive change. We underpin our approach with curiosity, agility and a commitment to learning and continuous improvement
We work collaboratively and are informed by the knowledge and experience of those we work with. We are compassionate in our interactions and value
quality relationships based on honesty, understanding and support. Our independence is a valuable asset, but we recognise that working with others makes us all stronger.
We take personal and collective responsibility for our actions and how we use our resources. We are trustworthy, consistent, and open about our successes and failings. We welcome challenge and feedback in order to improve our work.
Our strategy for 2020-2030 sharpens our focus on helping to improve the lives of people and communities with experience of poverty, trauma or both.
Poverty and trauma are closely linked challenges that can have a profound effect on people’s wellbeing, opportunities, and life chances. They are not inevitable or fixed, but when they persist, they can create cycles that are difficult to break without support.
Poverty is about more than just financial hardship. It means not being able to heat your home, pay your rent, or buy essentials like food and clothing. It brings daily uncertainty, impossible choices, and stress that can affect emotional health, relationships, and the ability to take part fully in society. While Scotland has seen some positive changes in recent years – including the stabilising effect of the Scottish Child Payment on child poverty – poverty remains a persistent challenge, with structural causes that go beyond individual or family circumstances.
Meanwhile, trauma is a response to experiences that are frightening, harmful, or overwhelming. It can have lasting effects on wellbeing, sense of safety, trust, and relationships. Trauma can happen at any stage of life and can be triggered by a single event or by prolonged or repeated experiences. Many people recover and grow from trauma, but for some, the effects are long-lasting.
The connection between poverty and trauma
Poverty can itself be traumatic, increasing stress and exposure to other risks, while trauma can heighten vulnerability to poverty. Addressing both together is essential to breaking cycles and creating lasting change for individuals, families, and communities.
Why relationships matter
Safe, supportive relationships can help people recover from trauma and cope with the stresses of poverty. That’s why one of our strategic themes focuses on Nurturing Relationships – combining practical support with caring connections to help people and families thrive. You can read more about the development and focusing of this theme here.
Taking a systemic approach
Preventing and reducing poverty and trauma requires more than individual-level interventions. The causes are structural, and sustainable solutions are more likely when people, families, and communities are supported and resourced to develop their own solutions. At The Robertson Trust, we aim to work with communities and beyond funding alone, using all our tool to tackle both the causes and the impacts of poverty and trauma.
To learn more, read our Poverty and Trauma briefing, produced at the start of our 2020 Strategy.