Additional support
We offer a broader programme of support to many of our funded organisations, using both internal and external expertise and resources.
Current opportunities
Free meeting space at The Barracks, Stirling: Organisations that have received an award from us since October 2020 are invited to book meeting space at The Barracks free-of-charge. This Funder Plus test phase runs for six months until 26 August 2022. See the Facilities hire page for more.
The Curve 2021 - Digital skills training for the third sector: We're delighted to support The Curve 2021 Digital Programme as part of our support for grant holders and the wider third sector. The Curve is a series of free, 90-minute workshops for third sector organisations. These online workshops aim to build knowledge around best digital practices, raise awareness of digital tools and ultimately help increase impact with digital. The workshops are open for registration - book here.
We have always aimed to offer support and engagement where helpful and appropriate. Our strategy describes our three objectives: to fund, support and inform. It it is under our objective to support that we're committed to:
- supporting capacity, skills and capability within the organisations we fund, and the third sector more broadly;
- amplifying the voices and experiences of the people and organisations working around poverty and trauma and speak up on issues directly affecting the third sector’s ability to address the root causes of poverty and trauma;
- supporting the development of multi-agency initiatives and true partnership between organisations with shared goals, cultures and values;
- developing our systems and processes to make it easier for organisations and communities to access our support and make the difference they want.
As part of this commitment, we are reviewing our Funder Plus offer with the aim of ensure it is adaptable and prioritises the needs of the organisations we work with. We want our support to become better informed by the changing needs of the organisations we serve.
Focus on relationships
We have an ambition to build and develop stronger relationships with grant holders, working to develop our knowledge of those organisations we work with to improve the wellbeing of people affected by poverty and trauma in Scotland. We want to better understand the challenges these organisations encounter and provide more focused support around issues they may face whenever they may encounter them.
Practical support
At a time when the sector is facing huge pressures, our need to be agile has never been greater. We will be bold and lead through an ambition to proactively invest in the needs of the wider third sector – recognising that capacity building support is essential to a stronger third sector in Scotland. We will ensure the availability of relevant capacity building support to our grant holders informed by the third sector, other funders and key support networks. We aim to establish opportunities to work more collaboratively with other funders, membership bodies and organisations across the sector – with a view of developing longer term support reflective of need and demand.