The Big Change That Lasts Fund

At this time, we are prioritising applications that focus on Financial Security.

We provide restricted project funding of between £20,000 and £500,000, usually for up to 5 years. Most grants are typically £50,000–£100,000 per year.
Projects must demonstrate strong potential to deliver big change that lasts, meaning strategic, systemic or long‑term impact on poverty and trauma in Scotland.

We are particularly interested in work that:

Moves upstream to prevent poverty and financial insecurity
Influences policy, practice, systems or behaviours
Has a clear theory of change and potential for impact at scale
Continues to have impact beyond the funding period

This fund does not support ongoing service delivery, unless it is clearly testing or demonstrating a new, scalable approach.

Financial Security priorities

Financial Security means ensuring income adequacy and stability, access to essentials, and effective safety nets that prevent people from falling into poverty.

Applications should focus primarily on at least one of the following priorities:

Secure foundations
Safe, secure, appropriate and affordable access to essentials such as housing, energy, food, transport and childcare.
Secure safety net
A social security system that provides a dignified quality of life, supports people in times of crisis and enables full participation in society.
Designing‑out insecurity
Upstream interventions that prevent long‑term financial insecurity, including early debt support, affordable credit, child maintenance systems and treatment of debt to public bodies.

While Financial Security must be at the centre of the work, we recognise that poverty and trauma are experienced in complex, interconnected ways.

Who can apply

You can apply if your organisation:

Works in Scotland
Has an annual income of more than £200,000
Is one of the following:
- A registered charity
- An asset‑locked CIC limited by guarantee
- A housing association
- A credit union
Has recent independently examined or audited annual accounts.
Partnership applications are welcome, with one eligible lead organisation.
Organisations currently funded by The Robertson Trust may apply, provided the work is distinct or additional to existing grants.

Project types we support

Projects will usually focus on one or more of the following:

Feasibility and development of ideas with strong potential for change
Test and demonstration of new, scalable approaches
Advocacy, campaigning and influencing
Applied, solutions‑focused research directly linked to change

We are especially interested in work that engages with people with lived experience and focuses on priority population groups within low‑income families.

How to apply

We accept applications on a rolling basis, with no closing dates.

The application process has two stages:

Stage 1: a short application outlining your change idea
Stage 2: a longer application, by invitation only

You can only have one active application to the Big Change That Lasts Fund at a time (unless otherwise invited).

Next steps

Please read our full Big Change That Lasts Fund guidance before applying.

If you have questions or would like to discuss eligibility, you can contact us at programmes@therobertsontrust.org.uk.

Read the full guidance and apply