We believe that building our know-how and making progress towards equity, diversity, participation and rights (EDPR) are critical for delivering our mission. Find out more about how we are embedding EDPR across our work.
The Advancing Racial Justice (ARJ) Fund was created to address the systemic underfunding and exclusion of Black and People of Colour (BPoC)-led organisations in Scotland.
The Fund has been codesigned by The Robertson Trust and people and organisations leading grassroots work by and for BPoC in Scotland. You can read more about the development of the Fund here.
The Fund will support anti-racism work that focuses on systemic change. It will offer multi-year grants of £10,000–£40,000 per year for three years, plus an initial £10,000 for project design. It will be open to registered charities, unconstituted groups and CICs that are BPoC-led with annual incomes under £200,000.
We are now looking for community members to get involved in the Fund as advisors, forming a Leadership Group and a Decision-Making Panel. Both of these groups will play a central part in guiding the delivery of the ARJ Fund and helping to ensure that it remains rooted in the lived experiences, priorities, and leadership of BPoC communities in Scotland.
We particularly encourage interest from community leaders and individuals deeply familiar with the context and experiences of racialised communities in Scotland.
We are aware that many people rule themselves out of leadership and decision-making opportunities because they underestimate their ability to do the role. With this in mind, we strongly encourage expressions of interest from anyone who is prepared to learn and grow and would like to stress that no candidate is expected to demonstrate all of the criteria.
The closing date for applications is 9am, Monday 12th January.
Informal conversations for us to hear more about your interest in participating and the insights you bring are scheduled to be held online or in person on Wednesday 14th January.
You can read more about each of groups in the drop down buttons below.
This group will have shared responsibility with The Robertson Trust for strategic decision-making in the fund. The group will play a major part in community outreach and the fund’s learning and evaluation process.
You might be a grassroots community leader or work in the third sector, be involved in community organising, activism or campaigning, be a socially engaged artist or researcher, or have gained insights through working in care or in schools or in other places where we come into contact with the systems that shape our lives. What is important is that you have a deep understanding of systemic racism and an awareness of how this informs your perspective and approach.
The Leadership Group will not be involved in assessing applications, which will instead be carried out by staff members and a separate decision-making panel.
The Leadership Group involves:
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Ensuring the ARJ Fund remains rooted in the lived experiences, priorities, and leadership of BPoC communities in Scotland.
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Upholding the mission and principles of the ARJ Fund.
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Making strategic and long-term decisions about the ARJ Fund, in partnership with the Enabling Group (senior representatives from The Robertson Trust and other sector representatives).
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Supporting outreach, engagement, and community leadership activities connected to the ARJ Fund, including an annual systems change event.
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Providing challenge and support to The Robertson Trust’s internal anti-racism journey, particularly around bringing learning from the ARJ Fund into broader practice.
More information and how to apply for this opportunity can be found in our Information Pack.
This panel will be made up of community members who have a deep understanding of systemic racism and its impacts on communities, institutions or funding systems. You will play a central role in shaping which projects receive funding, ensuring decisions reflect community priorities and values.
We will meet in February 2026 for training and codesign activities with application assessments and decision meeting taking place May – August 2026.
The Decision-Making Panel involves:
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Reviewing and assessing funding applications from BPoC-led organisations proposing systems change projects.
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Working collaboratively with other panel members, the ARJ Funding Officer, and The Robertson Trust staff to make recommendations and final decisions.
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Co-designing assessment criteria and shared decision-making principles.
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Ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the decision-making process.
More information and how to apply for this opportunity can be found in our Information Pack.
How to apply
You are welcome to apply for both the Leadership Group and the Decision-Making Panel, but successful applicants will only be able to participate in one of these groups.
If you are part of an organisation, your organisation may want to apply for the ARJ Fund itself.
To maintain fairness and transparency, and avoid conflicts of interest:
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Members of the Leadership Group can apply for the ARJ Fund.
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Members of the Decision-Making Panel cannot apply for ARJ Fund.
If you are unsure whether your circumstances present a conflict of interest, or you have enquiries related to applying to the Fund, please get in touch with the Advancing Racial Justice Funding Officer, Martha Williams: arj@therobertsontrust.org.uk