Supporting Resilience Fund: New offer for Small Grant holders

Small Grant Holders can now apply for up to £10,000 in additional funding to strengthen organisational and staff resilience.

This new Funder Plus offer has been shaped by feedback from grant holders and learning from our monitoring and consultancy support. 

Through our Plus Fund pilot last year, we were also able to build a deeper understanding of the pressures organisations face around growing financial uncertainty, capacity and staff wellbeing. This pilot, which influenced the Supporting Resilience Fund, provided funding for activities focused on: 

  • Training for senior management on effective leadership and decision-making 

  • Board training to support the development of new social enterprises 

  • CRM systems to enable effective client management and data capture for resource planning 

  • Developing and embedding new business plans and organisational strategies 

  • Staff wellbeing initiatives, first aid and safety training 

What is the Supporting Resilience Fund?

The Supporting Resilience Fund offers £2,000–£10,000 to Small Grant Holders to invest in work that strengthens their organisation from the inside. 

This funding is for organisational and staff resilience rather than programme delivery. It is intended to support internal development, creating space to address pressures that are often difficult to fund but are essential for long-term sustainability. 

We are prioritising Small Grant Holders in recognition that these organisations often have fewer reserves and less flexibility to invest in resilience-building activity. 

What could the fund support? 

The fund can support a wide range of activity aimed at strengthening your organisation’s foundations, including:

  • Leadership, governance and strategic planning 

  • Financial planning, systems and infrastructure 

  • Organisational development and sustainability planning 

  • Staff and volunteer wellbeing, particularly in high-pressure or trauma-informed environments 

 

How to apply

If you are within the first two years of your Small Grant award and have an idea that would help build your organisation’s resilience, please email funderplus@therobertsontrust.org.uk with a short description (around 2–3 sentences) of the work you would like us to consider. 

For example: 

  • We would like to apply for funding for a new CRM system to improve our resource management. 

  • We would like to send two new members of our senior management team on training in strategic planning and organisational development to support long-term succession planning. 

  • Our staff are experiencing increasing levels of conflict and risk of physical harm, and we would like funding for self-defence training and building security improvements. 

A Funding Officer will then review your enquiry and, if eligible, send you a link to a short application form. 

You can read the full guidance here. 

Speak to the team  

We will be hosting a series of online Q&A sessions over the next 2 months which can be booked using the links below: 

  • Thursday 29th January 11am-12pm 

  • Thursday 12th February 11am-12pm 

  • Tuesday 17th February 2pm-3pm 

  • Thursday 26th February 2pm-3pm 

Book a slot here. 

Below are some of the key areas where charities often experience challenges, alongside practical resources to help:

Poor governance can lead to unclear decision-making, power struggles, and organisational conflict. Strengthening governance structures is essential for stability and trust.  

Resources:  

  • Building Financial Resilience Looking to boost your charity’s financial health? This tool will match you with the guidance your charity needs  

  • GovernanceWiki designed to demystify governance and make it more accessible. The platform offers clear, up-to-date guidance on a wide range of topics including legal obligations, board responsibilities, compliance, and risk management.  

Burnout is a growing concern in the charity sector, especially where resources are stretched. Proactive strategies can protect staff wellbeing, reduce staff absences and improve retention.  

Resources:  

  • Free wellness action plan template | Mind The Wellness Action Plan developed by Mind are an easy and practical way of helping both individuals and employers understand mental health at work  

Effective resource planning ensures that people, finances, and assets are allocated efficiently, reducing stress and improving sustainability.  

Resources:  

Regular health checks help charities identify gaps in governance, finance, and operations, ensuring compliance and best practice.  

Resources:  

Lorna Wallace
Lorna Wallace