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From the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic funding was made available to the voluntary sector to support work across Scotland. This was provided through a mixture of independent funders, UK wide emergency funds and Scottish Government Funding.
The Scottish Government alone announced a £350 million package of support during the pandemic to help those most in need in our communities covering welfare, food, and recovery and resilience. SCVO were directly involved in delivering over £70 million of funding through the Community Recovery Programme and Wellbeing Fund. Over 3,500 awards were made to support organisations throughout the country to continue working in their communities and support people through the pandemic.
The Third Sector Resilience Fund supported organisations through the initial lockdown period with over £20 million awarded across more than 1,300 grants. Anchor organisations were supported through the Supporting Communities Fund ensuring that more than 400 organisations could coordinate a local response to the pandemic.
The speed and simplified approach to funding during the period helped the sector continue to deliver support where it was needed. Funders from Government to Local Authorities and Independent Funders pulled together and worked collaboratively to ensure funding reached where it needed to be as quickly as possible.
£7 million in funds was distributed to 1,400 charities and community groups across Scotland through the Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRR Fund). The fund aimed to provide funding to local and grassroots organisations supporting Scotland’s most affected and vulnerable people during the pandemic.
Evaluation: Evaluation of the Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund (Phases 2 & 3)
You can see who was funded through the RRR Fund using the Where we’ve funded page on the Foundation Scotland website.
£1 million in funds was distributed to small community and voluntary groups not accessing other Covid funding to support delivery of activities connecting and supporting people within their local communities.
£600,000 was distributed in the first phase with the second phase closing to applications September 2021 to distribute the remaining £400,000.
As part of the Scottish Government’s £350 million Coronavirus package, £40 million was earmarked to support communities through various delivery mechanisms including the Supporting Communities fund and direct grants.
The Scottish Government worked directly with anchor organisations in communities to target funding where it was needed. Over £16 million in awards were made through the fund.
Grants awarded: 360 Giving – Supporting Communities Fund
£22 million was awarded to over 1,300 recipients to support voluntary organisations whose ability to raise income was affected by lockdown. The fund ensured that organisations could pay essential costs such as rent, utilities and staffing costs.
Evaluation: Third Sector Resilience Fund: Analysis of Applications and Awards
Grants Awarded: 360 Giving – Third Sector resilience Fund
As part of the Scottish Government’s £350 million Covid relief package, the Wellbeing Fund distributed over £27.6 million to over 2,000 organisations across the country providing services to those people who were most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The fund supported mental health and wellbeing for vulnerable communities.
Evaluation: Wellbeing Fund: Analysis of Awards
The Community & Third Sector Recovery Programme included business support and investment to help organisations adapt to new ways of working and become sustainable as they continue to support people and communities in response to the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
The programme was delivered over two strands, Adapt & Thrive building capacity to help organisations adapt, change and thrive post COVID-19, and the Community Recovery Fund delivering support and services in communities.
Adapt & Thrive recently closed with over £30 million awarded across nearly 900 organisations. The Community Recovery Fund continues to make awards through a targeted approach with over £13.6 million awarded to nearly 700 organisations so far.
