Additional support
Alongside grant funding, we also offer non-financial support to enable grant holders to strengthen their capacity, skills and capabilities in different areas. We call this Funder Plus support. We also provide some support to third sector organisations more broadly. We call this Wider Sector Support.
On this page you will details of the programme of support we offer. Some of the offers are open to all third sector organisations and some are only for our current grant holders (i.e. organisations who have received confirmation of an award or who have received their last grant payment within the last 12 months). The information below includes what the purpose of the support is, who can access it, and how. For grant holders, all of the support is completely optional and it is up to you whether you decide to access it.
You can find details of additional support and resources that could be available to you on our ‘Useful links and Resources’ page here.
If you have any ideas for changes or improvements we could make to our support offer, please contact us at TRTComms@therobertsontrust.org.uk
We provide high-quality, modern spaces for working and meeting, at affordable rates. The purpose of this support is to ensure third sector organisations have access to space and opportunities to meet, work and innovate towards solutions that help us advance our mission.
Scope: Grant holders with a current award from the Robertson Trust, can access 2x free-of-charge bookings each year at The Barracks Conference Centre (Stirling). In addition, we can also offer reduced accommodation rates for any charities looking to rent office space in Robertson House (Glasgow).
How to access: More information is provided in our Facilities hire page. If you make a request for a free-of-charge booking at The Barracks, please quote your grant reference number in your inquiry.
By providing support to upskill staff and volunteers across our grant holders, they are empowered to make more informed digital decisions and better serve the people and communities they support. We are working with two leading partners for the delivery of digital support for grant holders – Third Sector Lab and SCVO.
Delivery Partner: Third Sector Lab
Scope:
- The Curve - a series of free, 90-minute digital training 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. Workshops are open to anyone working or volunteering with a third sector organisation in the UK.
- Digital Trustees – monthly matchmaking events and sharing resources and experiences, to connect charities and professionals from tech, data, design, IT and other digital backgrounds.
- The Open Working Programme – cohort of twenty charities on an 8-week programme to transform the way they communicate. It provides a space for people to share best-practice, lessons learned and beyond and helps funders who want to build a culture of transparency and accountability.
How to access: If you would like to participate in these programmes, you can simply follow the links above or via Third Sector Lab’s website here to register for training or access a place on one of these programmes. You can register for training or a place on one of these programmes by following the links above or via Third Sector Lab’s website here.
Delivery Partner: SCVO
Scope: We are supporting SCVO’s Digital Support Services that include a direct delivery programme (including training and events) as well as online tools and resources. These include topics like Digital Inclusion, Cyber Resilience, and a Digital Check-up tool. This will enable you to assess your organisation’s current digital maturity and plan a route ahead. All of this, along with details of their Digital training and events (DigiShift) are free to access for Robertson Trust grant holders. We hope that these resources will create high impact changes which organisations of any size can implement with minimal external support.
How to access: If you would like to access any of these resources or participate in these programmes, you can access them on SCVO’s website here.
We are aware that grant holders are keen to have opportunities for Peer Learning with other third sector organisations. The purpose of this support is to provide grant holders with the opportunity to participate in an online space for learning, collaboration and showcasing new ideas.
Delivery Partner: We have partnered with The Lens to offer 800 grant holders access to PRISM, an online space for learning, collaboration and celebrating success.
Scope: We have partnered with The Lens to offer 800 grant holders access to PRISM, an online space for learning, collaboration and celebrating success. Hosted on Community Lab, PRISM has been designed as an online space for organisations to learn how to turn their idea into action, collaborate across traditional organisational boundaries and showcase social innovations. There is a private group dedicated to our grant holders and users will also have access to over 16 hours of our learning content. We hope that it will provide you with an opportunity to come together with peers to discuss any challenges you are facing and identify potential solutions.
More information: We are currently raising awareness of this offer and we plan to deliver ‘Welcome Sessions’, which will provide you with the opportunity to meet your peers, and make sure you have all the support and knowledge you need to get started. More information will be provided to registered members on PRISM.
How to access: The Robertson Trust group on PRISM has already been set-up and the link to register and join is available here.
The purpose of this support is to provide help for grant holders where there is a need for external support or intervention to enhance your planning and/or strategic thinking.
Delivery Partner: Community Enterprise can provide this support to our grant holders upon referral by The Robertson Trust.
Scope: Organisational Development support encompass a wide range of activities aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of grant holder. This support is designed to act quickly and help grant holders overcome critical or immediate challenges, improving their operations, and maximising their impact. We believe that such support is crucial for the growth and sustainability of our grant holders.
Exclusions: This support excludes HR support including redundancy, contract writing, representation or grievance/disciplinary procedures, advice on VAT implications and appraisals, accountancy or payroll systems and indemnified legal advice
How to access: If you would like to have a conversation about this or discuss a potential referral for your organisation or project, please contact lorna.wallace@therobertsontrust.org.uk.