Please note that, if you have an application in progress with us, we will notify you of the outcome of this via email. We do our best to assess new applications within our published deadlines, but if there are any changes to this, we'll either communicate this in advance and/or notify applicants on an individual basis.
£1,138,000 was awarded to 40 organisations in February 2025, with a success rate of 51%.
Each of the organisations below demonstrated in their application how their work is contributing to the alleviation of poverty and trauma in Scotland.
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Award Focus - Instant Neighbour
"Instant Neighbour is a charitable organisation that has been supporting local communities in Aberdeen City and Shire for over 40 years. Our mission is centered on providing practical solutions to some of life's most pressing challenges through vital services that are designed to empower our community and foster resilience.
Our wrap-around support ensures that individuals who use our food bank are not just provided with essential support, but are also signposted to other forms of assistance including debt management, employment and housing support.
We also operate two physical shops and an online store, which sells an array of nearly new furniture and household goods. Beyond the sales, our spaces serve as a point of community engagement, connecting individuals with the resources and support that they need.
In every endeavour, Instant Neighbour aims to provide hope and dignity, empowering individuals to overcome adversity while championing sustainability and social equity within the communities that we serve." Sophy Green, Chief Executive of Instant Neighbour.
Our Funding team said: "Instant Neighbour is a well-established charity in Aberdeen, tackling poverty for low-income individuals and families that are experiencing issues such as unemployment, poor mental health, family breakdown, domestic abuse, and housing insecurity. Their work has a strong alignment with our Financial Security theme, where we want to support greater income adequacy and security, reduce the cost of living pressure, and strengthen safety nets to ensure people are lifted out of and do not fall into poverty. We are pleased to be supporting the work of Instant Neighbour over the next three years and look forward to learning from their work." Michael Smart, Funding Officer.
Financial Security
Through our Financial Security theme, we want to fund, support, and influence to improve income adequacy, income security, reduce cost-related pressures on finances, and improve financial safety nets for people in financial trouble.
February 2025:
Primary Priority: Struggling with day-to-day costs
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Large Grant | West Lothian Foodbank | Running costs of West Lothian Foodbank | £105,000 | West Lothian |
| Large Grant | Broke Not Broken | Running Costs of Broke Not Broken | £105,000 | Perth and Kinross |
| Large Grant | Instant Neighbour | Running costs of the foodbank and Community Connector role | £84,000 | Aberdeen City |
| Large Grant | SHAX | Cost of providing Starter Packs | £69,000 | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Community Transport | The Gate Charity | The Salary Costs of the Driver and Transport Costs | £19,500 | Clackmannanshire |
| Community Transport | Pregnancy Counselling & Care (Scotland) | Salary costs for van driver | £18,000 | Edinburgh City |
| Wee Grant | NappiRunz | Running costs | £3,000 | East Lothian; Edinburgh City; Midlothian; West Lothian |
Primary Priority: Access to advice, support and advocacy
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Large Grant | Gordon Rural Action | Running Costs of the Community Support and Advice Hub | £75,000 | Aberdeenshire |
| Wee Grant | North East Glasgow Framework for Dialogue | Running Costs | £5,000 | Glasgow City |
| Wee Grant | Self-Directed Support Network South Lanarkshire | Running Costs | £3,000 | South Lanarkshire |
Nurturing Relationships
We want to see a Scotland where people, families and communities can thrive and not be trapped in cycles of poverty and trauma. We want to support nurturing relationships within families and communities, to help break the cycle between persistent poverty and intergenerational trauma, and support recovery.
February 2025:
Primary Priority: Crisis Support, Family breakdown, Domestic abuse
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Community Transport | Stirling and District Women's Aid | The Transport Costs of the Outreach Service | £20,000 | Stirling |
Primary Priority: Addressing homelessness, substance misuse, offending
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Community Transport | Steps to Hope SCIO | Towards the capital costs of a van | £15,000 | Edinburgh City; West Lothian |
Education Pathways
The ultimate aim of the Education Pathways theme is to help shape an education system that maximises its contribution to wellbeing, is trauma informed with the aim of preventing and reducing poverty in Scotland.
December and January:
Primary Priority: Educational Engagement
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Large Grant | Toonspeak Young People's Theatre | Running costs of Toonspeak Young People's Theatre | £78,000 | Glasgow City |
| Community Transport | Toonspeak Young People's Theatre | Transport Costs (excluding the Taxi service) | £18,000 | Glasgow City |
| Wee Grant | Stirling Community Media SCIO | Running costs of Stirling Community Media | £2,000 | Stirling |
Primary Priority: Educational Attainment
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Large Grant | The Larder West Lothian | The Power to Grow Programme | £120,000 | West Lothian |
| Small Grant | Ayrshire Communities Education and Sport | Towards the salary costs of PT Project Coordinator & PT Cook, and on costs. | £36,000 | North Ayrshire |
| Wee Grant | 8th Airdrie Boys Brigade | Outdoor Activity Program | £2,000 | North Lanarkshire |
| Wee Grant | The Destiny Project SCIO | Towards the Young Ambassador Programme (YAP) costs | £2,000 | East Lothian; Edinburgh City |
Primary Priority: Engagement of parent and family members
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Large Grant | Tailor Ed Foundation | The Salary Cost of The Early Years Project Support Worker | £63,000 | East Lothian; Edinburgh City |
Work Pathways
Through our Work Pathways theme, we aim to ensure work can be a better route out of poverty by tackling the drivers of in-work poverty, and supporting key population groups who are underrepresented in the labour market, and overrepresented in low paid, insecure work.
Primary Priority: Skills for employment
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Small Grant | Sunny Govan Community Media Group | The salary costs of the Employability Worker | £60,000 | Glasgow City |
| Small Grant | Mamacita Foundation | The salary costs of the Employability and Advocacy Coordinator | £20,000 | Aberdeen City |
Primary Priority: Addressing barriers to employment/ training
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Large Grant | Montrose Community Trust | The Sports Employability Programme (SEP) | £66,000 | Aberdeenshire; Angus; Dundee City |
Preventing or reducing poverty at a community level
| Funding Type | Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Community Transport | South West Community Transport | Running costs (excluding the Patient Transport service) | £36,000 | Glasgow City |
| Community Space | Printfield Community Project/Forum | Running Costs | £30,000 | Aberdeen City |
| Community Space | Hyperclub | Running Costs | £30,000 | Fife |
| Community Transport | Cranhill Development Trust | The Costs of an Electric Vehicle | £20,000 | Glasgow City |
| Wee Grant | Perth Hope Hub | Wooden Furniture Workshops | £3,000 | Perth and Kinross |
| Wee Grant | Aberchirder Village Hall, SCIO | Running costs | £3,000 | Aberdeenshire |
| Wee Grant | The Base | Running Costs | £3,000 | Midlothian |
| Wee Grant | Livity Youth Scotland | Running Costs | £3,000 | Edinburgh City |
| Wee Grant | Adoption And Fostering Group Angus | Young Driver Lessons | £3,000 | Angus |
| Wee Grant | Rise Up Glasgow | The Women's Trauma & Abuse Awareness & Recovery Programme | £3,000 | Glasgow City |
| Wee Grant | Stramash Stornoway | Running Costs | £2,800 | Western Isles |
| Wee Grant | LightHouse Football Club (Also known as LHFC) | Running Costs | £2,500 | Glasgow City |
| Wee Grant | B.J.O. Amara Association | The Costs of Work in Scotland | £2,500 | Glasgow City |
| Wee Grant | Highpark Parent Council | The Costs of Summer Trips | £2,500 | Glasgow City |
| Wee Grant | Little Art Hub (LAH) | Running costs | £2,000 | Scottish Borders |
| Wee Grant | Killin and District Volunteer Car Scheme | Running Costs | £2,000 | Stirling |
| Wee Grant | Lanark Men's Shed | Running Costs | £2,000 | South Lanarkshire |
Wee Grants
- For constituted community groups and charities with an annual income of less than £30,000
- Funding of up to £5,000 for one year only
- Could cover revenue* or capital costs to support your work.
February 2024:
| Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| North East Glasgow Framework for Dialogue | Running Costs | £5,000 | Glasgow City |
| Perth Hope Hub | Wooden Furniture Workshops | £3,000 | Perth and Kinross |
| Aberchirder Village Hall, SCIO | Running costs | £3,000 | Aberdeenshire |
| The Base | Running Costs | £3,000 | Midlothian |
| Livity Youth Scotland | Running Costs | £3,000 | Edinburgh City |
| NappiRunz | Running costs | £3,000 | East Lothian; Edinburgh City; Midlothian; West Lothian |
| Self-Directed Support Network South Lanarkshire | Running Costs | £3,000 | South Lanarkshire |
| Adoption And Fostering Group Angus | Young Driver Lessons | £3,000 | Angus |
| Rise Up Glasgow | The Women's Trauma & Abuse Awareness & Recovery Programme | £3,000 | Glasgow City |
| Stramash Stornoway | Running Costs | £2,800 | Western Isles |
| LightHouse Football Club (Also known as LHFC) | Running Costs | £2,500 | Glasgow City |
| B.J.O. Amara Association | The Costs of Work in Scotland | £2,500 | Glasgow City |
| Highpark Parent Council | The Costs of Summer Trips | £2,500 | Glasgow City |
| 8th Airdrie Boys Brigade | Outdoor Activity Program | £2,000 | North Lanarkshire |
| The Destiny Project SCIO | Towards the Young Ambassador Programme (YAP) costs | £2,000 | East Lothian; Edinburgh City |
| Little Art Hub (LAH) | Running costs | £2,000 | Scottish Borders |
| Killin and District Volunteer Car Scheme | Running Costs | £2,000 | Stirling |
| Stirling Community Media SCIO | Running costs of Stirling Community Media | £2,000 | Stirling |
| Lanark Men's Shed | Running Costs | £2,000 | South Lanarkshire |
Community Spaces
- Funding to support local communities experiencing poverty and trauma in Scotland.
- Registered charities with an annual income of between £30,000 and £500,000 are eligible to apply.
- Can provide revenue funding of between £5,000 and £20,000 per year, for up to 3 years, to support the costs of community centres, hubs or anchor organisations who are delivering and/or hosting a range of services and activities to meet the needs of their community. Applicants should show how the various services they deliver and/or host relate to preventing or reducing poverty and trauma for local people.
February 2025:
| Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Printfield Community Project/Forum | Running Costs | £30,000 | Aberdeen City |
| Hyperclub | Running Costs | £30,000 | Fife |
Transport Grants
- For registered charities with an annual income of between £30,000 and £2 million
- Funding of between £5,000 and £20,000 per year, for 1-3 years, to contribute towards the costs of transport to support your work.
February 2025:
| Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| South West Community Transport | Running costs (excluding the Patient Transport service) | £36,000 | Glasgow City |
| Cranhill Development Trust | The Costs of an Electric Vehicle | £20,000 | Glasgow City |
| Stirling and District Women's Aid | The Transport Costs of the Outreach Service | £20,000 | Stirling |
| The Gate Charity | The Salary Costs of the Driver and Transport Costs | £19,500 | Clackmannanshire |
| Pregnancy Counselling & Care (Scotland) | Salary costs for van driver | £18,000 | Edinburgh City |
| Toonspeak Young People's Theatre | Transport Costs (excluding the Taxi service) | £18,000 | Glasgow City |
| Steps to Hope SCIO | Towards the capital costs of a van | £15,000 | Edinburgh City; West Lothian |
Small Grants
- For registered charities with an annual income of between £30,000 and £200,000.
- Revenue funding of between £5,000 and £20,000 per year, for up to five years.
- Unrestricted or restricted funding.
- Can include the costs of equipment to support your work.
February 2025:
| Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| Sunny Govan Community Media Group | The salary costs of the Employability Worker | £60,000 | Glasgow City |
| Ayrshire Communities Education and Sport | Towards the salary costs of PT Project Coordinator & PT Cook, and on costs. | £36,000 | North Ayrshire |
| Mamacita Foundation | The salary costs of the Employability and Advocacy Coordinator | £20,000 | Aberdeen City |
Large Grants
- For registered charities with an annual income of over £200,000 and up to £2 million.
- Revenue funding of between £20,000 and £50,000 per year, for up to five years.
- Unrestricted or restricted funding.
- Can include the costs of equipment to support your work.
February 2025:
| Organisation Name | Funding Request | Total Amount Awarded | Project Location |
| The Larder West Lothian | The Power to Grow Programme | £120,000 | West Lothian |
| West Lothian Foodbank | Running costs of West Lothian Foodbank | £105,000 | West Lothian |
| Broke Not Broken | Running Costs of Broke Not Broken | £105,000 | Perth and Kinross |
| Instant Neighbour | Running costs of the foodbank and Community Connector role | £84,000 | Aberdeen City |
| Toonspeak Young People's Theatre | Running costs of Toonspeak Young People's Theatre | £78,000 | Glasgow City |
| Gordon Rural Action | Running Costs of the Community Support and Advice Hub | £75,000 | Aberdeenshire |
| SHAX | Cost of providing Starter Packs | £69,000 | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Montrose Community Trust | The Sports Employability Programme (SEP) | £66,000 | Aberdeenshire; Angus; Dundee City |
| Tailor Ed Foundation | The Salary Cost of The Early Years Project Support Worker | £63,000 | East Lothian; Edinburgh City |
Download our report here.
The most common decline reason was that the applicant’s request was not clearly linked to reducing or preventing poverty and trauma for the people they support, in line with our funding themes and priorities. 68% of unsuccessful applications were declined for this reason. We are interested in supporting organisations whose work clearly addresses our funding themes (and priorities), which we detail within the applicant guidance for each of our Funds. For some more examples of the types of work we have supported recently, please see our latest awards here.
The second most common reason was that the applicant applied for ineligible costs. 16% of unsuccessful applications were declined for this reason. We list costs and activities which we cannot support in the applicant guidance for each of our Funds and would encourage organisations to refer to this when considering applying.
If you have any questions about applying for Our Funds, please contact us on 0141 353 4321 or funding@therobertsontrust.org.uk.
