Since relaunching in October 2020, The Robertson Trust has funded over £140,000 through Wee Grants to 79 registered charities and constituted community groups working to support people who are experiencing poverty and/or trauma.
Wee Grants is aimed at grassroots organisations working to support their communities at a local level through a community-led approach.
Organisations we have supported through Wee Grants include:
- Tweed Togs, a charity which provides bags of recycled, preloved clothes donated by the local community to children and families experiencing hardship across the Scottish Borders.
- Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels, a volunteer run community group based in West Dunbartonshire which provides essential food parcels to vulnerable people affected by food poverty.
- Belvidere Village Community Group, a constituted group based in the east end of Glasgow, which brings together local residents including the young, elderly, infirm and those with additional support needs to alleviate social isolation and develop skills.
- Addiction Recovery Centre, a charity based in East Dunbartonshire which provides support for people and their families affected by addition to alcohol, drugs or gambling.
- Shettleston Men’s Shed, a charity based in the East End of Glasgow which provides social and recreational opportunities for socially isolated men.
- Made With Love MJM, a constituted group based in Clydebank, which aims to alleviate food poverty through a community cafe, a community pantry, the provision of packed lunches and hampers for local people.
You can view a full list of all Wee Grants funded to date here.
I know I speak on behalf of all those working on the Wee Grants programme when I say we thoroughly enjoy reviewing the wide range of applications we receive. It’s inspiring to hear about new projects and existing work from organisations addressing issues in their local communities, from food poverty to social isolation and engaging local people in activities which promote inclusion, equality and kindness. Whether it's Men’s Sheds, Food Pantries or support for marginalised groups and those most vulnerable and isolated in the community, we know from the applications we receive the need for these projects at a local level.
Top tips when applying for a Wee Grant
Completing a funding application might feel a little daunting, especially if it is your first time, so we have tried to make the process as simple as possible. With this in mind, we wanted to share some advice for potential applicants based on what we have seen over the past three months.
- Read the guidance before you apply. 80% of applicants declined for a Wee Grant were because the applicant organisation wasn’t eligible to apply, or the work did not fit with one of our three funding themes. We strongly recommend you read the guidance before making an application to make the best use of your time and give you a better chance of success. You can find this on our website here. We’ve done our best to make sure the guidance is clear and accessible. However, if you have any feedback on this, we’d welcome the chance to talk to you about it. We are also happy to answer any queries you may have over eligibility or potential fit of the work; you can email us at weegrants@therobertsontrust.org.uk or call us on 0141 353 7300 for a chat.
- Avoid using jargon. Simplicity is a good thing; it increases clarity and readability. We want you to tell us in your own words what it is that you do, who you support and what difference you will make in your community.
- Make sure you upload all documents asked for in the application, such as a bank statement or accounts, and that the documents are clear and can be read. If we don’t receive the documents, or if these are unclear, we won’t be able to make a decision on your application. We’ll get in touch with you to request these, however it may delay the length of time it takes for you to receive our decision.
Meet with the Wee Grants Team
Do you want to have a chat about a potential Wee Grant application? As part of our commitment to providing support for potential applicants, we will be hosting a day of 1:1 sessions on Thursday 4th March.
During your session, you will meet with a member of our Wee Grants team who will provide you with advice and support on making an application.
Sessions can take place on Teams, Zoom or a phone call, depending on your preference, and will last a maximum of 45 minutes.
Wee Grants are open to constituted community groups and registered charities working to alleviate poverty and/ or trauma in Scotland, and who have an annual income of under £25K. Find out more about Wee Grants our other funds here.
Case Study
We have funded a lot of great organisations since relaunching our Wee Grants fund, and recently spoke with one of the recipients, Inverkeithing Trust, to find out more about their work and the impact they are working towards in their community.
Opened in June 2020, The Pantry is run by Inverkeithing Trust and is part of the FareShare Scotland scheme which aims to prevent food surplus from supermarkets going to waste. We recently awarded the Trust a £2,000 Wee Grant towards the costs of purchasing a new commercial freezer.
You can find out more about the organisation on their website.