Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund 2023-2026
Upcoming deadline
Funding body – Scottish Government
Maximum value – £ 72,000
Application deadline – 31/03/2023
Grants are available for third-sector organisations, grassroots and community groups based in Scotland for activities that reduce social isolation and loneliness in the post covid period and to help mitigate the impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Further details
Background
The Scottish Government’s Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund is being managed by Impact Funding Partners (IFP) on behalf of the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government introduced the A Connected Scotland (2018) strategy for tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections. The vision of this strategy is a Scotland where individuals and communities are more connected, and everyone has the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships regardless of age, stage, circumstances or identity.
In tandem with the launch of this fund, the Scottish Government have released their Recovering our Connections (2023) delivery plan, which outlines how they will take forward the delivery of the A Connected Scotland strategy.
The Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund is part of the delivery plan to take the strategy forward.
Objectives of Fund
The aim of this fund is to support projects and organisations to tackle social isolation and loneliness and build stronger social connections across Scotland, in line with the A Connected Scotland (2018) strategy. The fund will also contribute to the recovery and reduction in societal harm associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, and to mitigate the impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Value Notes
Grants range from a minimum of £7,200 to £72,000 over the full funding cycle.
The fund will run over a 36-month period, from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2026.
This is broken down into four financial periods:
- Period one [1 August 2023 – 31 March 2024]
- Minimum grant: £1,600
- Maximum grant: £16,000
- Period two [1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025]
- Minimum grant: £2,400
- Maximum grant: £24,000
- Period three [1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026]
- Minimum grant: £2,400
- Maximum grant: £24,000
- Period four [1 April 2026 – 31 July 2026]
- Minimum grant: £800
- Maximum grant: £8,000
It is expected that around 70% of the funding will be allocated to smaller community organisations (with an income of below £500,000).
Who Can Apply
This is an open and competitive fund with applications accepted from:
- Third sector organisations, grassroots or community groups including unincorporated voluntary organisations, clubs, SCIOs (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations) and CICs (Community Interest Companies).
- Organisations do not need to be registered charities, although their constitution/set of rules should make clear that funds will only be spent on purposes established in the constitution, and not distributed amongst members in the event of winding up/dissolution.
- Partnership bids from two or more of the above community groups and organisations. Where sensible to do so, partnership and multi-agency working is welcomed. This includes with public bodies and local authorities, as long as the lead partner is a third sector organisation or community group.
- Organisations who will deliver activities to benefit residents of Scotland. Where an organisation applying to the fund is registered outwith Scotland, they must provide robust evidence that they have a strong track record of delivering in Scotland and that funded activities will only take place in Scotland.
- Organisations/community groups with a bank account in their own name. Those who are part of an umbrella group must have their own separate independently examined accounts and own bank account, rather than using their parent company’s.
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
- Schools or further education establishments
- Arms length organisations (ALEOs).
Eligible Expenditure
The funding will support the continuation or expansion of existing activity as well as new or pilot activity, as long as it helps to provide safe spaces for people to connect/reconnect with others.
Activities must contribute to one or more of the Fund’s four outcomes:
- Understanding increases around social isolation and loneliness and causes/impacts, along with understanding of what works to reduce it.
- Social isolation and loneliness are reduced.
- Harm resulting from the effects of social isolation and loneliness is reduced.
- The conditions which help to reduce social isolation and loneliness are increasingly widespread.
Examples of activity include, but are not limited to:
- Community programmes and projects which create opportunities for connection, and activities which will help communities to re-connect in the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Types of activity might include: befriending; provision of volunteering opportunities which benefit those groups identified as at particular risk of social isolation and loneliness; enabling under-represented groups to participate in physical activity.
- Programmes and projects which tackle barriers to connection (supporting an infrastructure that fosters connection). Types of activity here might include: building on what public libraries or other public spaces offer as community hubs /warm hubs; creating learning opportunities for social prescribers (e.g. community link workers) or third sector staff to help identify and tackle SIAL; making it easier for people to find out what opportunities are available to them.
- Activity which builds capacity within communities and community organisations to offer opportunities for connection and become more sustainable. Types of activity here might include: network/umbrella organisations providing training and development and other ongoing support to grassroots organisations tackling SIAL.
Location
Scotland
How To Apply
Applications are made in a two-stage process:
- Expression of Interest will be accepted from 8 March 2023 to 31 March 2023 and will be looked at as they are submitted. The sooner an EOI is submitted, the sooner the applicant will be notified of a decision.
- Organisations successful at Stage One will be invited to submit a full application with a closing date of 28 April 2023. Notification of decisions will be between 5 and 7 July 2023 and the funding period will run from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2026.
The guidance document, which contains the eligibility criteria and each question in the EOI form, and the online Expression of Interest form can be found on the Impact Funding Partners (IFP) website.
Contact Impact Funding Partners for further information.
Available Funding – Impact Funding Partners
Milissa McCulloch | External Funding Officer | Community Engagement & Development |Thriving Communities | Strategic Change and Communities | 07796630694|
Milissa.mcculloch@south-ayrshire.gov.uk| South Ayrshire Council | The Grain Exchange | High St | AYR| KA7 1PZ
Milissa McCulloch | oifigear maoineachaidh | Com-pàirteachadh Coimhearsnachdan | Coimhearsnachdan Soirbheachail| Daoine Tùr Uallais | 07796630694|
Milissa.mcculloch@south-ayrshire.gov.uk| South Ayrshire Council |