Scotland’s community foundation partners with thirteen charities to provide £1 million to deliver Covid related support

Charities across Scotland are set to benefit from a split of over £1 million to provide support during the pandemic.

Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, has awarded the money through thirteen new strategic response grants, funded in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust.

The charities include the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Refugee Council.

The new funding adds to the £3.6 million already awarded nationwide to over 900 grassroots organisations via the Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund.

Launched in March, the community foundation’s crisis fund was the first source of community funding to open as Covid-19 took hold of the country.

Working in partnership with other major Scottish funders such the Scottish Government and SCVO, Foundation Scotland chairs the newly-established Scottish Emergency Funding Advisory Board (SEFAB) which brings together essential expertise to recognise, assess and identify the key priorities for funding across the country.

In total, the funders have identified nine priority funding themes and they work together to ensure all needs are adequately addressed.

Examples include support for those with poor or worsening mental health, those with poor access to critical services or care, those experiencing bereavement and support for those in poverty or at risk of poverty or destitution.

Mental health challenges have been widely recognised as a key area of need throughout the crisis.

In recognition of this, the SAMH will receive a Foundation Scotland strategic grant of over £100,000.

This essential funding is to specifically support SAMH’s new work with Five Areas Ltd (Living Life to the Full) and Glasgow Caledonian University.

Together these three organisations will provide three tiers of mental health support needed for 4,000 key workers.

For the next twelve months, SAMH staff will work alongside Glasgow Caledonian University trainee psychologists to deliver psychological support to frontline workers, who worked throughout lockdown to keep us all safe.

Based on a remote working model, the workers will be able to access online psychological support from Living Life to the Full, which is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based approach to help people improve their wellbeing and resilience.

They will also receive regular one to one support for up to eight weeks, as well as check-ins throughout their journey.

Graeme Henderson, Executive Director of Delivery and Strategic Development at SAMH, said: “SAMH is committed to making sure people get the mental health support and information they need, when they need it.

“Frontline workers have been under considerable pressure in recent months and we would like to thank Foundation Scotland for providing this funding, so that we can help these staff who have worked tirelessly under very difficult circumstances.”

Dr Bryan McCann, Lecturer in Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “As the University for the Common Good, Glasgow Caledonian University seeks to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve.

“Foundation Scotland’s funding will allow us to work in partnership with SAMH to deploy our trainee psychologists in support of frontline workers’ mental health.”

Professor Chris Williams, Director of Living Life to the Full, commented: “This is a challenging time for all of us, and as a community we need to look at ways of maintaining and rebuilding wellbeing.

“Health workers give so much to others, and the danger is they don’t slow down, stop, think and reflect on their own needs. This project is there for them.”

Helen Wray, Programmes Manager at Foundation Scotland, said: “We are incredibly proud of these new awards which will make a significant impact across the Third Sector.

“This level of strategic support will enable these charities to deliver the essential support needed to help some of the most vulnerable who are suffering through the crisis.

“We understand that charities across the country are struggling more than ever to raise the funds they need, and at the same time many are experiencing increased demand for their services.

“It’s an unnerving time for many. We would encourage other groups to check our website for further funding programmes.

“We’re also keen to engage with new potential funders whose donations will enable Foundation Scotland to extend this vital support even further within Scotland’s hardest hit communities.”

For more details about Foundation Scotland visit foundationscotland.org.uk