£1 Million Fund Offers Child Poverty Projects In Scotland A Hand Up

The Innovation Fund (TIF), a collaboration between the Scottish Government and venture philanthropy, The Hunter Foundation (THF), has announced up to £1 million that will be
invested in up to ten organisations to support ambitious work tackling child poverty.

Applications are open to projects across Scotland that are either at the ideas stage with significant substantiation or already being delivered and can demonstrate clear benefits to address child poverty. The ambition of all plans must be the delivery of increases in income or the reduction of costs for families living in poverty.

TIF is a commitment set out in Every Child, Every Chance: The Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan (2018). Applications can be made by community, local charity groups or Local Authorities, health boards or any statutory service with ambitious, yet feasible plans to combat child poverty in their
area.

Communities Secretary Angela Constance said;
“We want to tackle child poverty and ensure the very best outcomes for children today, and generations to come. As a government, we are taking bold action through our Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, but we need to work together to make a difference. We want to ensure that if actions to tackle poverty are working well in some communities, they can be shared elsewhere so more children and families can benefit. Government can’t end child poverty on our own – so partnerships are vital to make change happen.”

Sir Tom Hunter, chairman of THF added;
“This is about providing a hand up, not a hand out, engaging local communities with people who can make a real difference. The fund’s priority is to meet the needs of families and carers and up to £100,000 per organisation can make a real difference. Its time Scotland changed the dynamic on poverty and set about leading the world in its eradication.”

TIF is looking to fund either:

• New and innovative approaches that will have an impact on reducing child poverty by 2030 in a way that helps families to remain out of poverty for a minimum 3 year period and that is viable and sustainable practice for public sector/third sector; or
• Expansion of existing proven approaches to reducing child poverty that will again have an impact on reducing child poverty by 2030 and in a way that families can remain out of poverty for a minimum 3 years and that organisations involved can sustain. Applications open today and will close at midnight on June 29th 2018 with awards being made, subject to final diligence and shortlisted interviews/project visits, no later than August 17th.

How to enter

You should apply in writing. You can add a video submission if you feel this adds to your submission. All applications must be accompanied by your latest set of accounts and a brief summary of the work  you have undertaken to date relevant to this application. Supporting references to your application will also be considered. Applications should be submitted here. Full application guidance is available here