Charities across Scotland urged to apply for share of new £3m fund

Charities with innovative ideas to help communities across Scotland recover from the problems highlighted or exacerbated by the pandemic are being encouraged to apply for a share of a new £3 million fund.

The launch of the Postcode Recovery Fund has been made possible by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

It means an additional £10 million of player funding has now been made available to charities dealing with the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown. Many of the good causes which have benefitted from long-standing support from players are already delivering vital services in response to the crisis.

The new Postcode Recovery Fund will allow charities to apply for between £500,000 and £1 million in funding for high impact and original projects.

Priority areas for support include educational inequalities, homelessness, domestic violence, health and wellbeing, poverty, social exclusion and isolation. Applications where there are other clear benefits to the community will also be considered. Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said:

“Charities across Scotland have been doing tremendous work to support the people who rely on them in times of need. Many of our supported charities have adapted to meet the enhanced needs of communities during the pandemic.

“This fund will give charities an important opportunity to innovate in a way which will provide lasting benefit, thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

“We recognise that without additional intervention there is a real risk that the effects of the pandemic will be irreversible for the most vulnerable in our society.”

Charities in Scotland already benefitting from the funding include Children 1st, which received funding to support families facing financial issues due to Covid-19.

Street League also received funding to allow them to deliver their apprenticeship programme in Scotland. The programme gives young people in entry-level roles the opportunity to gain a valued qualification, practical skills and job-specific competencies to support their future progression and security, all whilst working and earning a salary. 

The funding will come from the Postcode Dream Trust, which was created to provide opportunities for charities to deliver their dream projects through collaboration. The Trust’s work has been realigned this year to support Covid-19 recovery efforts.

The fund consists of a three-stage application process:

Stage 1 will open for charities to submit the high level details of their project and the problems they are trying to solve.

Stage 2 involves the most impressive, impactful and original projects being shortlisted submitting a more detailed project application.

Stage 3 will invite the very best entries to give a formal presentation to an assessment panel.

Applications for the Postcode Recovery Fund can be made from Thursday, 1 October until Friday, 30 October.

The successful applications will be announced in March 2021.

Please visit www.postcodedreamtrust.org.uk for more details.