Scottish Connections Fund: successful applicants

The second round of the Scottish Connections Fund was launched in July 2024 to help Scottish diaspora organisations and their members set up projects to promote Scotland’s reputation and interests. 

Applications closed on 4 September 2024. All projects align to the aims and objectives of the Scottish Connections Framework.

International organisations and their members were able to apply for a maximum of £5,000. Applications were assessed using a competitive scoring process.

The available budget for 2024 to 2025 was £50,000. A total of 65 applications were received, with a very high quality demonstrated. We are funding the following 11 projects, with a total value of up to £49,997.

Ref no: SCF24-25-01
Grantee: Wind&Bones CIC
Grant: £4,832
Title: Mother Tongue Manifesto: Between Scotland and Taiwan

Mother Tongue Manifesto is a project that broadens the Scottish diaspora by promoting Gaelic-language poetry through translation, and by building international links between poets and translators in Scotland and Taiwan. The project draws on the parallel experiences of Taiwanese poets writing in Taiwanese Hokkien (Minnan), and Scottish poets writing in Gaelic. Through collaborative writing workshops and intensive translation, the project will result in a cross-cultural Mother Tongue Manifesto-in-poetry that will be published online in four languages: Gaelic, Taiwanese Hokkien (Minnan), Mandarin Chinese and English.

Ref no: SCF24-25-02
Grantee: JGU Scotland HUB
Grant: £4,382
Title: Teaching Scotland

“Teaching Scotland“ aims to increase the visibility of Scotland in the subject “English” in secondary schools in Rheinland-Pfalz (RLP).

Our immediate goal is to create a “Scottish” teaching community and to create resources for teachers wishing to explore Scottish literature and language in the classroom.

A networking event will kickstart the “Teaching Scotland” project and provide thematic input for lessons on Scottish topics, which will then be made available online.

The “Teaching Scotland” community will be involved in the creation of resources and will participate in regular online meetings, exchanging ideas on lesson planning and best practice.

Ref no: SCF24-25-03
Grantee: The Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation
Grant: £4,855
Title: Sounds of Scotland: Enhancing Florida Music Education with Scottish Traditions

Our project showcases Scottish cultural content for teaching music in schools, presented at a major U.S. music educator conference in Tampa, Florida. Teachers in attendance will learn about and get access to the free lesson plans and materials from Scotland In The Class; This initiative strengthens ties within the Scottish diaspora amongst the youth, promoting cultural appreciation and community enrichment through music education.

Ref no: SCF24-25-04
Grantee: Agir pour apprendre
Grant: £4,832
Title: Bridging Cultures and Broadening Horizons Through Fashion: A Cross-Cultural Kiltmaking Exchange for a fashion & clothing educational class

A unique school trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, is being planned for a group of fashion students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This initiative aims to provide these students with an enriching experience by exploring the intersection of fashion, culture, and history. The itinerary includes visits to the Edinburgh Kiltmaking School, the 21st Century boutique, Edinburgh Castle, and the Scottish Parliament, where students will have the opportunity to meet with a Scottish government minister or official.

Ref no: SCF24-25-05
Grantee: Cape Breton University
Grant: £4,832
Title: Thairis a’ chuain | Over the ocean: Indexing, Transcribing, and Revitalizing Scottish Gaelic Songs Collected in Nova Scotia

This project will reinvigorate the Nova Scotia (NS) Gaelic singing tradition and raise the profile of NS Gaelic song in Scotland by facilitating access to NS material through online song indices and supporting new learning and performance opportunities. Specifically, we will add 60 archival Gaelic song recordings currently available in Scotland to the Nova Scotia Gaelic Song Index, a finding aid to Gaelic songs known in Nova Scotia. New metadata will make more detailed searches and research possible. “Transcription frolics” will be held to transcribe the lyrics of at least ten of these recordings to make them easier to learn.

NS Gaelic singers will sing at least five of these songs at a Gaelic cultural event.

Ref no: SCF24-25-06
Grantee: The St Andrew Society of the State of São Paulo (Brazil)
Grant: £4,832
Title: 2025 Burns Night Experience for Brazilians

This event seeks to use Burns Night to promote Scottish cultural traditions and literature specifically for a Brazilian audience. It will feature traditional elements of this iconic Scottish occasion, connecting a Brazilian audience with Scottish country dancing, live bagpipe music, the serving of haggis, and traditional speeches and recitations of Burns' poems, delivered in a mix of English and Portuguese. The event seeks to promote Scottish culture among Brazilians, providing a rich experience that honours Scotland's heritage while embracing the local language and context while also allowing the local Scottish community to congregate and showcase their traditions.

Ref no: SCF24-25-07
Grantee: Elizabeth (Lisa) Williams
Grant: £4,832
Title: My Bonnie lies over the Ocean: the entwined stories of Scotland and Carriacou

Facilitation of a digital, online film-based exchange between adults and young people (12+) in Scotland and the Caribbean island of Carriacou (Grenada) exploring their complicated but significant cultural and historical connections. Young people in the Edinburgh Caribbean Association will explore chosen aspects of this shared history with the Grenada Sports and Wellbeing Foundation Inc., an organisation for youth based in Carriacou. This will be enabled over a series of online group video conversations leading to filmed interviews/scripted artistic responses in relevant historical sites in both countries creating impactful digital content

Ref no: SCF24-25-08
Grantee: Africa Scotland Business Network
Grant: £4,832
Title: Africa Scotland Business Network’s FUTURE LEADERS business network

ASBN Future Leaders is the new ‘gateway’ business network designed especially for the needs of young Scots, Scottish residents and Africans, under 30 year olds. This pioneering business network is the ‘sister’ network of ASBN’s corporate network, a proven business network that has been in operation for exactly 5 years. ASBN Future Leaders will mostly run as a digital community connecting young leaders, students and graduates to each other and to our existing corporate business network. The opportunity to introduce young people for intercultural exchange, business exchange, knowledge exchange and exchange with potential employers is plentiful. In a world that is trying to divide us, especially on an international level, ASBN Future leaders, like it’s big sister business network will stand as a force of meaningful unity to encourage prosperity for young people in Scotland looking to ‘belong’ to a safe, inspiring, international learning system and community.

Ref no: SCF24-25-09
Grantee: Digital Skills Education
Grant: £4,600
Title: “Defend Stirling Castle From A Cyber Attack”

What do you get when you cross an ancient medieval castle with cutting edge cyber security? This interactive online event where thousands of teenagers will use cyber security skills to defend one of Scotland’s most important historical sites – Stirling Castle.

This interactive event mixes online gaming, digital skills, and interactive storytelling, all centred around Scotland's rich history and historic environment.

Ref no: SCF24-25-10
Grantee: University of Dundee
Grant: £4,408
Title: Scottish Clubs and Associations In the Diaspora: A Practical Toolkit for Inclusion and Growth

This research will advance understanding of the history and operation of Scottish clubs and societies in the diaspora to better promote social inclusion and growth today. By exploring through a series of online interviews how such organisations engage with their membership, the project will build on existing historical case studies to uncover and document today’s best practice. The project will create an historically informed 'practical toolkit' to support social inclusion and equality through the Scottish Connections framework in terms of public engagement, knowledge exchange, social media, event planning, cultural commemorations, engaging the young, adult education, and fundraising

Ref no: SCF24-25-11
Grantee: First Foot Inc.
Grant: £2,310
Title: First Foot: building stepping stones for artists and musicians in Scotland launching their careers in the United States

To provide a bridge between institutions supporting artists and musicians in Scotland and the United States. There is a critical gap in resources and guidance available to artists in Scotland who are considering launching their careers in the U.S. Over a six month period, we will identify ten emerging artists who are at a stage in their career and professional development where they are looking to expand their work and profile to the U.S.