Wellbeing Fund: analysis of awards

1. Introduction

On 18 March 2020, in response to the emerging Covid-19 pandemic, the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government announced a £350 million package of Communities Funding support, of which £125 million was committed to the third sector.^[2] This rapid response was a reflection of Ministers' concerns about the seriousness of the situation, and their recognition of the need for additional support to enable the third sector to move quickly to support Scotland's communities during the crisis.

The Communities Fund consisted of four funding streams, including a £50 million 'Wellbeing Fund' to support third sector activities. The Wellbeing Fund included the following four funding strands, developed in partnership with national third sector organisations, local authorities and Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs):

An Immediate Priorities Fund which provided investment through national partners to support Scotland-wide or multi-area work. Ministers agreed recipients of this funding by early April. As of 8 June 2020 around £12 million had been awarded to 110 projects and 93 partners.^[3]

Additional funding of £2 million was allocated to Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) to enable them to adapt their ways of working during lockdown and to increase activity designed to support the third sector reponse.

A Open Application Process for third sector organisations seeking funding to enable them to respond to urgent emerging needs within vulnerable communities.

A Small Grants Fund responsible for issuing rapid small grants to local charities and social enterprises.

This paper presents analysis of the awards made through the Wellbeing Fund Open Application Process and the Small Grants Fund, using data gathered through the application process for these funds.

For both funds, the paper analyses the number and value of awards and the distribution of awards across local authorities.

For the Wellbeing Fund Open Application Process this paper also presents data on awards for projects working with different target groups; awards for different project types; awards in relation to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) and the British Red Cross Covid-19 Vulnerability Index; and the primary reasons for applications being unsuccessful.

The paper also presents some qualitative analysis of the kinds of projects being funded, and the needs that these were intended to meet.

This paper is an analysis of the distribution of awards, not an evaluation of the impact of the Wellbeing Fund Open Application Process or the Small Grants Fund. Evaluation will be based on end-of-project reporting and is planned to begin in late 2020.