The Women’s Fund for Scotland (WFS) makes grants to projects across Scotland that support women’s development, self-sufficiency and social and economic equality.  Established in 2002, the Fund has distributed almost £2m in grants to over 700 community groups and local charities run by or for women.

The Women’s Fund for Scotland has secured funds to run a Covid Emergency Response Fund (CERF).  The second round of funding for this programme is now open for applications.

WFS aims to promote systemic change in Scotland to empower women, and to help overcome the multiple disadvantages and discriminatory practices that females experience throughout their lives. Their vision is of a Scotland in which women participate equally at all levels of society, free from any barriers to full and equal engagement in political, institutional, economic, and cultural life, including freedom from the fear of sex-based violence.

The Women’s Fund for Scotland makes grants across five key themes:

• Building skills and confidence

• Improving health and well-being

• Growing social connections

• Moving on from abuse

• Developing leadership and innovation

All applications will be considered according to WFS funding priorities. Applications which most clearly fit one or more of these will be prioritised. They are:

• Priority for women’s organisations, especially those run by and for women.

• Priority for community-based organisations running projects with women and girls.

• To ensure so far as possible Scotland-wide distribution of funds

• Helping disadvantaged women and girls

• Empowering women and making a tangible difference to their lives

• Supporting women to escape and recover from domestic, sexual, and sex-based violence

• Using our limited resources for maximum long-term impact

• To support the Scottish Government’s wider strategic objectives

Grants of up to £5,000 are available under the following 2 areas: 

Emergency Response

This is intended to equip organisations to deal with the changes required because of the Covid-19 outbreak, to provide – so far as possible – the seamless provision of services. WFS does not anticipate that many new applications will fall into this stage, but also recognises that this may change especially if there is a ‘second wave’ of infections. For example:

• Maintaining existing service provision by

• Moving service provision on-line

• Developing new methods of service delivery that do not require face to face contact

• Unrestricted  funding to cover a temporary shortfall in income on which the organisation previously relied. For example, a loss of income from charity shops, sales, or membership fees.

• The provision of additional support services, or occasionally additional staff hours, where demand is increased directly because of the pandemic, where these are in line with the existing substantive work of the organisation.

• The development of a new service to address specific issues arising from Covid-19 regulations. (E.g. an online chat facility for women unable talk in private as they cannot easily leave the house due to lockdown regulations.)

Recovery and Resilience

Funding under this heading is intended to support organisations adapting their normal working practices to conform to any Government guidelines relating to Covid-19, whilst continuing to meet the needs of the women and girls they work with. Organisational recovery and resilience may sometimes include the type of issues occurring in the emergency response stage. But additionally, could cover:

• Longer-term adjustments needed to meet new practices that are required for effective infection control, beyond the period of lockdown.

• The provision of additional hours on a temporary basis, e.g. to allow two small groups to meet instead of one large group.

• Meet ongoing loss of income to allow organisations a breathing space to recover their initial position.

Eligibility Checklist

Before you proceed, please ensure that you can answer YES to the following questions:

• Have you provided a copy of your constitution or other governing document alongside your application?

• Do you have at least three unrelated members on your management committee or board?

• Do you have independently examined and verified annual accounts or a projection of income and expenditure? (a projection is only appropriate if you are in your first year of operation)

• Is your income less than £1,000,000 in your most recent annual accounts?

• Do you have a bank account in the name of your group?

• Do you have at least two unrelated cheque signatories required to sign your group’s cheques

• Do you have a child and vulnerable adult policy? (If you work/intend to work with vulnerable adults/children you will need to provide this with your application.)

• Organisations with an annual income of more than £1,000,000 (priority is given to those with an income of less than £500,000)

• Projects primarily targeted at girls under the age of 12

• Projects for mixed groups (i.e. males and females)

• Statutory organisations

• Work in schools, during school/lesson hours

• Individuals

• Grant requests for less than 25% (one quarter) of the total project cost

• Costs already incurred or activities which will take place before 28th September 2020 (retrospective funding)

• Trips abroad

• The purchase of second hand vehicles

• General fundraising appeals or activities

• Projects which do not benefit people in Scotland

• Projects which are currently in receipt of an WFS award (you will need to wait for eight months from the date your grant was approved prior to re-applying)

• Uniformed, political, or religious organisations except where they are running a project which would otherwise be eligible, and which does not promote any religion or a political purpose. (For example, a project promoting women’s participation in the political process may be eligible where it is for women of all political persuasions.)

How to Apply