Charities are encouraged to apply for the Wellbeing Fund

There has been growing concern that some charities are facing unprecedented financial hardship due to the impact of COVID-19.

On 8 April, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £750m package to keep struggling charities afloat and also reiterated that they were eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The Scottish Government had previously pledged a £350m support fund for communities, which includes the £50m Wellbeing Fund.

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Aileen Campbell commented,

“Last month, I announced a £350 million package of emergency funding for a wide range of organisations, as communities across Scotland are already adapting their services to ensure they are providing vital support to people who are worst affected by COVID-19.

“This £50 million of funding will help to continue that work as well as supporting new services to get people through these difficult times.”

The fund is now open and you can submit an expression of interest to access financial support through the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) website here.

If you have any questions regarding funding, or want to discuss your circumstances, please get in touch with the EQ Charities specialist in your area, Mark Gallacher, Susan Beattie, Debbie Millar or Margaret Waite.