Trust reopens funding scheme to help tackle inequality and social exclusion

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Published: 30 April 2020

Trust reopens funding scheme to help tackle inequality and social exclusion

Shetland Charitable Trust is reopening its additional grant scheme on 1 May, inviting bids from eligible charitable organisations which had applied for funding under the expression of interest process. This funding will apply for the financial year to 31 March 2021.

Revised applications are expected for the £881,000 before the new closing date of 29 May.

The trust suspended the scheme temporarily on 24 March, the day after the national lockdown was announced.

Trust chairman Dr Andrew Cooper said: “It’s an encouraging sign that we are able to reinstate the scheme. However, it is regrettable that Covid-19 restrictions mean that some of the activities proposed will not be able to take place.

“The trust looks forward to receiving updated bids and making sure this money is spent where it’s needed this year.”

The decision to suspend the previous process came during the rapid and unprecedented changes imposed to tackle the pandemic. The trust was aware that:

  • Social distancing and changes to normal working practices rendered some of the new proposed activities unworkable;
  • Some charitable organisations faced problems submitting their bids on time due to the sudden upheaval and closure of offices;

Dr Cooper said: “We felt there was no other realistic option than to pause the process during the early stages of the pandemic response. It’s unfortunate that some people mistakenly took it to mean that the trust was withholding its vital funding for local charitable organisations. That was never the case and, despite the disruption and loss of services due to Covid-19, these organisations received £3.7 million in support grants from the trust, as planned, from 1 April.”

The trust will also open the Main Grant Scheme for applications for 2021/22 and beyond in July.

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