A Stonehaven charity has received a grant of £12,500 from the latest tranche of the Bank of Scotland Foundation’s Small and Medium Grants to help cover salaries and running costs and continue providing a befriending service within the Kincardine and Deeside area. Kincardine & Deeside Befriending is just one of 118 Scottish charities who have benefitted from £1,426,180 of funding from the Foundation during 2016.
Established in 1996, Kincardine & Deeside Befriending aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older people by matching them on a one to one basis with a volunteer. A regular visit from a befriender can provide companionship, practical and emotional support, and generally improve physical and mental wellbeing. In many cases, a carer also benefits from the welcome respite provided.
Grants, such as this from the Bank of Scotland Foundation, are vital to help Scottish charities continue to provide much needed services to their community. The majority of charities who received funding from the Foundation in 2016 used their grant to pay for core costs such as salaries and rent or running costs. In an increasingly challenging funding environment, the Bank of Scotland Foundation continues to be one of the few grant makers to provide funding for core costs, providing stability for many charities.
Philip Grant, Chair of the Scottish Executive Committee, Lloyds Banking Group and Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees said, “Finding the funding to continue operating is a pressure charities regularly face, so we’re delighted to have been able to provide a grant to Kincardine & Deeside Befriending and help them meet important core costs. They are just one of 118 Scottish charities that shared over £1,426,000 from our Small, Medium and Large Grants Programmes during 2016.
“The work these charities do is invaluable and the Bank of Scotland Foundation is proud to support them in making a tangible difference to the local communities in which they operate. We look forward to helping many more Scottish charities support their communities in 2017.”
The second tranche of 2017 for Small and Medium Grants is now open and charities have until 7 April to send in their applications. The 2017 Large Grants programme will open mid-January 2017.