31 Organisations to receive Funding Announced

25th January 2021

We are delighted to announce the organisations receiving funding from the £100k Scottish Government’s Winter Support Package Grant awarded to Befriending Networks to share with our members, delivering local befriending projects in Scotland.  We were really pleased with creativity and quality of these applications, making our decisions difficult. 

Sarah Van Putten Befriending Networks CEO said “It is fantastic to see so many members being able to benefit from this funding and through them, the positive impact that they will have on tackling social isolation and loneliness across Scotland.  We are looking forward to receiving the reports and case studies at the end of April which will bring the true impact of the fund to life.”

Today, we announce the 31 organisations who have all been successful. Between them, over the winter, they aim to support over 500 new matches and deliver over 6000 hours of befriending. They cover 21 local authorities and a range of different groups from a perinatal service, several children and young people’s projects, small community organisations supporting a range of people in their neighbourhoods, to a variety of adult and older people’s services. The funds are being used in a variety of ways to fund additional volunteer co-ordinator hours, volunteer training and expenses, new IT solutions and support time to help befrienders and befriendees learn to connect at a distance. A full list of organisations can be viewed at the end of this piece. 

“We are absolutely delighted that Befriend a Child have been successful in our application to the Befriending Fund. Thank you for your support, it will allow us to work with more children and young people in need across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.” Sarah Misra, CEO, Befriend a Child

“Thank you so much for your email and for awarding us the money. We really appreciate it and I know that the support we will now be able to offer will make a massive difference to people in our community”. Ruth Miller, Service Manager, Befriending Lewis

Organisations receiving funding:

A Listening Ear in Wigtownshire,  Action in Mind,

Befriend a Child,  Befriend Motherwell,  Befrienders for Argyll & Bute,  Befriending Lewis,  BeFriends,  Beith Trust,

Caraidean Uibhist, Cowal Elderly Befrienders,

Hand of Solace,

Include Me 2 Club,   Interest Link Borders,

Kincardine & Deeside Befriending,

Largo Communities Together,     Lead Scotland,  LEAP,

Mearns Kirk Helping Hands,   Monifieth Befrienders,  Morning Call,

No1 Befriending Agency,   Nurture the Borders,         

People Know How,  Queensferry Churches Care in the Community

Raploch Community Partnership,   Roseberry Centre,

Star Project,

The Ridge,   Town Break,                     

Visiting Friends,   Volunteer Midlothian,