At this time, we are prioritising applications that focus on Financial Security.

• We provide restricted project funding of between £20,000 and £500,000, usually for up to 5 years. Most grants are typically £50,000–£100,000 per year.
• Projects must demonstrate strong potential to deliver big change that lasts, meaning strategic, systemic or long‑term impact on poverty and trauma in Scotland.

We are particularly interested in work that:

• Moves upstream to prevent poverty and financial insecurity
• Influences policy, practice, systems or behaviours
• Has a clear theory of change and potential for impact at scale
• Continues to have impact beyond the funding period

This fund does not support ongoing service delivery, unless it is clearly testing or demonstrating a new, scalable approach.

Financial Security priorities

Financial Security means ensuring income adequacy and stability, access to essentials, and effective safety nets that prevent people from falling into poverty.

Applications should focus primarily on at least one of the following priorities:

1. Secure foundations
   Safe, secure, appropriate and affordable access to essentials such as housing, energy, food, transport and childcare.
2. Secure safety net
   A social security system that provides a dignified quality of life, supports people in times of crisis and enables full participation in society.
3. Designing‑out insecurity
   Upstream interventions that prevent long‑term financial insecurity, including early debt support, affordable credit, child maintenance systems and treatment of debt to public bodies.

While Financial Security must be at the centre of the work, we recognise that poverty and trauma are experienced in complex, interconnected ways.

Who can apply

You can apply if your organisation:

• Works in Scotland
• Has an annual income of more than £200,000
• Is one of the following:
  • A registered charity
  • An asset‑locked CIC limited by guarantee
  • A housing association
  • A credit union
• Has recent independently examined or audited annual accounts.
• Partnership applications are welcome, with one eligible lead organisation.
• Organisations currently funded by The Robertson Trust may apply, provided the work is distinct or additional to existing grants.

Project types we support

Projects will usually focus on one or more of the following:

• Feasibility and development of ideas with strong potential for change
• Test and demonstration of new, scalable approaches
• Advocacy, campaigning and influencing
• Applied, solutions‑focused research directly linked to change

We are especially interested in work that engages with people with lived experience and focuses on priority population groups within low‑income families.

How to apply

We accept applications on a rolling basis, with no closing dates.

The application process has two stages:

• Stage 1: a short application outlining your change idea
• Stage 2: a longer application, by invitation only

You can only have one active application to the Big Change That Lasts Fund at a time (unless otherwise invited).