Overview

This fund helps third sector organisations support families living in poverty or at risk of poverty. It will do this by boosting their capacity to deliver Whole Family Support in communities across Scotland. It contributes to our goal of ending child poverty in Scotland.

The third Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, ‘Bringing Hope, Building Futures‘, sets out that Whole Family Support means making sure families get the right support:

• when they need it
• where they need it
• for as long as they need it

Families have told us they need:

• practical help
• financial advice
• emotional support

They also said they need this help to be provided:

• in a joined-up way
• not separately by lots of different organisations
• at the right time and in the right places

This fund supports up to 10 third sector organisations to help make that happen. We want to work with:

• partners who can work nationally, or across multiple local authorities areas, to support families in their communities
• successful organisations to help ensure that this activity is as joined-up as possible with existing local work to deliver Whole Family Support

Third sector organisations or partnerships can apply for a share of £20 million in funding for 2026/27. We expect that funding will continue and move to a multi-year basis from 2027/28, subject to future confirmation.

Who can apply

You can apply if your third sector organisation (or a partnership of organisations) meets these eligibility criteria:

• can deliver services across at least two local authority areas; bidding organisations or partnerships should be able to demonstrate an ability to operate nationally or have a clear operating model that will allow them to reach large or multiple communities, with a particular focus on reaching significant numbers of children and families living in or at greatest risk of poverty
• has experience of providing holistic, whole-family support with clear, measurable results
• can show that the communities you work with help shape how your services are designed

‘Third sector organisations’ includes voluntary and community organisations (both registered charities and other organisations such as associations, self-help groups and community groups), social enterprises, mutuals and co-operatives.

Applying as a partnership

All partner organisations must meet the eligibility criteria. You should have a partnership agreement or memorandum of understanding that sets out each partner’s role. All partners should be fully aware of what is in the application.

What will not be funded

This fund is not for:

• work that does not meet the fund criteria or Scottish Government priorities
• work outside Scotland
• building or construction projects