ENABLE PROGRAMME

Please see the general Grants Application Q&A as well.

WHAT’S THE MINIMUM / MAXIMUM GRANT WE CAN APPLY FOR THROUGH THE ENABLE PROGRAMME?

Our Enable programme offers charities a three-year grant and charities can apply for £10k, £20k or £30k per year, totalling £30k, £60k or £90k over the three-year period.  

OUR CHARITY HAS LESS THAN TWO YEAR’S ACCOUNTS CHECKED BY OSCR, CAN WE APPLY?

We’re afraid not. To be eligible, the charity number on your application must have a minimum of two-years’ accounts checked by OSCR. If you are unsure if your charity is eligible you can contact the team at enquiries@bankofscotlandfoundation.co.uk or phone 07385 024428.

WHAT CAN WE APPLY FOR? 

Our grant funding is restricted for volunteering costs/projects/initiatives such as: -

• Volunteer database costs
• Volunteer transport costs
• Volunteer Manager salaries/partial salaries of charity employees whose role is to support volunteers
• Volunteer training
• Volunteer protective equipment/clothing/badges
• Volunteer out-of-pocket expenses e.g. drinks/meals
• Volunteer insurance
• Volunteer administration e.g. newsletters, meetings
• Volunteer advertising and recruitment costs

To enable volunteers and ensure they can support charities the best they can, our funding can also be used to purchase materials for activities that volunteers are delivering.  For example, the purchase of:

• plants/fencing for a sensory garden that volunteers will be building
• I-pads for volunteer counsellors to hold online counselling sessions
• fridges for a foodbank manned by volunteers
• supplies for a volunteer-led arts and crafts therapy group

HOW DO WE ACCESS THE VOLUNTEERS FROM LLOYDS BANKING GROUP?

Our Enable programme is a joint initiative with Lloyds Banking Group providing charities with both funding and volunteers.

The Group’s colleagues across Scotland are enthusiastic and passionate about supporting charities and are keen to engage with the charities funded through Enable to volunteer their time and skills to support projects and initiatives.

When applying, charities will be asked to provide examples of the types of volunteering opportunities that will be available to Lloyds Banking Group colleagues and a member of the Foundation team will be responsible for ensuring charities and colleague volunteers are matched together.

For the charities that we fund, we expect colleagues to commence volunteering with most of them after the first year of funding is complete, to enable charities to build and grow their volunteering projects/initiatives first.

CAN I APPLY FOR FUNDING ONLY OR VOLUNTEERS ONLY?

We’re afraid not.  Our Enable programme is a joint initiative with Lloyds Banking Group providing both funding and volunteers as we aim to help charities grow stronger and thrive beyond the lifetime of their grant.

THE ENABLE PROGRAMME FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE, WHAT TYPES OF CHARITIES WILL YOU FUND?

Charities we support will be required to demonstrate that they put vulnerable people at the heart of everything they do. Vulnerable people can be impacted by a range of factors such as their social, economic or physical circumstances. Examples of vulnerability can include education barriers, mobility/transport issues, learning disabilities, family-related challenges, poverty, housing and employment difficulties, and poor mental health and emotional wellbeing. 

If you are unsure if your charity supports vulnerable people, you can contact the team at enquiries@bankofscotlandfoundation.co.uk or phone 07385 024428.

HOW MANY YEARS OF FUNDING CAN I APPLY FOR THROUGH THE ENABLE PROGRAMME?

Successful applicants will be awarded a three-year grant through Enable. 

HOW DO I APPLY TO YOUR ENABLE GRANT PROGRAMME?

Please visit our website and use our eligibility checker to find out if your charity can apply to Enable.

If your charity is eligible, you can click on the Apply button on the Enable page of our website once the programme is open to applications.