Foundation Scotland provided record breaking funding of more than £32m to charities across the last 18 months, according to its latest figures.

The community foundation for Scotland, which distributes money to community groups from among others the National Emergencies Trust and Scottish Gas, has awarded more than 5,600 grants to just under 3,000 organisations across Scotland since the end of March 2020.

Of those funded, seven out of ten say they would not have been able to support communities without funding.

Eight out of ten funded projects started amid the Covid-19 pandemic are still delivering support.

The evaluation of the funding also shows that nearly three quarters (73%) was used to support people’s health, wellbeing and safety. Meanwhile 17% was used to tackle isolation and improve access to local services.

“Community groups have been the beating heart of Scotland’s response, and we are proud to be the funder they know they can turn to in times of need,” said Foundation Scotland chief executive Giles Ruck.

“Likewise, we are grateful that we became the first call for many donors eager for us to distribute their funds quickly and efficiently. Through our 25-year history as the country’s only community foundation, we have developed an unparalleled understanding and appreciation of the community groups working tirelessly to deliver real impacts on the ground.

“It’s this incredible network of local groups who responded most effectively; COVID has shown us that local people know how best to respond, they held the real insight, they knew what was truly needed, and what could be delivered quickly, as the crisis struck and continued.”

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