Scottish grant holder support toolkit
Resources to help you run your funding grant.
The basics
The National Lottery Trust Fund
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
A wide range of resources about running a charitable organisation in Scotland, including setting up a charity guide.
Third Sector Interfaces (TSI) Scotland Network
TSI Scotland Network can provide local support and services for charitable organisations.
Funding Scotland
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
Charity fundraising tips, advice and resources from CAF.
Communication and marketing
The National Lottery Trust Fund
Media Trust
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Charity Comms
Membership network of charity communication professionals. Help with: advice, events, guidance and local support groups. Not free but fairly inexpensive to join.
Charity Digital
Free or discounted communication and marketing software
Canva Pro
An easy to use online graphic design platform. You can use it to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. The 'Pro' premium version is offered free to charities and CICs.
Adobe Creative Cloud
The full set of industry leading design, video and graphics products. Subscription based. Includes PhotoShop as well as video/audio editing and document design packages. Offered to UK charities and housing associations at a significant discount through the Charity Digital Exchange.
Community development and ownership
Plunkett Foundation
Community Shares Scotland
Scottish Community Finance
An organisation that supports communities across Scotland to raise investment capital that can be used to meet the aspirations of communities by the issuing of Community Bonds.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Work with communities throughout the Scottish Highlands and Island areas to develop and manage community-owned assets. They also provide useful guidance such as the Ten Steps to Community Ownership guide.
South of Scotland Enterprise
Provide support and funding for organisations in the South of Scotland.
Community Land Scotland
Community Woodlands Association
Membership organisation providing support for community groups taking control of woodlands.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund helps fund communities to revitalise historic buildings or assets.
Diagnostic support
NCVO
An online self-assessment tool for charities.
Inspiring Impact
Simple self-assessment tools help identify how to improve impact practice and data collection.
Chairs Network Scotland
Environment and sustainability
NCVO
Tips and ideas for how to develop a sustainable action plan for your organisation.
Net Zero Scotland
Scottish Government advice on building a greener organisation.
Adaptation Scotland
Scottish Environmental Fundraising Forum
Fit for the Future
Creative Carbon Scotland
Keep Scotland Beautiful
Paid training, support and quality marks around environmental impact.
Governance
SCVO
SCVO's governance guide includes resources for:
- good governance
- managing staff
- volunteers governance
- FirstPort - training events
- free workshops focusing on the knowledge and skills to start and run a social enterprise, including:
- governance and board training for organisational start-up
- legal structures training for organisational start-up
Just Enterprise
Just Enterprise provides support for social enterprises including:
- legal and strategy planning support
- governance for Social Enterprises
- training for organisational start-up
Chairs Network Scotland
TSI Network
Local TSIs usually offer governance and legal structures training.
Organisation growth and change
Wren and Greyhound - Strategy and planning support consultancy
Consultants specialising in third sector support, including strategy and planning. Includes offer of business planning retreats.
Social Investment Scotland workshops and webinars
Range of sessions focused on looking into the future of your organisation's finances, including:
- Workshop: Preparing for Investment
- Workshop: Raising Investment: a series of webinars including raising investment for buildings, sport and leisure, heritage and tourism, retail development and Land and Energy.
- Webinar: A Guide to Social Investment Loans
- Webinar (recordings): Various COVID-19 Expert Webinar Business Briefings
Just Enterprise – Planning for Growth
Impact and evaluation resources
Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS)
ESS gives practical support and access to impact and evaluation resources and tools.
SCVO monitoring and evaluation guidance
A short guide to monitoring and evaluation.
Wren and Greyhound
Social Investment Scotland - impact learning hub
Links to various resources around impact practice, frameworks and toolkits.
Community Enterprise
Cranfield Trust
A free consultancy for charities around performance and impact.
Charity Fundraising Ltd
Consultancy providing support with evaluation, impact monitoring and training.
New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) - Impact measurement, evaluation and data guides
Search the NPC resource hub for articles and information.
Inspiring Impact
Free impact and measurement resources. Information on understanding impact, training and consultancy, including NPC's Understanding Impact guide.
Eastside Primetimers consultancy
Consultancy support to measure impact.
Charity Excellence Framework
Access to a free online impact measurement framework and tools.
Centre for Youth Impact
Resources to support organisations to evaluate their work with young people.
Cultural Learning Evidence Champions
A handbook for gathering evidence and evaluation designed for evaluators in the arts but relevant for all sectors.
Directory of Social Change research consultancy
Research support to help with looking at impact and programme assessments for charities, funders and other not-for-profit organisations.
Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
National Lottery Trust Fund
Our outcome frameworks and standalone measures guide. Our own guide with tools to help gather evidence and learning.
IT and digital resources
SCVO Digital
SCVO Digital provides events and training and information about:
- digital services
- digital inclusion
- remote working
- Digishift
- digital skills
- Connecting Scotland
- cyber resilience
- digital
Digital for Good
A network of digital professionals supporting third sector organisations.
Charity Digital
Provides blogs, guides and free events on a range of digital issues including free webinars and events and a database including discounted software for charities.
Charity Catalogue
A catalogue of useful online and digital tools for charities.
Third Sector Lab
Provides training and consultancy to help get the most from digital. They run The Curve, a series of free, 90-minute online workshops. These are about best digital practices, raising awareness of digital tools and helping increase impact.
Scottish Tech Army
A specialist tech volunteer support initiative.
National Cyber Security Centre - small charity guide
UK Government agency's guide for charities on how to improve cyber security within your charity - quickly, easily and at low cost.
The Catalyst Digital Safeguarding guide
A step-by-step digital safeguarding guide. For charities designing new services or moving existing ones online.
Digital for Good
A network of digital professionals supporting third sector organisations.
Charity Digital
Charity Catalogue
Catalogue of useful online digital tools for charities.
Leadership - Top resources
Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations (ACOSVO)
ACOSVO is a membership organisation for voluntary sector leaders and senior staff in Scotland, supporting, developing and inspiring leaders.supporting, developing and inspiring leaders.
SCVO training courses
SCVO provide online training opportunities for third sector organisations covering a range of topics.
TSI Network
TSIs provide online training opportunities for third sector organisations covering a range of topics. Local TSIs can provide a range of training and support, some are free.
Programmes and qualifications
SCVO management and leadership accreditation
In partnership, SCVO and Challenges Catalyst offer a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 5 (Equivalent to SCQF Level 8) certificate in Management and Leadership qualification to SCVO member organisations and the voluntary sector.
Entrepreneurial Scotland leadership programmes
Leadership programmes designed for third sector management who want to learn more about leading growth and change. The programmes blend diagnostics, teaching and peer to peer learning.
Cause4 – Trustee Leadership Programme
Delivered by social enterprise Cause4 in partnership with Close Brothers Asset Management and the Clothworkers’ Company, this Trustee course gives professionals the skills and confidence to join a charity as a board member.
Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme
The Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme (supported by HIE) is designed to give rural business owners and managers confidence and skills to make bold decisions and to get the best from themselves, their business, and their team
John Smith Centre Minority Ethnic Emerging Leaders Programme
The John Smith Centre Minority Ethnic Emerging Leaders Programme is a professional and personal development opportunity for people between the ages of 18 – 29 from minority ethnic backgrounds across Scotland.
Leadership training sessions and short courses
Social Enterprise Academy
Directory of Social Change - leadership resources and training
Online training courses for Third Sector managers and leaders.
Clore Social Leadership courses
Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership
- online tailored skills sessions for Third Sector leaders and managers, delivered by the Open University
- Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership and Volunteer Scotland short course which covers the essential things you need to consider to ensure a positive experience for individuals engaging in volunteering
Civicos Training and Communications
Civicos is a not-for-profit company providing vocational training to voluntary organisations, with a number of training opportunities for Third Sector managers and leaders.
Charity Finance Group events
A range of events and training courses delivered through expert speakers from both the corporate and voluntary sector.
Pilotlight
Pilotlight transforms the lives of disadvantaged people in the UK by offering charities and social enterprises access to strategic business support.
Institute of Directors Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses and resources
CPD opportunities for Directors including Certificates and Diplomas in Company Direction and Chartered Directors programmes.
LawWorks – free legal advice
LawWorks brokers free legal advice to small not-for profit organisations on a wide range of legal issues.
Resources and reference
Third Sector Governance Forum leadership link library
Links to external resources supporting all elements of Leadership support.
Inspiring Scotland Knowledge Hub
Inspiring Scotland’s Knowledge Hub leadership section full of handy resources.
Trustees’ Week resources
A collection of resources and training opportunities for Third Sector Trustees.
Management Centre
A menu of leadership skills and development training programmes for management and leaders.
People management - Human resources
SCVO HR and Employment Support Service
Free online guidance and toolkits, training and webinars on topics including:
- remote working
- redundancy
- restructuring
- supporting employee mental health and wellbeing.
And a 1-2-1 enquiry service to help organisations facing challenging HR issues to understand their options and make informed choices about the best action to take. Free to SCVO members groups with an income of under £50,000.
Third Sector Interfaces
Some Third Sector Interfaces offer HR support or in-house HR services for charities in their area. GCVS in Glasgow runs a HR support service and has free toolkits and resources.
Inspiring Scotland
Support and advice consultancy service for Scottish charities that are not currently Inspiring Scotland grant holders.
Free HR Dept advice for ACOSVO members
ACOSVO members can access free HR support from HR Dept, one of the UK’s leading HR providers.
Cranfield Trust HR links
A curated list of useful HR resources and support.
Strategy and planning - Resources and guides
SCVO
Provide training opportunities for third sector organisations covering a range of topics, delivered virtually by SCVO. They also provide business planning guides and resources.
Charity Finance Group
Membership organisation offering training to the charity sector to develop:
- leadership and financial management skill
- understanding of topical financial issues
- networking and knowledge sharing
Inspiring Scotland - support and advice
Provide a support and advice consultancy service led by in house staff, matching organisations to their network of professional volunteers for free. Open to all of the Third sector and do not have to be an Inspiring Scotland grant holder to receive support.
They also have a Knowledge Hub that gives tips on strategy planning.
NCVO Know How
Offers advice and support for voluntary organisations and whilst based in England there is a range of tools and advice for free online.
Social Enterprise Academy
Can provide training and learning programmes for social enterprises.
Charity Excellence Framework
Free Resource Hub for charities including tools and advice.
Charity Comms - communications strategy resources
Up-to-date tips and advice from sector experts.
Free support and mentoring
CFG Small Charities Programme
CFG Small Charities Programme provides practical finance training both face-to-face and online and resources for charities with an income of £1m or less including budget and cashflow templates.
Cranfield Trust
Free management support to charities, including:
- free webinars
- management support
- consultancy
Bank of Scotland Foundation’s grantholders – Mentoring programme
A mentoring programme in which their grantholders are matched with a Scotland based colleague mentor from the Lloyds Banking Group to receive individual tailored business support.
Firstport
Provides free training and workshops for social enterprises. Can also provide tailored business advice as part of the Just Enterprise programme.
Small Charities Coalition - mentoring
Provides mentoring support for small charities.
Consultancy services
Animate
Can provide consultancy support to help organisations improve their strategic and business planning.
CEIS enterprise support
Can provide a range of consultancy support and training to help improve planning and strategy including online training and workshops.
Community Enterprise
Provides consultancy development support to social enterprises, charities and voluntary groups.
ekosgen
Can provide consultancy support to help with planning and strategy.
GLT partners
Provide consultancy support in a range of areas including strategic and business planning.
Kinharvie
Can provide consultancy support to develop a strategic plan.
Rocket Science
Can provide consultancy support to help organisations improve their strategic and business planning.
SKS Scotland
Can provide consultancy support to help organisations improve their strategic and business planning.
STAR Development Group
Wren and Greyhound
Can provide consultancy support to help organisations improve their strategic and business planning.
Resources to help you run your funding grant.
The basics
The National Lottery Trust Fund
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
A wide range of resources about running a charitable organisation in Scotland, including setting up a charity guide.
Third Sector Interfaces (TSI) Scotland Network
TSI Scotland Network can provide local support and services for charitable organisations.
Funding Scotland
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
Charity fundraising tips, advice and resources from CAF.
Communication and marketing
The National Lottery Trust Fund
Media Trust
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Charity Comms
Membership network of charity communication professionals. Help with: advice, events, guidance and local support groups. Not free but fairly inexpensive to join.
Charity Digital
Free or discounted communication and marketing software
Canva Pro
An easy to use online graphic design platform. You can use it to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. The 'Pro' premium version is offered free to charities and CICs.
Adobe Creative Cloud
The full set of industry leading design, video and graphics products. Subscription based. Includes PhotoShop as well as video/audio editing and document design packages. Offered to UK charities and housing associations at a significant discount through the Charity Digital Exchange.
Resources to help you run your funding grant.
The basics
The National Lottery Trust Fund
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
A wide range of resources about running a charitable organisation in Scotland, including setting up a charity guide.
Third Sector Interfaces (TSI) Scotland Network
TSI Scotland Network can provide local support and services for charitable organisations.
Funding Scotland
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
Charity fundraising tips, advice and resources from CAF.
Communication and marketing
The National Lottery Trust Fund
Media Trust
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Charity Comms
Membership network of charity communication professionals. Help with: advice, events, guidance and local support groups. Not free but fairly inexpensive to join.
Charity Digital
Free or discounted communication and marketing software
Canva Pro
An easy to use online graphic design platform. You can use it to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. The 'Pro' premium version is offered free to charities and CICs.
Adobe Creative Cloud
The full set of industry leading design, video and graphics products. Subscription based. Includes PhotoShop as well as video/audio editing and document design packages. Offered to UK charities and housing associations at a significant discount through the Charity Digital Exchange.