On the 27th January 2022, the Life Changes Trust hosted the second of two funding workshops, aiming to help other funders to consider the importance of flexible and strategic funding.
As we approach the end of the Trust, we are focused on leaving a positive legacy for other funders. In order to do that, it is important that we explain what we do and how we do it, as well as share insights into the impact of working in this way. Listening to, amplifying and acting upon the voice of the people we’re here for is woven into the fabric of the Trust.
Over the past nine years, we have developed a deep understanding about what leads to significant and positive change in people’s lives. Using that understanding, we produced four booklets to help other funders take away something beneficial from our learning. This webinar focussed on the learning included in two of these publications: ‘Being a Flexible Funder’ and ‘Strategic Funding’.
First, Carole Patrick from the Life Changes Trust took us back in time, to 2013 when the National Lottery Community Fund set up the Life Changes Trust. The Trust was something a little different on the funding landscape in Scotland and so Carole spoke with Neil Ritch, from the National Lottery Community Fund to ask him about how it all started, why they set up the Trust in the first place and, nine years later, his reflections on our journey.
We then took a short dive into our booklets on flexible funding and strategic funding. At the Trust, we believe that a flexible approach to funding – not just in how and what we fund, but also in our approach to funding management and taking risks - achieves a better outcome for our beneficiaries and also for our strategic ambitions. These booklets explain what flexible funding can look like in practice, how and why it works, as well as what a strategic approach to funding means and the benefits for funders in adopting these approaches. Arlene Crockett from the Life Changes Trust gave us the headline take-aways for each of these booklets.
Over the years we have worked alongside many other funders, including the William Grant Foundation who have contributed funds to our
‘Caring for the Carer’ fund the ‘Keep Well Fund’, our dementia friendly communities initiative, our Technology and Dementia project, and the Frameworks initiative for young people with care experience. Nick Addington from the William Grant Foundation joined Colm McBriarty to talk about what made the William Grant Foundation want to work along side the Trust, how they see flexible and strategic funding, and what he would say are the benefits of working in this way.
We then went on to talk more about flexible and strategic funding, but from the perspective of the awardee. We spoke with two people who have received funding from the Trust – Julie Twaddell and Gary Brown – about THEIR experience of the Trust as a funder. Gary now heads up the National Leadership Network for young people with care experience, currently hosted by the Life Changes Trust, but was formerly Lead Officer for Perth Champions Board which also received Trust funding. Julie is the Director of Dementia Friendly Prestwick – they received a £15,000 award from the Trust to pilot the first dementia ‘Meeting Centre’ on the West of Scotland. Colm McBriarty and Mhairi Reid from the Life Changes Trust caught up with them to hear what they had to say.
And finally, we held a Q&A panel session to hear from other funders about their experience of taking a flexible and strategic approach to funding.
The panel consisted of:
• Nick Addington (William Grant Foundation)
• Roddy Byers (National Lottery Community Fund)
• Celia Tennant (Inspiring Scotland)
• Arlene Crockett (Life Changes Trust)
• Florence Burke (BBC Children in Need)
This film is the entire webinar.
