Bank of Scotland Foundation recognises the profound impact that the cost of living crisis is having on people across Scotland. To ensure their funding can reach those in real need, the Empower grants programme for 2025 will solely focus on helping charities who support vulnerable groups/people.

The Empower programme provides unrestricted funding. Unrestricted funding gives charities much greater scope to cover all essential costs and deal with challenges quickly and effectively.  Unrestricted funding can be used towards core costs, delivery costs, project costs and/or general running costs enabling charities to use their funding in the way that helps them best.  

Through our Empower programme they’ll also be collaborating with Lloyds Banking Group to identify opportunities to add value for funded charities.  Through strategic development support and colleague volunteers, they aim to help charities grow stronger and thrive beyond the lifetime of their grant.  The programme opens at 12 noon, Mon 3 February 2025 and closes at 12 noon, Wed 12 February 2025.

To be eligible for this programme:

• Your charity must support vulnerable groups.
• Your charity must also be registered in Scotland with a charity number beginning SC0.
• your charity must have a minimum of three years accounts lodged and checked at OSCR (Please note these three years accounts must be for the charity number on the Empower grant application). 
• Your records at OSCR (and Companies House if applicable) must not be overdue.
• Your OSCR record must say “it carries out activities or services itself” for the types of activity undertaken.
• your charity income must be between £150k – £500k per year as stated in your most recent accounts that have been lodged and checked at OSCR. (If your charity income is out with these amounts then it is not eligible for this programme and the application cannot be progressed.)
• your charity must operate in Scotland.  

Find out full information at https://bankofscotlandfoundation.org/funding-programmes/empower.

All applications must be submitted online by 12 noon, Wed 12 February 2025. The online application system will automatically close at 12 noon and the Foundation team will be unable to accept applications after this deadline. 

If unsure of your eligibility please contact the Foundation team at enquiries@bankofscotlandfoundation.co.uk