The funding comes from the Recovery and Resilience Programme, a £5 million initiative delivered by Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) and funded by Foundation Scotland. The programme is designed to help development trusts move beyond day-to-day survival by investing in their organisational resilience – ensuring they have the knowledge and strategies in place to continue serving their communities for years to come.

Unlike most funding programmes that focus on individual projects or service delivery, the Recovery and Resilience Programme invests directly in the foundation of the organisations themselves. This support enables development trusts to plan ahead, adapt to challenges, and develop the leadership, governance and structures needed to thrive.

Almost £800,000 has already been awarded from the fund to development trusts across Scotland, including Wester Loch Ewe Trust in Ross-shire, which used its grant to hire a Development Manager to help the Trust take a more strategic approach to planning and growth.

Liz Nicholson, chair of Wester Loch Ewe Trust, said: “The grant and support from DTAS is helping us build something sustainable that will benefit our community for years to come.

“We’re a small, volunteer-led board with limited capacity, so having a full-time Development Manager means we can plan ahead and focus on growth. She’s already begun exploring ways to make better use of our existing facilities and secure additional funding for projects.

“This support is going to make an enormous difference – not just to the Trust, but the wider community as a whole.”

Open to all DTAS member organisations, the programme goes beyond funding. It offers tailored guidance to help development trusts build strengthen community involvement, set goals and improve how they are run.

Errin Anderson, head of member support at DTAS, said: “At a time when many communities are facing rising costs and increasing demand for local services, development trusts play a vital role in driving regeneration and delivering social and economic benefits to communities. But to do that, they themselves need a strong foundation.

“The Recovery and Resilience Programme isn’t about funding projects – it’s about helping organisations think strategically and strengthen for the long term.”

Rachel Searle, head of communications & impact at Foundation Scotland, added: “Development Trusts are often the backbone of community infrastructure, supporting social, economic, cultural, and environmental activity in our communities.

“The £5m award from Foundation Scotland last year recognised the significance of their role and represented the largest single award we have made to date.

“We are so pleased to see the announcement of the first awards from the Recovery and Resilience Programme as we’re aware that many Development Trusts are coming under increasing pressure as costs rise and the funding landscape becomes tighter.

“By supporting DTAS to establish this fund, our intention was to make an investment that would enable support for long-term strength, resilience and sustainability in communities. We’re delighted to see the Response and Resilience Programme creating those opportunities, supporting Development Trusts all over Scotland.”

Applications are open now for DTAS members on the DTAS website, with funding available until 31 December 2027.