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In May 2022, The Essentia Foundation embarked on an important pilot initiative that aimed to provide long term financial assistance to youth organisations across Scotland. The Multi-year awards programme gave applicants the chance to apply for three-year awards of £9,000.00. The response to this initiative was nothing short of overwhelming, underscoring the pressing need for sustained funding options within the third sector.

Two years on and The Essentia Foundation has recently awarded 10 grants amounting to over £87,000.00. Beneficiary organisations are based across 6 local authorities and project activities ranged from supporting rural youth clubs and financing counselling for young people to encouraging youth to take part in hard to access sports.

In the Central Belt, Edinburgh Carers Council SCIO was awarded a three-year grant to contribute to the salary of a senior advocacy worker partnering carers to support young people with learning disabilities to access appropriate services and to move from the family home and live in the community.

“This will make such a difference to parents and carers of young people with disabilities transitioning from children to adult services.  It can be a daunting and complex time for carers navigating the myriads of health, social care and welfare systems as young people gain a level of independence with appropriate support systems.  Advocacy supports carers voices to be heard in navigating these systems and to focus on their own health and wellbeing.”

Alison May, Chief Executive.

In Angus, community organisation, Forfar Open Garden received an award to fund a youth engagement project in gardening, nature-based activities, photography, and video work. The project, based in the garden which is open four days a week from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (closed on Tuesdays), will encourage skills development in editing and photography. The project will integrate with existing sessions and offer new drop-in sessions, delivering weekly gardening and photography sessions alongside monthly training sessions on equipment use.

200 miles north, Wick Community Hub was supported with a three-year project aimed at providing comprehensive mental health support and career development opportunities for young people aged 12-25 in Wick and East Caithness. The initiative will seek to address urgent community needs, focusing on mental health challenges, poverty, and employment barriers faced by local youth.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this funding for our project, Wick Youth Thrives: Empowering Youth Through Mental Health. The funding over multiple years will help us to provide comprehensive mental health support and career development opportunities for young people aged 12-25 in Wick and East Caithness. This three-year project will address the urgent needs identified in our community, focusing on mental health challenges, poverty, and employment barriers faced by our young people.”

Cameron Reid, Chair of Wick Community Hub Committee.

The Essentia Foundation remains committed to supporting youth organisations over the long term. With multiyear funding often limited, the Foundation is pleased to offer this vital support. The next round of funding for the 12-month small grants programme will reopen in October 2024.