Henry Duncan Grants

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In 2023, Henry Duncan Grants funded organisations that increase opportunities for Deaf/Disabled People and/or people living with long term conditions, helping them to participate fully in society and live independently.

Henry Duncan Grants 2023 was open to grassroots organisations with an annual income of £250,000 or less. Organisations could apply for up to £40,000 across five years (£8,000 per year).

Grants awarded totalled £925,000. In recognition of historic inequity in funding, £233,000 of this fund went to organisations who are Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Led.

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There were two different types of Henry Duncan Grants in 2023

Organisation Grants

Unrestricted funding to Deaf/Disabled People’s Organisations or user led organisations supporting people living with long term conditions.

Organisations had a core aim of helping to reduce the barriers preventing people from within these communities from participating in society and living independently.

Project Grants for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Led Organisations

Project funding for organisations that are led by people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. Grants supported projects that increase opportunities for Deaf/Disabled People or people living with long term conditions.

This included opportunities for people to have their voices heard, take up leadership roles, or undertake work to reduce stigma in relation to disability and/or long term conditions.

Decision making process

Applications were assessed for eligibility and fit with the fund criteria by a Corra Grants Advisor. At this point, applicants were contacted if further information was needed.

Applications were peer reviewed by other Corra staff. At this stage, some applications did not progress if they were not eligible or a good fit with the fund theme.

Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of individuals with lived experience of disability and long term conditions including individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.

This decision makers panel met to discuss applications and decide which organisations to fund.

Why were some applications unsuccessful?

Some of the most common reasons that organisations did not receive funding:

  • The organisation did not meet the eligibility criteria.
  • The organisation’s activities did not directly benefit Deaf/Disabled People and/or people living with long term conditions.
  • The organisation was already receiving a Henry Duncan Grant from a previous funding round.

What are the reporting requirements for funded organisations?

Successful applicants are asked to give us a yearly report about your work. We may contact you with questions or just to hear more about your story. Once we have read and understood your report, we will send you the next year’s funding.

Previous Henry Duncan Grant funds

In 2019, Henry Duncan Grants were reviewed to understand how we could design a funding programme that met the needs and provided the support that Scotland’s voluntary sector needed.

Read about Henry Duncan Grants Review.

In response to the review, Henry Duncan Grants now provides 5 year unrestricted or project funding. Each year there is a different theme. Since 2021, 30% of the fund has been ring-fenced for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic led organisations. 

Henry Duncan funds

2020

The impact of poverty on families
  • 125 applications
  • 61 grants made
  • £976k distributed
  • 49% success rate

2021

Mental health and wellbeing
  • 156 applications
  • 34 grants made
  • £970k distributed
  • 22% success rate

2022

Children & young people facing challenges
  • 204 applications
  • 27 grants made
  • £944k distributed
  • 13% success rate

2023

Deaf/Disabled People and/or people living with long term conditions
  • 43 applications
  • 27 grants made
  • £925k distributed
  • 63% success rate

Which organisations received funding?

View our grant holder data. Alternatively, you can view our grant holder data on 360 Giving.

Further reading and related content