The harm caused to many people by drugs and alcohol has made headlines in Scotland over recent months. People’s experiences tell us that the systems of support available to them can be difficult to access and sometimes slow to adapt to changing needs. Third sector and statutory organisations have crucial roles to play by working in partnership, listening to people affected by drugs and alcohol and improving systems. To support this, Corra Foundation is delivering the second round of the Scottish Government’s Challenge Fund. Originally launched in late 2018, the first round of the Challenge Fund attracted applications from organisations and partnerships right across Scotland, and we were delighted that 25 inspiring projects were supported.
The Challenge Fund’s principal aim is to help break down barriers for people accessing services for support with their substance use, and importantly, to make sure that they receive the right support at the right time. The fund is intended to provide space to re-think systems, test change and implement new ways of working.
We know that applying for funding is not always an easy process. That’s why we want to offer organisations the chance to come along to an event that will help support them if they decide to apply. We’ve tried hard to design the day in a way that we hope will provide attendees with useful information about how best to shape their applications.
Professor Catriona Matheson, Chair of Scotland’s Drug Deaths Taskforce will open this all-day event, the first of several presentations which will provide support and information to help organisations shape their applications. Participants will also hear from projects funded through the first round of the fund, and can join workshops based around the priorities for the second round.
In the spirit of ongoing improvement, the event will also be trialing something new and exciting! Participants will be given the chance to receive peer feedback on their project ideas. We hope it will be a fantastic opportunity for organisations to raise awareness of their work, hone ideas and even form new collaborative relationships.
There are still a few places left for the event which is on Monday 21 October at the Renfield Training and Conference Centre in Glasgow. To book your place please just click on the link below:
https://www.tfaforms.com/4763788
