- Corra has launched a new ten-year strategy to play its part in long term change on issues like equality, social action, wellbeing and rights.
- The foundation will work to strengthen and amplify people’s voices and their power to make change.
- As part of the new strategy, Henry Duncan Grants is changing to offer grants of up to five years, with mainly unrestricted funding.
Corra Foundation has today launched its 10-year strategy, which includes a new approach to Henry Duncan Grants, the £1m a year programme that support grassroots charities in Scotland.
Corra’s strategy centres on strengthening and amplifying people’s voices and power to make change. Reflecting this, the strategy was developed with input from charities who said they wanted funding that comes with trust and time. In response, Henry Duncan Grants will offer simpler processes, with grants of up to five years, unrestricted wherever possible.
Over the coming decade Corra believes the power to create change rests with people themselves. Corra’s role is to ensure that people with ideas for radical change are supported, skilled, connected and confident.
Corra Chief Executive Fiona Duncan said:
“Our strategy is a response to the world we live in, and to the one we want to play a part in building. We’ve taken the bold step of setting out our 10-year vision, providing clarity on our priorities and direction and recognising that change takes time.
This strategy is not about Corra, it’s about the people and communities we work alongside to champion fairness, rights and connected communities and tackle challenges such as poverty, problematic drug and alcohol use, loneliness and mental health issues.
At the heart of this strategy is our belief that when people find their voice, they unlock the power to make change happen. We have the privilege of seeing the amazing things that people and groups across Scotland do every day to support each other. We want to be bolder and more creative in the way in which we play our part in supporting this.”
Corra will continue to develop relationships with communities of place and interest. This will include new projects such as Participatory Scotland, supporting local communities to connect with each other and use their voice and power to influence wider change. It will mean increasing participatory approaches within grant programmes, for example through lived experience panels and models of community-controlled funding. It will also include wide collaboration, including managing funding on behalf of others and working together to use learning and evidence to influence policy, practice and systems change.
For further information please contact Shelley Gray (Head of External Relations) on 07816 509 772 or shelley@corra.scot
Notes to editors
- Corra Foundation exists to make a difference to the lives of people and communities. It works with others to encourage positive change, opportunity, fairness and growth of aspirations which improve quality of life. Corra wants to see a society in which people create positive change and enjoy fulfilling lives.
- Over the coming decade Corra will try to help bring about three big shifts:
- The power to create change rests with people themselves.
Everyone should have power, control and the sense that they can make a difference through what they do. Too many people feel that their voice isn’t heard or listened to and that decisions that affect them are taken by other people. Corra will work to support people and communities and challenge the barriers that get in their way, with the aim of more people having the power to create change. - People with ideas for radical change are supported, skilled, connected and confident.
The people who know best how to respond to challenges are those who are most closely affected by them. Often though, they can’t access the support that would tip the odds in their favour. This might include funding that comes with trust and time… opportunities to build and share skills… and the chance to make connections with others, in Scotland and beyond. Corra will develop this type of support and aim to make it more widely accessible to people as they pursue radical change. - People are working together to respond to the big challenges facing Scotland.
The most powerful way to find new solutions is by bringing lived and learned expertise to the table. This type of social change needs a whole range of tools, including: making best use of data; funding; helping people build their confidence and skills; networking; learning, sharing and campaigning. Corra will continue to work with others, creating spaces – where they are needed – for people to share, learn, collaborate and influence together.
- The main changes to Corra’s Henry Duncan Grants are:
- Move to multi-year grants of up to five years.
- Greater flexibility, with grants unrestricted wherever possible.
- Lighter touch processes.
- Rolling programme of micro grants.
- Continuing to have a broad focus, but with yearly themes to help increase impact and chances to network and share learning.
- Corra manages a range of funding on behalf of others, including on issues such as homelessness, mental health, gender justice and children and young people.
- For more information visit www.corra.scot
