Letter by Carolyn Sawyers, Deputy CEO of Corra Foundation, and Kenneth Ferguson, Director of The Robertson Trust.
The Partnership Drugs Initiative (PDI) was established in 2001 as a partnership between Corra Foundation and The Scottish Government to promote voluntary sector work with vulnerable children and young people affected by alcohol and drugs.
Its two aims; to increase the wellbeing of children and young people (0- 25) in Scotland affected by alcohol and other drugs, and to help develop and influence both local and national policy, still hold strong today.
In 2014, PDI focused on identifying and addressing geographical and thematic gaps, widely disseminating its learning and optimising the funding. At this point The Robertson Trust became an investor and since then has contributed £2m, which significantly increased the available funding and therefore the number of projects which could be supported.
Since 2014, 78 projects across Scotland have received funding totalling £6.6m, providing much needed support to some of the most vulnerable children and families. Everyone Has a Story the action research project that centres on the importance of listening to children’s experiences was produced, and building on this work remains a key priority for Corra Foundation.
The funding partnership between The Robertson Trust and PDI has now come to an end. The funding allocated to organisations currently supported through PDI will continue as intended. The Robertson Trust, although no longer an investor in PDI remains committed to its aims and plans to consider how it may offer additional funding for future projects which require extra support.
The 18-year partnership between Corra Foundation and The Scottish Government continues, with both committed to PDI.
