We want to share a very exciting report that highlights the fantastic projects carried out by some of our members through the Pockets and Prospects Programme between December 2022 and January 2025.

Click here to read the Pockets and Prospects Impact Report 2025.

Funded by the Scottish Government, the programme aimed to mitigate the effects of poverty and build community capacity. The fund supported a community-led approach to addressing issues by providing community anchor organisations the resource to support local groups and/or deliver essential support in partnership.

We are always keen to share the impressive work our members do and this report highlights some of that. The report found that 26 organisations from across Scotland were awarded funding spanning over four key themes: young people and families; health, wellbeing and life skills; community engagement and social inclusion; and food and fuel poverty.

With an average experience rating of 4.96/5, the flexibility of the programme has allowed groups to adapt to emerging needs within their communities and take a holistic approach to meet those needs. The diverse and emotional testimonials included in the report highlight the centrality of the fund to the continued delivery of these essential support services.

Unfortunately, the funding for this programme has now come to its end. Given the extensive impact it has had on some of the most vulnerable households and individuals within recipient communities, its end will be widely felt. Many groups who have used the funding to meet the extraordinary and growing demand for essential support around access to food, civic advice, childcare, employment support and more, may have to reduce the scope of their service provision. With community anchor organisations around the country facing rising costs and cuts to grant funding, flexible funds such as Pockets and Prospects were essential to fund their core services.

It is evident from the case studies, testimonials, and data highlighted in the report that both community anchor organisations and the communities they serve are immensely grateful to be in receipt of a fund like Pockets and Prospects. With its flexibility the fund has allowed communities to use it to meet their changing needs and support the provision of the most essential services within an increasingly challenging economic context.

Click here to read the Pockets and Prospects Impact Report 2025.