Scotch Whisky Action Fund: Tackling alcohol-related harms

Objective

The Scotch Whisky industry is and has been involved for many years in a range of initiatives to promote responsible attitudes to alcohol and tackle alcohol-related harm. The establishment of this fund by the Scotch Whisky Association is a further development of that commitment.

Description

The Fund aims to invest in groups and organisations that have innovative plans to reduce the impact of alcohol-related harm in Scotland’s communities. Launched in 2013, it was a five-year commitment to provide £100,000 per annum. In 2018 the decision was taken to extend the Fund until 2023 delivering £1 million of funding over 10 years.

The Fund is looking to support and develop a range of projects/initiatives which deliver targeted interventions designed to tackle alcohol-related harms in Scotland’s communities.

The Fund focuses on applications from new/innovative or pilot initiatives which aim to test fresh approaches and which will offer an opportunity for learning that others can use. Awards of up to a maximum of £25,000 for a one-year period can be made through this Fund. Whilst applicants can apply for up to £25,000, an award of this level is only granted in exceptional circumstances. In practice, most awards are in the region of £10,000. Applicants must also explain how they plan to evaluate the project.

Projects which secure funding under this Fund and can demonstrate an impact can receive further funding of up to £25,000 per annum to support their initiative. The Fund will support projects for a maximum of three years.

Partners

Foundation Scotland

Results

As of October 2019, 48 projects have been supported across Scotland. Details of the projects are given in the attached documents. In 2019 eight projects received awards, these projects will be delivering their initiatives in 2020. An Impact Report covering the first five years of operation of the Fund will be published in 2020.

Measurement & evaluation

Foundation Scotland monitors the individual initiatives that receive funding.
Each initiative that receives funding as part of its application is required to set out how it will evaluate its impact.

An Update and Impact Report was published in 2017, copy attached.