Funding Socials: Meet Funders, Find New Resources & Connect with Your Peers

Funding Socials is an inspiring in-person event series designed for charity and social enterprise leaders looking for fresh ideas and connections to help boost income generation.

For this Funding Social in Aberdeen, we will be hosted in the amazing Aberdeen Science Centre. You will have the chance to hear directly from both Funders and local organisations working to raise funds.

The event is designed to help you cross the divide and connect with both funders and new peers, who can help you on your journey.

We will break up into small groups for you to meet and ask questions of:

Lauren Arthur, Engagement Manager for the Scotland Team at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Alison MacLachlan, UK Director, The Wood Foundation and Kieran Daly, Head of Market Building at Social Investment Scotland.

Ross Mackay (he/him), Co General Manager at The Grampian Regional Equality Council (GREC)will share his experience of working with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, securing funding and developing new income streams.

Jane Bruce will facilitate the session with the aim of creating an informal and accessible event.

Lauren, Alison and Kieran will explain the support and funds they offer charities and social enterprises and be ready to answer any questions you have.

You will be given a warm welcome with teas/coffees on arrival and the session will close with a light lunch, where you will have the chance to mix with funders and peers and make some new connections.

Find out more about our Funding Social speakers:

Lauren Arthur, Engagement Manager for the Scotland Team at The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The loudest introvert in the room, lover of music, boxing, and football. A big advocate for capacity building, empowering communities, and always up for a coffee, a blether, and a biscuit! I have been working with the National Lottery Heritage Fund for just over 3 years.

Alison MacLachlan, UK Director, The Wood Foundation.

Ali is UK Director of The Wood Foundation, a venture philanthropic organisation based in Scotland but with a global outlook. The Wood Foundation is committed to empowering societal and economic change in Scotland and East Africa. Ali was previously an External Examiner on the MSc Corporate Social Responsibility for the Robert Gordon’s University and on the national advisory board of MCR Pathways.

She is currently a Trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal and the University of Aberdeen Development Trust, while also the current Chair of the Scottish Grantmakers. Ali’s career has always been committed to education and development; seeking and developing impactful, meaningful, and innovative interventions which improve outcomes for young people and help them to thrive.

Outwith work, three young children and a needy labrador occupy the remaining free hours.

Ross Mackay,Co-General Manager, Casework and New Scots Project Coordinator

Ross has been happily working at GREC since 2018, across various projects, beginning with the Language Café, then coordinating our Casework and New Scots projects, before moving into a Co-General Manager role in 2023. It’s a privilege to work at GREC and contribute towards advancing equality and equity in the North East, especially as part of the GREC team.

The hosts for this session are:

Jane Bruce, Brilliant Leaders

Jane is the Founder of Brilliant Leaders, a social business which offers coaching and development programmes to leaders and teams with a social purpose. Jane is a former charity/social enterprise CEO, accredited Executive Coach and experienced facilitator.

Before setting up Brilliant Leaders, Jane was Chief Executive of Social Bite in Scotland. In this role, Jane led a team of 100+ staff and 90 volunteers to run a chain of social enterprise cafes, mass fundraising events and innovative housing programmes. Previously, Jane was Chief Executive of Venture Scotland, which provides a wilderness-based development programme to young people facing tough challenges.

Alongside Brilliant Leaders, Jane is a qualified football coach having previously played football in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.

and

Kieran Daly, Head of Market Building, Social Investment Scotland

Kieran started his career as a youth worker at The Prince’s Trust, devising and delivering training programmes. He has held senior management roles in business development for a range of arts, volunteering and youth organisations for over 15 years.

Kieran was Chief Operating Officer at food waste and food poverty fighting organisation, FoodCycle. While there, he grew the organisation’s presence from 14 to 30 locations around England in under two years, through a social franchising model.

Most recently, Kieran was Scotland Manager for Big Issue Invest, where he delivered a multi-agency partnership, engaging the private, public and third sectors in mentoring and lending money to early-stage social ventures. He is a keen cyclist who enjoys giving back by being on the Board of Social Enterprise Scotland.

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Host or Publisher Social Investment Scotland