It wants to encourage “Christian reflection on Scotland’s constitutional future”

A grant-making charity is inviting bids for groups to organise events reflecting on Scotland’s constitutional future.

The Paristamen Charity – a small grant-giver based in East Lothian – is offering £25,000 to a charitable organisation able to co-ordinate events across Scotland in the run-up to a possible second independence referendum in October 2023.

It wants to encourage initiatives that will promote “Christian reflection on Scotland’s constitutional future”.

The grant is offered under Paristamen’s Blue Sky Grant Programme which is given each year on a specific theme

The invitation states: “A key aim will be to help Christians relate their faith to the decisions they take when voting, bearing in mind our calling as stewards of all that God has created and our responsibilities to order human society in accordance with Christ’s teaching.”

Professor Gareth Morgan, Paristamen’s chair of trustees, said: “As a small grant-making charity, Paristamen has funded a range of projects over the years that have sought to bring together those with different views on controversial issues, often with a Christian focus.

“In 2016 we supported Cardiff University to lead a series of workshops on the theme of Christian perspectives on death and dying. In 2018 we funded a small arts charity in Bradford for a project entitled EU Bah Gum! – Yorkshire voices on Brexitwhich led to a documentary film. Now in 2023 we hope to support Christians to engage carefully with the arguments on both sides in the lead up to a potential new Scottish independence referendum.”

An invitation to bid has been published here. Charities interested in submitting proposals are asked to contact Paristamen as soon as possible for an informal discussion, with formal bids due by 17 October.