Almost 70 communities throughout Scotland have benefited from the Social Investment Fund
A leading third sector funder in Scotland has published a report detailing the impact the Scottish Investment Fund (SIF) has had across Scotland.
Managed by Social Investment Scotland (SIS) on behalf of the Scottish Government, the £31.8 million cash pot has provided investment to almost 70 communities over the past six years.
The report presents an evaluation of the SIF which exists to build capacity, capability and financial sustainability across the Scottish third sector.
Findings illustrate the improvement across employment, training and education.
All recipients reported an improved effectiveness in their organisation, while 95% said SIF funding had increased trading, 95% said it had built capacity within their organisation and 92% said it contributed to the national outcomes of the Scottish Government.
Projects like Impact Arts really bring to life the benefits of the Scottish Investment Fund, which has been hugely significant to developing our enterprising third sector
Another important fact that emerged focusses on employment rates. Due to SIF funding, groups reported the number of full time staff increasing – on average from 12, before SIF funding, to 16 afterwards. This is expected rise to 20 within the next three years.
One of the fund’s beneficiaries is national community arts charity Impact Arts, which delivers quality, accessible arts and cultural experiences to thousands of people of all ages each year.
It received a £500,000 investment from the SIF which enabled it to fund various initiatives including its Creative Pathways programme which helps unemployed young people to engage in creative processes and enterprise activities.
The charity found that for every £1 invested in the programme there is a social return of £5.68.
Representatives from Impact Arts visited SIS’s office recently to exhibit work in costume design.
Steven Ross, 17, and Emma Zima, 18, who completed the Creative Pathways programme both showcased costumes from the production After Aria, which was written, designed and performed by young people on the programme at Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival.
They both designed and manufactured costumes for characters in the show.
Emma said: “Through the costume design programme I learnt many different ways of sewing and how to use a sewing machine. I made a mask, kimono and skirt which were used in the Fringe performance.
“I feel proud to be part of the fringe show, and being involved with Impact Arts has led on to me going to college to do an art course.”
Angela Constance, the Scottish Government cabinet secretary for training, youth and women’s employment, said: “Projects like Impact Arts really bring to life the benefits of the Scottish Investment Fund, which has been hugely significant to developing our enterprising third sector.
“The fund has had a clearly made a difference to programmes aimed at improving employment, education and training and I hope to see some Impact Arts designs in the near future.”
Alastair Davis, chief executive of Social Investment Scotland, said: “Through the SIF we have made investments into some very exciting and innovative projects across Scotland.
“This evaluation report has highlighted how important the SIF has been to the development of the social investment marketplace in Scotland.
“The legacy of the SIF is that it is fully recyclable. We are already reinvesting income and repayments from the fund into the future development of Scotland’s social enterprise via our new Social Growth Fund and have so far been able to leverage over £8m of new investment into Scotland which is fantastic.
“It has been great today to see the results of the SIF through the work of Impact Arts and I look forward to working closely with the Scottish Government and with third sector organisations across Scotland to build on our success.”
