A SCOTTISH Community Foundation has revealed that demand for grants and funding for charities has almost doubled in the past six months.

Foundation Scotland have seen a 92% increase in funds handed out to charities during the COVID-19 crisis, with £3.6million made available through their Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund and a partnership with National Emergency Fund.

Helen Wray, programme manager at Foundation Scotland said: “We could see the impact that COVID was going to have and we knew we needed to move extremely quickly so that we could continue to deliver reliable financial support to groups delivering essential services across the country."

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One charity which has benefited from funding from Foundation Scotland are Govan-based refugee charity Outdoors For You.

The charity, which specialises in mental and physical wellbeing of Glagsow's refugee and asylum seeker population, received £4,312 to continue vital service during lockdown.

Razgar Hassan, chief executive of Outdoors For You: said: "Thanks to their funding, we can support asylum seekers and refugees housed in Glasgow hotels by providing free guided walks in the stunning Scottish countryside and enable them to gain the benefits of mindfulness in nature."

The charity offers free walks to Glasgow's refugee and asylum seeker community, including those currently living in the city's hotels and hostels.

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Razgar said: "During this global pandemic, we have all realised the stress and anxiety that comes with isolation, and it is vital we tackle these issues head on for those who have already suffered greatly in their journey to safety."

With more than £1.5m handed out to Glasgow-based projects, the grants from Foundation Scotland's Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund has helped to support around 620,000 people in the city.

Helen Wray added: "We appreciate that funding is becoming harder to secure and demand for essential services is often higher than ever before.

"So we are delighted that due to an increase in funding from National Emergency Trust, we are able to continue to offer these essential awards to allow groups to apply for support where they need it most.”