£349,000 to support community-led dementia projects
Over a quarter of a million pounds has been given to 27 dementia projects across Scotland to support the growth of community-led support for people living with dementia, their carers and family members.
Age Scotland’s dementia ‘Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity’ fund is providing £349,393 in community grants to groups. This third year of ESGA funding has delivered the largest allocation to date, reflecting the fund's growing popularity across Scotland.
These grants have been supported by Scottish Government funding, allocated via a National Dementia Resilient Communities Programme Board made up of lived experience voices, local and national partners. This funding, and the work of the Board, supports the aims of the new National Dementia Strategy, particularly in building resilience and sustainability in community support for people living with dementia and unpaid carers.
Funding decisions were made in collaboration with a lived experience panel of people living with dementia and unpaid carers, ensuring that those with first-hand insight played a key role in shaping the allocation of grants.
Awards will be distributed by April 2025, and will allow communities to deliver projects and realise the benefits and impact of their work as soon as possible.
The 27 successfully funded projects are:
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Badenoch Shinty Memories (Highlands)
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Befrienders Highland (Highlands)
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Evanton Wood Community Company (Highlands)
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Gairloch Museum (Highlands)
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Rag Tag and Textile LTD (Highlands)
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The Forget Me Not Community Choir (Argyll and Bute)
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Islay Gaelic Centre (Argyll and Bute)
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The Community Bureau (Argyll and Bute)
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Weekday Wow Factor (Glasgow City)
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Menself + (Glasgow City)
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Shanti Bhavan Social & Cultural Centre (Glasgow City)
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Tarang Art & Wellbeing Association of Scotland (Glasgow City)
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Acorn Shed (East Dunbartonshire)
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Arbroath Connections (Angus)
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Carers Forum Stirling - Stirling Carers Centre (Stirling)
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Dementia Friendly Doune & Deanston (Stirling)
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Stirling4Community (Stirling)
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Cosgrove Care (East Renfrewshire)
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Dementia Friendly Aberfeldy (Perth and Kinross)
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Dementia Friendly Tweeddale (Scottish Borders)
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Nomad Beat (Scottish Borders)
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Four Pillar SCIO (Aberdeen City)
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Johnstone Dementia Friendly Community Group (Renfrewshire)
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Recovery Enterprises Scotland CIC (East Ayrshire)
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Shetland Community Connections (Shetland Islands)
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St Andrew's Dementia Hub (South Lanarkshire)
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Community Connectors CIC (Moray)
Anna Clements, Head of Dementia and Age Scotland, said:
"We are delighted to announce the recipients of our third round of ESGA funding, bringing our total investment in community-led dementia support to over £1 million. This year we made a conscious effort to ensure a broad spread of grant holders across Scotland, particularly in rural areas where access to support can be more challenging.
"It’s inspiring to see such a diverse range of projects receiving funding which helps people living with dementia, their carers, and families stay connected and supported in their communities. From towns and cities to islands and remote areas, these organisations play a vital role in empowering people to live well with dementia.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Scottish Government for their continued support, which allows us to address crucial gaps in care and ensure that more communities across Scotland can benefit from this vital funding.”
Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd said:
“Everyone’s experience with dementia is different, and we are supporting people to live well for longer in their communities following a dementia diagnosis.
“This announcement represents a milestone in how we support grassroots groups and activities to play their part in this mission, and I am delighted for each of the projects which has successfully applied for funding.
“With the support and guidance of the National Dementia Resilient Communities Programme Board, the Scottish Government looks forward to continuing to work with Age Scotland to enhance the dementia experience in communities across Scotland.”
