A Record-Breaking Year of Grant Making

Client: Bank of Scotland Foundation

In 2025, the partnership between Bank of Scotland Foundation and Lloyds Banking Group became a vital source of hope during a year of immense pressure on Scotland’s communities. United by the belief that everyone deserves the chance to thrive, the partnership responded to rising demand, escalating costs, and the instability caused by short-term, restricted funding. The Foundation led the way in promoting multiyear, unrestricted, full-cost funding, signalling a shift towards trust, sustainability, and dignity for small charities.

This vision shaped the Foundation’s largest funding year, investing £6.8 million in 126 grassroots organisations and helping protect essential services. Lloyds Banking Group strengthened this impact through financial commitment and infrastructure support, while colleagues shared their skills through the Enhance mentoring programme, building confidence, leadership, and resilience in charities that rarely have access to such expertise. The Matched Giving programme further amplified colleague generosity, unlocking more than £460,000 for crisis support, youth work, community events, and family services.

Innovation continued through Thrive, a UK wide programme delivering £1.4 million in financial resilience support. At the heart of this progress was a small team whose commitment provided stability and hope, reinforcing that Scotland’s communities deserve trust, support, and the opportunity to flourish.