Funders

Funding

Current Funders

First Step relies on grant funding to ensure that we continue to provide our services to the local community. Over our 30 year history we have been funded by various grant funders such as Children in Need, Volant Trust, Robertson Trust, Edinburgh and Lothian’s Health Foundation and NHS Lothian Health Improvement Fund. 

Our current main funders are: 

East Lothian Council (One Council Funding) 

Big Lottery Fund (Improving Lives Fund)

Funding through the Improving lives fund is focused on activities that help people overcome challenges and difficulties in their lives supporting them to become more resilient. These activities mean that people:

This Funding covers our Family Support Service including Outreach, Respite, Groups and Counselling. 

Henry Smith (Improving Lives Fund) 

The Improving Lives grant programme provides grants to charitable organisations that help people when other sources of support have failed, are inappropriate, or are simply not available.

They support established organisations delivering services directly to beneficiaries. The fund services which can demonstrate a track record of success, and evidence the effectiveness of the work. 

This funding covers our Family Support Service including Outreach, Respite, Groups and Counselling. 

The Robertson Trust

The Robertson Trust fund and support organisations working to alleviate poverty and trauma in Scotland.

This funding covers our Family Support Service including Outreach, Groups and Counselling. 

As well as our main funders, First Step applies for funding for specific projects or initiatives to meet the current needs of the local community. 

Here are a few examples of funding that we have received: 

Wellbeing Fund

Period Poverty East Lothian Council

Musselburgh Area Partnership & Support from the Start – Speech and Language Therapy Project- Raising Attainment in the Early Years. 

Musselburgh Area Partnership – Your Voice, Your Choice (2019)