How our funds help
Over the past ten years, Hillcrest has distributed more than £1.7 million to 310 projects to help improve the lives of individuals and communities experiencing disadvantage all across Scotland.
These funds can be split into three areas: reducing isolation, tackling inequalities, and improving health and wellbeing.
Tackling Inequalities
The cost-of-living crisis has increased the number of people experiencing food insecurity and fuel poverty across Scotland. In response, the Hillcrest Foundation focussed the external 2024 funding on charities seeking to alleviate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
The Foundation is delighted to be able to support vital community projects like Boomerang Community Centre’s Cosy Café and Food Larder providing a warm welcoming space and low-cost food items.
Reducing Isolation
Social isolation can affect anyone, but disproportionately affects people with a disability and mental health issues. With support from the Hillcrest Foundation, the Futures Resource Hub in Edinburgh has facilitated multiple engaging activities to tackle isolation and improve people’s lives.
The project reduced social isolation by showing service users they are welcome, accepted and included in every activity. This made them feel more confident, sociable and active in such settings.
Improving Health & Wellbeing
In 2021, 1295 people in Scotland died from a drug-related death each day. Every single one was a human being with dreams, aspirations, talent and potential. Each of them left a hole in the lives of those who loved them. They mattered.
The Foundation supports peer workers as we understand the value of lived experience of substance use and recovery, and encourages people with lived experience to get involved.
Awarded Projects
Projects and organisations that were awarded funds through the Hillcrest Foundation in 2024:
- Ardler Primary School
- Boomerang Community Centre
- DIWC
- Dundee United Community Trust
- Fairfield community sports hub
- HELM training
- Just Bee Productions
- Lifegate
- Menzieshill community hub
- St. Salvador’s Food Cupboard
- Steeple parish nursing
- TOGS children’s clothing bank
- Harris Academy
- St. Ninian’s RC primary school
- Havilah Project
- Montrose Community Trust
- Monifieth Community Resource Group
- Letham for All
- Broke not Broken
Community Benefits Programme
The Hillcrest Foundation was established to support local communities and help people live better lives. Through our partnerships and community benefits programme, we have been able to increase our impact and extend our reach to a wider audience.
In 2024 we awarded £123,212 of funding to 20 community groups and charities across Aberdeen, Angus, Dundee, Fife, Perth and Kinross.
Here’s a Case Study which shows the positive impact the Foundation has on local Dundee charity, Feeling Strong. This Dundee-based charity aims to improve the lives of young people living with mental health and wellbeing challenges.
Want to get more involved?
We are always looking to expand our impact, so if you share our commitment to improving communities and creating positive change, then we would like to hear from you.
Each year Hillcrest staff, service users and supporters take part in exciting fundraising challenges such as the Kiltwalk and Banchory Beast Race to raise money for the Hillcrest Foundation. If this is something you would like to get involved with, please email us at foundation@hillcrest.org.uk. or visit: https://hillcrest.org.uk/hillcrest-foundation/how-to-get-involved/
