Understanding the impact of Turn2us’s legacy grant programmes
- Published
- 04/12/2024
Since 1897, Turn2us has provided direct financial support through cash grants. Our Ongoing Grantees Programmes, the longest-running of our current grant-making initiatives, provide annual cash grants to around 500 people across the UK. Although we no longer accept new applicants to these programmes, they remain an important part of our work.
In September 2023, we launched a review of these programmes with external consultants Action With Impact. Through a survey and one-to-one conversations with grantees, we set out to better understand the impact of these grants and how we can improve the support we offer people.
Insights from this review have deepened our understanding of the long-term impact of financial insecurity on people’s lives. The stories shared have been deeply moving, revealing our grantees’ resilience, dignity and desire to contribute to their communities despite the challenges they face.
A review of our Ongoing Grantees Programmes
The insights from this review will guide our support for ongoing grantees and our broader grant-making strategy in the future.
What we’ve learnt
The findings have highlighted the importance of listening to those directly affected by financial insecurity, so that their experiences shape our work.
For many, the grants have provided a lifeline during crises, improving their financial resilience and preventing them from falling into debt. Grantees shared how the grants have helped them meet essential needs, alleviate financial stress, and, in some cases, rebuild their lives.
One grantee told us:
“[Turn2us] encouraged me all the way, when I didn't have friends. Now I've got friends and a life, I wonder if I would have made it the same if I didn't have their help and continue to have their help."
Another grantee shared how the support impacted their wellbeing:
"I feel as though I'm a normal person. Even, as I said, doing my little hobbies, I can afford that, it means I can do that and it makes a difference as I'm doing something that I'm enjoying and achieving."
The review found that cash grants, paired with high-quality signposting and information, are effective in helping people navigate complex systems and access additional support. This holistic approach can reduce barriers to financial security and provide a sense of stability during challenging times.
Another significant theme was the importance of grantees having opportunities for their voices to be heard and to participate in systems-change work, helping to address systemic barriers such as the stigma around social security and the rising cost of living. Grantees expressed feeling "invisible" and welcomed the chance to share their experiences and influence the systems that shape their lives
What next for our legacy grant programmes
Following the review, Turn2us will continue these programmes, with a further review scheduled for 2028 to align with our new strategy period. We will also look at how we can deepen our support for this group of grantees and simplify our grant processes, to ensure accessibility and transparency in all our grant-making.
We would like to thank all the grantees who took part in the review. Your voices have been invaluable in helping Turn2us make informed decisions about the future of these grant programmes, and we have been guided by your feedback.
We would also like to thank everyone at Turn2us who supported this project, including our co-production partners, Advisory Group members, the National Grants and Edinburgh Trust teams, and all the other staff who generously shared their time, expertise, and knowledge.