Our new flexible approach to working
As we approach the one year anniversary of the first lockdown, it's hard to believe how much has changed in the way we all work.
One year ago, our staff were working from a variety of locations across Scotland. Some were working from home, others from our offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Gatehouse of Fleet.
Even before the official lockdown began, we'd swiftly transitioned to home working for all staff to ensure their safety and minimise any disruption to our services. Since then, we've experienced the busiest period of grantmaking in the history of the Foundation. Our Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund became a lifeline for organisations needing urgent funds to enable them to support their communities in crisis. In addition, many of our community funds adapted to the changing needs of their communities, and panel members worked exceptionally hard to support this.
Like many of the organisations we support, we've also had to adapt. To this day, all our staff continue to work from home. This virtual approach has worked well for us, even throughout our busiest times. We’ll continue this approach in future. However, we recognise the importance of our staff meeting face-to-face, and likewise the value of meeting our donors and partners in person – the human touch. So, once it is safe to return to a physical workspace, we will be embracing a new blended model.
This new model will offer flexibility through a mix of home working and using a range of regional coworking hubs and meeting spaces. No longer will we have any physical office premises in Scotland. This new blend of agile working and physical gathering offers our staff, donors, grantees and stakeholders the greatest flexibility going forward.
Your community foundation is always here for you, online now and blended soon, once we're able to do so. Our new regional co-working spaces are not just for us, they're there so we can meet with you too. In the meantime, its business as usual. We're all still here for you, there's no change in how you get in touch.
"The adaptability and dependability our staff have shown over the past 12 months is incredible. Not only in becoming fully digital but doing so during our busiest time as a grantmaker.
Over the past year, we've invested in new systems and in considering how best to meet future needs. We believe this new blended approach offers the best of all worlds. It allows us to grow the Foundation safely and sustainably whilst continuing to support Scotland's charities, social enterprises and voluntary projects to do the same within their communities".
Giles Ruck, Chief Executive