The Pebble Trust was set up in 2014 to support projects working towards a more sustainable, fair and low-carbon society and in that time has made 130 awards totalling more than £700,000. At this point in its history, the Trust commissioned a review to assess the impact and the difference its funding has made by enabling positive outcomes across its charitable objects of community development, environmental protection, education and science.
- The review of its grant-making impact involved an online survey completed by 51% of grant awardees and in-depth interviews with 22 grant recipients.
- The main geographic area covered by the work of respondents was the Scottish Highlands and Islands with just over 30% of respondents covering this area. A further 24% covered the whole of Scotland, and 21% the Inner Moray Firth area. 5% covered the Global south.
Headline findings from the survey indicate an overwhelmingly positive experience of the application process itself with a genuine appreciation for the Trust’s flexibility and the approach and interest it takes in applications.
95% of respondents stated the application form was very easy or easy to complete. 38% surpassed the objectives they were hoping for with Pebble Trust funding while 41% reported the objectives were exactly as expected.
92% of respondents stated that completing the end-of-project report was also either very easy or easy.
Trust feedback on applications was widely appreciated. The level of genuine interest and intelligent questioning were viewed as important in strengthening applications and project refinement.
Although a number of projects have not continued, and several organisations that were funded have ceased to exist, a high proportion continue to operate and deliver impact.
Most projects met all three of the Trust’s charitable objectives: 71% community development, 65% environmental protection, 62% education and science.
Funding from The Pebble Trust is viewed as essential in enabling projects to go ahead. More than 50% of respondents stated their project could not have happened without the financial support of the Trust. Furthermore, investment from The Pebble Trust was seen as key in helping leverage significant additional funding.
Most projects, 70%, continue after funding from The Pebble Trust stopped, indicating a lasting impact of the investment made.
Any challenges faced by applicants were due to unplanned, external factors of which the Covid19 pandemic was the main one. In all cases applicants found the Trust to be understanding, flexible and responsive.
The Trust is seen as a significant funder. This is not only because of the money invested but because of wider impacts which many recipients had not expected. These included allowing work that was in-depth and involved specialists which boosted project credibility and opened wider opportunities; funding projects other funders would be reluctant to support; and early-stage funding which allowed a project to then mature.
Our thanks to Impact Hub Inverness. We were impressed with the quality and clarity of their work and their interaction with our grantees. To find out more, download the full evaluation report by Impact Hub Inverness.