Funding Socials: Connecting with Communities in Orkney
26 Jun 2025
Earlier this month, Social Investment Scotland (SIS) made its first-ever visit to Orkney to host Funding Socials, as part of our commitment to supporting social enterprises across Scotland. Held in the Old Library in Kirkwall, the event brought together local third sector leaders for an afternoon of open conversation, shared learning, and connection.
With 27 attendees from across Orkney’s vibrant third sector, the session created space for dialogue around funding, sustainability, and the practical realities of running purpose-led organisations. We were pleased to work closely with Voluntary Action Orkney, whose local insight and support helped shape the event and ensure it reflected the priorities of the community.
Funding Socials is designed to bring people together - funders, support agencies, and frontline organisations - to make connections, ask questions, and explore new opportunities. In Kirkwall, participants engaged in informal discussions and Q&A sessions with a range of contributors, including speakers from Voluntary Action Orkney and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Firstport, Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) and Democratic Finance Scotland joined remotely to share insights and guidance on the support available.
Local organisations spoke about their work in a rural and island context, highlighting both challenges and creative approaches. The atmosphere was open and collaborative, and a reflection of the strong relationships and shared purpose that drive Orkney’s third sector.
During his visit, SIS’s Head of Market Building, Kieran Daly, had the chance to spend time exploring the island, including a visit to the Italian Chapel and the picturesque village of St Margaret’s Hope. Connecting with the local culture and landscape added a meaningful dimension to the trip, offering a deeper appreciation of the community context in which this important work is taking place.
Our visit to Orkney reinforced the value of meeting people where they are and hearing directly from local organisations, understanding their context, and creating space for practical, open conversations.
We’ll continue taking Funding Socials to communities across Scotland, with the aim of building useful connections, sharing knowledge, and helping organisations access the support they need.
It was a real privilege to visit Orkney and spend time with such a committed and thoughtful group of local organisations. The conversations were honest and insightful, and it was clear that despite the challenges of operating in a rural and island setting, there’s a huge amount of innovation and resilience in the sector. Taking the time to be there in person really helped deepen our understanding of the local context and reminded me why these kinds of events matter.”
Kieran Daly
Head of Market Building, Social Investment Scotland
The next event in the series will take place in Hawick on 21 August. If you're based in the Scottish Borders and would like to join us, you can book your place here.