Funding Socials: Garioch Heritage Centre (Inverurie)
30 Oct 2025, 12:00 - 15:30
- Aberdeen and NE Scotland
- Investment
- Support
- Funding Socials
Funding Socials is an inspiring in-person event series designed for charity and social enterprise leaders looking for fresh ideas and connections to help boost income generation.
Our session in the Highlands will be held in the amazing Garioch Heritage Centre, Inverurie. You will have the chance to hear directly from both Funders and a local organisation working to raise funds.
The event is designed to help you cross the divide and connect with both funders and new peers, who can help you on your journey.
Jane Bruce of Brilliant Leaders will facilitate the session with the aim of creating an informal and accessible event.
We are delighted to welcome along some guest speakers, funders from across the ecosystem and supported by the team at Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action. Other funder will be confirmed in the coming weeks - so check back for updates.
Kieran Daly, Head of Market Building at Social Investment Scotland and our guest speakers will explain the support and funds they offer charities and social enterprises and be ready to answer any questions you have.
The session will begin with teas/coffees on arrival and the session will close with a light lunch, where you will have the chance to mix with funders and peers and make some new connections.
Your speakers:
Aileen Longino, Development Officer, Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (Social Enterprise)
Aileen provides development support to groups and organisations across Aberdeenshire, specialising in Social Enterprises. Aileen is also a qualified Mediator for the Workplace and can help with conflict.
Emily Macdonald, Investment Readiness Programme Manager, Firstport
Emily’s career in finance and risk management has included roles at Dresdner Kleinwort Bank, Investec and Gatehouse, a Shariah-compliant UK bank. Since leaving banking, Emily has been putting her analysis skills to work on freelance projects, launching her social enterprise and gaining valuable experience in trustee roles with charities in her local community.
Recent projects have included helping establish a community library and saving it from closure. This included writing the business plan, community consultation and getting the library launched and operational. Through this and other projects, Emily has gained great experience in project management, financial planning, grant applications and reporting, volunteer recruitment, service design and fundraising.
In her role as trustee for a community development trust, Emily has added experience in governance, larger community projects and local place plans. She has built a good network of contacts with partner organisations in Fife.
As an experienced credit risk analyst, Emily is well-placed to advise on what potential investors are interested in, what information is useful and how to present this compellingly.
We'll also be joined by:
Pamela Barnes, Development Officer – Democratic Finance Programme, Development Trusts Association Scotland
Your hosts:
SIS Associate, Jane Bruce
Jane is the Founder of Brilliant Leaders, a social business which offers coaching and development programmes to leaders and teams with a social purpose. Jane is a former charity/social enterprise CEO, accredited Executive Coach and experienced facilitator.
Before setting up Brilliant Leaders, Jane was Chief Executive of Social Bite in Scotland. In this role, Jane led a team of 100+ staff and 90 volunteers to run a chain of social enterprise cafes, mass fundraising events and innovative housing programmes. Previously, Jane was Chief Executive of Venture Scotland, which provides a wilderness-based development programme to young people facing tough challenges.
Alongside Brilliant Leaders, Jane is a qualified football coach, having previously played football in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.
Kieran Daly, Head of Market Building, Social Investment Scotland
Kieran started his career as a youth worker at The Prince’s Trust, devising and delivering training programmes. He has held senior management roles in business development for a range of arts, volunteering and youth organisations for over 15 years.
Kieran was Chief Operating Officer at food waste and food poverty fighting organisation, FoodCycle. While there, he grew the organisation’s presence from 14 to 30 locations around England in under two years, through a social franchising model.
Most recently, Kieran was Scotland Manager for Big Issue Invest, where he delivered a multi-agency partnership, engaging the private, public and third sectors in mentoring and lending money to early-stage social ventures. He is a keen cyclist who enjoys giving back by being on the Board of Social Enterprise Scotland.