Additional £45m Available for the Scottish Welfare Fund

Culture Counts raised concerns that the social security systems currently in-place are not sufficient to support cultural freelancers through the Coronavirus pandemic. We’re pleased to share that Scottish Government have made an additional £45m available for the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Cultural Freelancers

On 17 March 2020, Culture Counts wrote to the Cabinet Secretaries for Finance, Culture & Rural Economy and Tourism.

In our letter we shared concerns that social security systems currently in-place are not sufficient to support cultural freelancers through this crisis. Due to the precarious nature of freelance work in the cultural sector, it is unlikely that individuals will be able to secure work of similar value during the pandemic.

We requested that the Scottish Government consider temporarily extending the criteria for applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grant administered by local authorities. The Scottish Welfare Fund is preferable to Universal Credit because it’s controlled by the Scottish Government. Universal Credit with a six-week minimum turn-around will come too late for cultural freelancers.

A reponse was received on 1 April 2020 from Dr Heather Holmes (from the Directorate for Culture, Tourism & Major Events) which said;

We will make an additional £45m available for the Scottish Welfare Fund to local authorities to meet additional demand for Crisis Grant and Community Care Grants, arising as a consequence of COVID-19. As we are dealing with exceptional circumstances, we will also relax the guidance on Crisis Grants that suggests they should only be awarded to an individual three times in any one year.

This positive response is due to the ongoing support of our members, and the hundreds of cultural practitioners and organisations who continue to complete our Impact Survey. You can read the full response letter at the link below (PDF).

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