STV Appeal

STV Children’s Appeal, formerly STV Appeal, is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation established in 2011 by STV plc and The Hunter Foundation to combat child poverty across Scotland, delivering long-term, sustainable change for at-risk children, young people, and families. Its distinctive model ensures 100% of donations fund frontline projects, with administrative costs covered by STV plc and partners like The Wood Foundation. Core values of dignity, equality, inclusion, and empowerment drive practical interventions—food provision, warm clothing, training, employability, mental health support, and life skills—while fostering knowledge exchange and innovative pilots via programmes like the Ignite Fund (multi-year strategic grants) and Boost (small grants with Corra Foundation). Priorities target root causes such as food poverty, digital exclusion, parental employability, and wellbeing, supporting projects nationwide across all 32 Scottish local authorities.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities and community groups (Boost also accepts unconstituted groups under £50,000 income), with strategic funds favouring mid-sized or larger organisations with proven track records delivering in Scotland. No religious restrictions apply, but work must demonstrably reduce child poverty for disadvantaged children, youth, and families.

Grants range from £500–£3,000 (Boost charities) or £250–£1,500 (groups) to £10,000–£50,000+ for Ignite and strategic projects. Main funding is invite-only via proactive partnerships; Boost opens via online forms in rounds (next: 25 Feb–11 Mar 2025); Ignite requires outlines by 15 Aug annually. No open applications for core streams, excluding capital projects, non-Scottish work, or unrelated causes. Uniquely transparent and catalytic, it leverages public events like Kiltwalk for grassroots impact, distinguishing it as Scotland’s premier child poverty funder.