Grant funding from the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF) is now available. Grant applications are especially welcome that:
- support the redesign of existing services
- maximise the use of resources
- promote transformational change for families
The Promise
On 1 July 2022, the Scottish Government announced the allocation of £32m Whole Family Wellbeing Funding nationally as part of its commitment to support implementation of the findings of the Independent Care Review.
This review took place from 2017-2020. It listened to over 5,500 voices, over half of which were children and young people with experience of the care system.
The conclusion of this work was The Promise.
The Promise is a clear statement of what needs to change to support the lives and wellbeing of our children, young people, adults and families across Scotland.
Principles for Holistic Family Support
In accordance with The Promise, the Scottish Government recognises that we need whole system change in line with the 10 Principles for Holistic Family Support.
This incorporates these core components:
- Children and Families at the centre of design - A children’s rights-based approach to improved Family Wellbeing, with services designed with children, young people and their families’ needs at the centre, supporting all families to flourish and thrive.
- Availability and access - All families know how to and can access multi-sectoral, holistic, whole family support.
- Leadership, workforce and culture – Cross-sectoral commitment to collaboration and innovation which empowers and supports the workforce to provide family-centred holistic support.
- Whole System approach – A collaborative, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary approach to the funding, commissioning and delivery of family support.
The Scottish Government's aim is that every family that needs support gets the right family support at the right time, to fulfil children’s rights to be raised safely in their own families, for as long as it is needed.
The Whole Family Wellbeing Programme in Angus
Angus Integrated Children’s Services Planning Partnership (AICSPP) oversees the Whole Family Wellbeing Programme in Angus.
Angus Council and Voluntary Action Angus have responsibility for distributing the fund.
Needs and priorities in Angus
Angus still has significant levels of poverty and deprivation. This impacts greatly on the lives of children and families in the region.
Referencing data from the WFWF Public Survey 2024, the Child Poverty Data Report (February 2025) For Our Bright Futures Working Group, and the Angus Community Plan 2022 – 2030, some of the local needs and priorities are to support:
- families with children with additional support needs
- families to travel across Angus for health, educational and social needs.
- families with babies, toddlers and infants
- families to access affordable activities for children of all ages
Statistics for 2022/23 show that there are 3890 people living in Angus in absolute poverty. This represents a 22% increase since 2015. (DWP 2024).
Angus areas deemed most deprived:
- Arbroath – the Harbour area, and the Warddykes, Kirkton, and Cliffburn areas
- Brechin East area
Proportion of children living in poverty after housing costs in 2022-23:
- Angus 24.9%
- Dundee 25%
- Perth and Kinross 21.7%
- Scotland 21.8%
Priorities relating to caring for our people
- reduce inequalities in all our communities
- provide the best start in life for children
- create more opportunities for people to live well and achieve their personal goals
- improve physical, mental health and wellbeing
Next: About the fund