Funding Socials: Meet Funders, Find New Resources & Connect with Your Peers

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 Eden Court, Inverness. 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.

Please tell us a bit more information about you and your organisation within the registration, so we can match you up to potential funding, investment and support opportunities during the Funding Socials event.

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 We also welcome along Donna Young, Marion MacNeil, Senior Development Officer, , Charles Morgan, , Polly Chapman, and Dougie Spence, .

Charles Morgan, Business Advisor, Firstport

Charles joined Firstport in 2022 as a Business Advisor supporting budding social entrepreneurs. Prior to working at Firstport, he was the CEO of a community development trading company and was a consultant Development Officer.

Earlier in his career, Charles was the Managing Director of the House of Beauly, an award-winning visitor’s centre, and worked in sales, marketing, and retail as a director and manager. Charles has travelled extensively, setting up businesses for international clients.

Charles is particularly interested in food retail, restaurant catering, procurement, and business in general.

Donna Young, Communities Officer at the Communities Housing Trust

Donna is a passionate advocate for rural and island housing and community development. She brings extensive experience in community engagement and facilitation, working closely with key stakeholders to help communities develop and regenerate rural areas.

Previously, Donna was Coordinator at Rural Housing Scotland, where she championed to improve funding and support for rural and island communities, with a strong focus on affordable housing and wider community regeneration.

Originally from the Outer Hebrides, Donna has in-depth local knowledge and first-hand insight into the challenges of the ongoing rural housing crisis.

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.

You will be given a warm welcome 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.

The hosts for this session are:

Jane Bruce, Brilliant Leaders

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.

and 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.

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Also check out other Business events in Inverness, Nonprofit events in Inverness, Sports events in Inverness.