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Scotch Whisky Action Fund

In 2013, the SWA established a fund to tackle alcohol-related harm as an extension of our commitment to address harmful use of alcohol and promote responsible drinking.

The Scotch Whisky Action Fund (SWAF) committed £100,000 each year between 2014 to 2018 to fund projects that help reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland.  The success of the SWAF has led to the extension of that funding to 2023.

SWAF supports and develops projects that deliver targeted interventions to tackle harm among young people, families and communities impacted by excessive consumption of alcohol.

The SWAF invest in projects from charities and other organisations that help reduce the impact of alcohol-related harm in Scotland's communities.

The Fund is managed by Foundation Scotland, an independent charity.  Dame Joan Stringer Chairs the independent Awards Panel which meets annually.

SWAF supports and develops projects that deliver targeted interventions to tackle harm among young people, families and communities impacted by excessive consumption of alcohol.

The fund encourages applications from innovative and pilot initiatives that aim to test new approaches to combatting alcohol misuse in Scotland.

Learn more about the Scotch Whisky Action Fund's first five years in our latest impact report, published here.


Scotch Whisky Action Fund Projects

More than 50 awards have been granted over the past five years. You can find out more about the latest projects below.

news & commentary

13 October 2023

Seven Projects Throughout Scotland Awarded Funding Totalling £100k To Help Tackle Alcohol Harm

Seven projects from across Scotland have been awarded a total of £100,000 in funding by the Scotch Whisky Action Fund (SWAF)

05 December 2022

Scotch Whisky Action Fund Commits Over £115k of Support to Projects Across Scotland

The Scotch Whisky Action Fund has committed over £115k of support to projects tackling alcohol harm throughout Scotland, from Inverness to Galashiels.

08 December 2021

Funding for projects tackling alcohol misuse announced

Five more organisations in Scotland working to tackle alcohol misuse will receive funding from the Scotch Whisky Action Fund.

01 July 2021

Aberdeen Safety Charity Supported with Further Year of Funding to Tackle Alcohol Misuse

The Scotch Whisky Action Fund has awarded continuity funding to Aberdeen safety charity Absafe.

09 November 2020

Distillers Provide Over £46,000 to Support Grassroots Projects Tackling Alcohol Misuse

The Scotch Whisky Action Fund has announced its support for five projects in Scotland working to tackle the impact of alcohol misuse.

14 November 2019

Scotch Whisky Action Fund Commits Support to Six New Projects in Scotland

The Scotch Whisky Action Fund has announced the six projects across Scotland that it will be supporting in the coming year.

23 October 2019

Organisations come together for Scotch Whisky Action Fund learning event

The SWA has this week hosted a learning event featuring projects that received support from the Scotch Whisky Action Fund, which aims to tackle the effects of alcohol misuse.

22 August 2019

Scotch Whisky Action Fund pledges further support for innovative projects

The Scotch Whisky Action Fund, set up in 2013, has pledged a further year's support for two projects that each received funding in 2018: Bright Light's Families in Recovery, and Waverley Care's SX initiative.

05 April 2019

SWA extends commitment to tackling alcohol misuse

Scotch Whisky Action Fund to deliver £1 million of funding over 10 years

publications

17 March 2022

Scotch Whisky Action Fund: Bright Light Report

Find out more about projects the Scotch Whisky Action Fund helped to support.

pages

SWAF - The Borders and Ayrshire

Learn more about Scotch Whisky Action Fund projects in the Borders and Ayrshire

SWAF - Argyll & Bute

Learn more about Scotch Whisky Action Fund projects in the Argyll & Bute region.

SWAF - Highlands

Learn more about Scotch Whisky Action Fund projects in the Highlands.

SWAF - Glasgow & Strathclyde

Learn more about Scotch Whisky Action Funds in the Glasgow and Strathclyde areas.

SWAF - Edinburgh & the Lothians

Learn more about Scotch Whisky Action Fund projects being funded around Edinburgh & the Lothians.