We were lucky to secure some lovely funding at the end of 2025 — all of which came through nominations from people who believe in what Tweed Togs and what we do!! This included £10,000 from the TSB Foundation Neighbourly Fund to purchase clothing, along with £500 from the TK Maxx and Homesense Foundation, and £3,000 from the Barratt Redrow Foundation (via a nomination from Oregon Timbler Frame Lts in Selkirk), all of which was unrestricted funding. It feels like the perfect moment to share a little more about how the charity is funded and what that really means.
Tweed Togs is a volunteer-led charity, and that means everything we do is made possible by the time, commitment and determination of our volunteers – including how we are funded.
Tweed Togs is self-funded. There is no automatic or core funding in place. Instead, volunteers work closely with donors, supporters and funders to seek out the funding needed to keep the charity running and responding to growing demand. Every grant application, fundraiser and funding conversation is driven by people who give their time freely because they believe in what Tweed Togs does.
The funding we secure generally falls into two categories: restricted and unrestricted funding.
Most grants available to charities like ours are restricted, meaning the money must be spent exactly as set out in the funding application. For Tweed Togs, this is most often funding for clothing. We regularly seek funding to ensure we can continue to include new underwear, socks and pyjamas with every referral. We believe these items are essential to preserving a child’s dignity, particularly at times when families are facing hardship.
As referrals have increased, we have also secured funding for what we call ‘essential clothing’. This covers items that are consistently in short supply from clothing donations alone. A good example is clothing for children aged 2–5 years – an age group where clothes are well-loved, hard-wearing and quickly outgrown (all that crawling and exploring!). Funding allows us to fill these gaps so that every referral can be met to the same high standard.
Unrestricted funding, while harder to secure, is just as vital. This type of funding can be used where it is needed most – helping to cover the everyday costs that allow the charity to function, such as shelving in our new unit, rent, utilities and other essential running costs.
Together, restricted and unrestricted funding allow Tweed Togs to operate with care, consistency and dignity at its heart. Every pound raised, and every hour volunteered, helps ensure that children across the Scottish Borders receive the clothing they need to feel warm, confident and valued.
We are incredibly grateful to every funder, donor and supporter who chooses to invest in Tweed Togs. Your generosity doesn’t just fund clothing – it helps protect dignity, reduce stress for families and ensure children across our community can thrive.