Community Wealth Funds for Scotland?

Overview- Dormant Bank Funds 

In 2008 the UK government passed the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts  Act passed. This primary legislation, allowed dormant bank accounts to be used for  good causes. Dormant accounts that are left unused for extended periods of time (12- 15 years) are declared inactive or dormant by the banks, eventually if remaining unclaimed the money gets distributed to third sector organisations. 

The primary legislation set out the 3 strands – Young people/Financial Inclusion/Social  Investment that the dormant bank money should prioritise. It also set out that the  National Lottery should be the distributor of the funds and finally that Scotland should  receive 8.4% of the total raised. The dormant bank started to distribute funds in 2011. 

Since the scheme started money from 35 banks and building societies are now involved  in the Dormant Bank fund. Originally predicted to bring in circa £400million, but contributions to date(2021) have exceeded this by 250% of which funds worth £800  million has been distributed into the 3 strands mentioned above. 

2022 Extension -Dormant Assets Funds 

Following a five year review, the UK government introduced a new Dormant Assets Bill  in 2021, which was enacted in 2022. This act was built on the 2008 primary legislation  but expanded the Dormant Bank scheme to include the insurance, pensions, investment  and wealth management, and securities sectors. This is expected to unlock an  additional initial £880 million for the voluntary sector via the expanded scheme. It is  expected that further assets will become eligible as they become dormant over time. 

If, like the Dormant bank scheme, the dormant assets also exceed this figure by 250%  then the monies available will be significant. (UK government 24th Nov 2021)

Between July – Oct 2022, the UK government consulted on the priority strands for the  English portion of the Dormant Assets fund. – The UK government set four strands – Young People/Financial Inclusion/Social Investment and Community Wealth Funds.  

Secondary legislation was needed to introduce the new 4th Community Wealth Funds strand. The Dormant Assets (Distribution of Money) (England) Order 2023 was approved this month (Nov 23).

In the 2022 Act, ‘community wealth fund’ means a fund which gives long term  financial support (whether directly or indirectly) for the provision of local amenities or  other social infrastructure. 

Scottish perspective: 

The Dormant bank accounts funding has so far unlocked £67.2 million for voluntary  organisations in Scotland. The bulk of this money has been allocated through the Young  Start programme. Between 2012 and 2021, The National Lottery Community Fund has  made over 950 Young Start grants, to the value of £47.9 million 

Although the 2022 Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, it  remains unclear what the Scottish Government or its acting agent (National Lottery)  intends to do with the expanded Dormant Assets funds. 

Unlike in England, there doesn’t appear to have been any consultation with the wider  voluntary sector on what the main strands of the programme should be or indeed if the  4 strands adopted in England will also be adopted in Scotland. 

It may well be that the extended dormant assets funding programme continues to  prioritise the Young Start programme. There would appear to be very little in the public  domain that gives some consideration to the way the funds should be spent in  Scotland. 

Next Steps: 

It is vital that we understand what priorities the Scottish Government/National Lottery  wish to fund with the dormant assets.