Each year for several years The Paristamen Charity has invited charities to propose an imaginative “Blue Sky” initiative as a one-off project where we say: “If we offer you £20K (or occasionally, £25K) what could you do?” in a particular field. The theme varies from year to year. For details of previous awards see the page Blue Sky and Large Grants awards.
Invitation to Bid for Final Blue Sky Grant to be awarded in 2026: Christian Engagement with Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Scotland
The trustees have recently agreed the terms of an invitation to bid for a final Blue Sky grant, probably for up to £25,000, to be awarded in spring 2026. This will be the last such grant prior to the wind-up of Paristamen that is now planned for 2027.
We are inviting proposals for an innovative or pilot project that would sit within the overall theme: Christian Engagement with Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Scotland. The deadline for bids is 7 February 2026, but please make contact as soon as possible if your charity might be interested – though please read the invitation to bid carefully as a first step.
We are open to a broad range of approaches within this theme – for example
- The project could be focused on direct support to asylum seekers and refugees by churches or Christian organisations, provided the project incorporates clear education to the wider Christian community on the rationale for this work.
- Alternatively, the project could be focused more on wider engagement and education around the arguments from Christian theology for support of asylum seekers and refugees, in particular to tackle the hostility towards asylum seekers and refugees.
- We are aware that a small number of asylum seekers are specifically seeking asylum in the UK because of their Christian faith – fleeing countries where they have experienced direct hostility linked to their faith. Potentially a project could focus on this – either in terms of direct support or as part of wider education regarding the issues affecting asylum seekers.
Please note that the project would need to be susbtantially complete by 31 March 2027 – so the funding is likely to be a one-off grant over a 12month period (but a shorter timescale would also be possible).