Neurodevelopmental funding: FOI release

Information requested

You requested information on the 2025/26 £3.4 million investment announced in February 2026 by the Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing for neurodevelopmental support in Scotland.

This included:

1. What specific services, projects, initiatives, or programmes the additional £3.4 million was allocated towards

2. Which NHS Boards, organisations, or service providers received funding

3. How much funding was allocated to each individual NHS Board or organisation

4. Whether any of the funding was specifically directed towards adult services for neurodivergent conditions

5. Whether the funding was ringfenced for specific purposes or services

6. What measurable outcomes, targets, or improvements were expected as a result of this investment

You also asked us to clarify whether:

7. NHS Boards or organisations receiving this funding were required to provide reporting, evidence of spending, evaluations, outcome data, or progress updates to the Scottish Government regarding how the funding was utilised and, if so, how you can access them

Response

In response to questions 1-4 and question 6, most of the information you have requested is included in Table A setting out the organisations and projects funded through the additional funding made available in 2025/26 for neurodevelopmental support. This table includes the NHS board or organisation funded, the purposes for which they received funding including aims, and the age ranges for which the services apply where applicable.

In response to question 5, in line with Scottish Government grant funding conditions, and as set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, funds must be spent for the specific purposes for which they were authorised.

In response to question 7, in line with Scottish Government grant funding conditions, and as set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, recipients are required to provide statements on compliance with the conditions attached to their grant. This includes confirmation of total spending and that funds were used for the purposes for which they were authorised. Further specific reporting requirements are dependent on the individual project. All of the projects set out at Table A are required to have interim grant management meetings with the Scottish Government and will be required to submit an end of project report on completion.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under section 17(1) and section 30(c) apply. The reasons why these exemptions apply are set out below.

The Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested “reporting, evidence of spending, evaluations, outcome data”. This is because the projects this request relates to are currently underway and documentation on reporting, spend, evaluation and outcomes has not been received at this stage. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

An exemption under section 30(c) of FOISA (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) applies to the information requested on accessing progress updates. Disclosing this information would substantially prejudice our ability to conduct appropriate programme management delivery and assurance processes because these projects are ongoing and their successful delivery requires full and frank reporting and discussions between officials and external organisations. This would constitute substantial prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs in terms of the exemption.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the process of ongoing delivery and programme assurance, including the ability for external organisations to escalate risks fully and frankly, and ensuring that the Scottish Government is able conduct this aspect of its business effectively.

Table A:

Organisation	Project Description	Funding Value (£)
Healios	Providing additional capacity for neurodevelopmental diagnostic assessments (e.g. Autism, ADHD, AuDHD), working with NHS Boards, with a focus on young people and young adults	999,648
Malvern Insights	Using ESSENCE‑D to provide greater understanding of the needs of the children currently on ND diagnostic waiting lists held by NHS Boards	300,000
EPIC Think Learn	Provide parents access to evidence-based resources, including live expert webinars and peer support sessions, access to resources for teachers, and development of a ND Passport App	250,000
The Yard	Creating a blueprint for a single point of access ND support approach, based on the success of EDAN and using this to create a Tayside Hub to support families	190,872
University of Glasgow	Development and pilot testing of a new ND Research Clinic, with a focus on an assessment protocol, for children and young people	326,191
University of Glasgow	Real world testing of an enhanced protocol for characterising the profile of problems and support needs in young people with attentional problems and associated difficulties	109,999
Fife Council	Continuing the Test of Change to pilot the Neurodevelopmental Assessment Pathway for children and young people to Summer 2026	102,644
NHS Fife	Brief neurodevelopmental-affirming, psychosocial intervention pilot for adults in primary care	186,081
Parent Club (The Union Advertising Agency and Leith Creative Agency)	The development of information and advice for parents of neurodivergent children and young people, including expert videos, and user testing for Parent Club	37,440
Edinburgh Innovations	Phase 1 development of a tool to provide tailored ND support resources to CYP and families	115,000
NHS Grampian (Aberdeen City HSCP)	Design and implementation of an improved, community-owned, ND pathway in Aberdeen City HSCP for children and young people	210,000
Scottish Autism	Facilitate the redevelopment of the Right Click Parent and Carer platform to provide learning for parents and carers, including enabling a referral pathway from the advice line	98,043

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