Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) donation correspondence: FOI release

Information requested

On 11th June 2026, John Swinney announced that the Scottish Government would be donating £400k to SAMH in connection with a sponsored walk by Craig Ferguson.

Please provide all correspondence and documentation associated with this decision, including minutes of relevant meetings, notes of phone calls, and all attachments to any relevant correspondence.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested. This can be found at Annex A.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some the information you have requested because of the following exemptions under FOISA:

• Section 25(1) – information is available elsewhere
• Section 29(1)(a) – formulation or development of Scottish Government policy;
• Section 29(1)(b) – communications between Ministers
• Sections 30(b)(i) and (ii) - free and frank advice and exchanges of views;
• Section 36(1) - legal advice;
• Section 38(1)(b) – personal identifiable information.

We have provided more information regarding these exemptions within Annex B, including explanations of which exemptions are subject to the public interest test.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202600521571 - Information Released - Annex A and Annex B

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