National Mission on Drugs: annual report 2022-2023

Finance

8.1 Overview

The National Mission is delivered both nationally and locally. To achieve this, the Scottish Government partners with, and supports, many critical organisations across public and third sectors. This finance section follows the same structure as the 2021/22 annual report to meet our commitment of providing transparency of National Mission funding:

• where in the Scottish Government budget the funding derives,
• the routes by which it is spent – providing a breakdown of the main funding distribution channels and partners and;
• how our funding is broken down by theme.

8.2 The National Mission budget

In 2022/23, the total funding for Alcohol and Drugs funding was from three main sources shown in figure 5:

NHS baseline funding refers to Territorial Health Boards budget allocations, which they can spend in response to local need. In 2022/23, this totalled £56.5 million. Of this, £53.8 million is provided by Scottish Government, while NHS territorial boards have been requested to apply a 5% uplift locally.

Alcohol and Drugs Policy funding is investment to improve the delivery of frontline care; the overarching aim of reducing harms and avoidable deaths caused by substance use. This included £17m funding commitment from the 2017 Programme for Government which is allocated directly to NHS territorial boards; core operational budget of SG Alcohol and Drugs Policy and in 2022/23, this totalled £35,395m.^[10], ^[11]

National Mission Funding is the additional £50 million which the former First Minister committed in January 2021 to deliver the National Mission on drugs, totalling £250m over the duration of the parliament.^[12]

Table 1: Alcohol and Drugs funding sources for 2022/23:

• NHS baseline - 56,490 (£000’s)
• Alcohol and Drugs Policy - 35,395 (£000’s)
• National Mission Funding - 50,000 (£000’s)
• Total - 141,885 (£000’s)

8.3 Funding Distribution

Table 2 below provides a breakdown of funding by allocation channel in 2022/23.

Table 2: Alcohol and Drugs: Funding by allocation channel in 2022/23:

• Health Board baseline - 56,490 (£000’s) - 40%
• Additional ADP funding^[13] - 50,300 (£000’s) - 35%
• Grants via Corra - 13,000 (£000’s) - 9%
• SG Managed - 18,895 (£000’s) - 13%
• Total - 141,885 (£000’s)

75% of all funding is allocated to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) via the local Health Board. This includes baseline funding (40% of total) and funding which is provided for specific programme streams as part of the delivery of National Mission priorities (figure 5).

Due to a significant increase in reserves carried forward from previous years ADPs utilised unspent reserves in 2022/23. ADP funding requirements were fully met in 2022/23, through the use of both unspent reserves and in year funding transfer of £89.3m.

8.3.1 Core Funded Organisations

Core Funded Organisations (CFOs) received a total of £3.2 million for both core funding and specific project delivery. CFOs include:

• Crew Scotland
• Scottish Drugs Forum
• Scottish Recovery Consortium
• Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
• With You (previously known as We Are With You).

8.3.2 Corra Foundation

The Corra Foundation is responsible for distributing funding to grassroots and third sector organisations through a number of dedicated funds. This accounts for 9% (£13m) of the total budget. Funding was available by open application for third sector and grass roots funds via a number of specific funds. Details of the projects and funding award can been found on Corra website.

Table 4: 2022/23 Corra Foundation funds:

• Service Improvement Fund - 5,000 (£000s) - To provide improved services for outreach, treatment, rehabilitation and after care. £3m was ring fenced for Residential Rehabilitation.
• Local Support Fund - 5,000 (£000s) - To provide access to funding for a wide range of communities and grassroots organisations which support the aims of the National Mission.
• Children and Families Fund - 3,000 (£000s) - To improve support for children, young people and families impacted by drug use, and ensure all children, young people and families have access to services.

Further information on the outcomes of projects funded throughout 2022/23 can be found at: National Drugs Mission Funds Report 2021-2023 - Corra Foundation.

8.3.3 Scottish Government

SG managed funds were directly administered by the Scottish Government.

Table 5: 2022/23 Scottish Government administered funding:

• Recovery Fund - 5,000 (£000s) - To support access to residential rehabilitation by providing additional capacity, supporting people to access, and supporting people after they leave residential rehabilitation.
• National Collaborative* - 500 (£000s) - Focused on establishing and running a new national collaboration.
• Public Health - 500 (£000s) - Developing public health surveillance, evaluation, monitoring, and research.

*Includes funding provided to CFOs.

8.4 Funding breakdown by source and theme

A breakdown of 2022/23 funding commitments by theme and funding source is provided in table 6.