How we're funded
Why does funding matter to us?
Sex and relationships education in Scotland is patchy and inconsistent, and for adults it barely exists at all. People are frequently left to navigate sex, intimacy, loneliness, and relationships alone, often turning to the internet, or not talking about it at all. This leads to preventable harm: rising STIs, unreported abuse, isolation, and stigma around sexual and mental health .
Pillow Talk was created to fill this gap with something Scotland is missing: free, inclusive, community-led spaces where adults can learn, connect and have honest conversations about sex, relationships and wellbeing. Financial support makes that possible, and keeps these spaces open to everyone, not just those who can afford to pay.
Where does our funding comes from?
Our 2024/2025 income
1. grants
Grants make up the majority of our income and allow us to deliver programmes that otherwise wouldn’t exist, especially work that needs expert input, accessibility support, or specialist facilitation.
Recent grant support includes:
The National Lottery Community Fund (2025) — for a year-long programme promoting consent education.
Women’s Fund for Scotland (2025) — launching a journalism fellowship for working class women writers in Scotland.
Agnes Hunter Trust (2025) — supporting Sex Ed for Grown Ups, our free, inclusive sex and relationships education programme for adults.
Foundation Scotland (2025) — core funding to stabilise and grow the organisation.
Robertson Trust (2025) — core funding to help us sustain regular programming and improve the accessibility of our website.
- The National Lottery Community Fund (2024) — for a six-month-long events programme.
2. Donations and community support
Small, individual donations play a huge role in the sustainability of Pillow Talk.
Every £5, £10, £20 helps us:
keep events free or low-cost
pay facilitators fairly
bring in sexual health experts
fund accessible venues
subsidise workshops for people who need financial support
Your donations also allowed us to complete our Kiltwalk crowdfunding, raising over £1,800 last year.
Because our work tackles stigma, isolation and public health gaps at a community level, grassroots support is essential.
3. earned income
We also generate a modest amount of income through:
bespoke workshops
special editions of our reading group
education sessions for universities, schools, and community groups
These sessions introduce our stigma-free, community-centred approach to new audiences and any income goes straight back into keeping Pillow Talk running.
Who Runs Pillow Talk Scotland?
Founded by Iris Pase, Pillow Talk is driven by a passionate team of volunteers. Iris serves as the charity manager under the guidance and supervision of our board, which includes Alessandra, Carys, Evelyn, Kristina, and Laura. Together with our growing network of volunteers, we ensure that every event, article, and resource is community-focused and impactful.
While the core team works on a voluntary basis, the collaborators and facilitators who have supported our events so far have been fairly compensated for their time and expertise on a freelance basis.
