THE Scottish Independence Foundation today starts its “big push” to raise funds to nurture the grassroots of the Yes movement.

Given the name Mony a Mickle Maks a Muckle, the campaign started quietly a few weeks ago and is already bringing in money from more than 1000 people who have signed up to contribute small sums each month.

The Scottish Independence Foundation (SIF) hopes that up to 10,000 people will join the campaign and pledges that if it can get to that target, they will invest all the cash into the grassroots movement.

SIF chief executive Greg McCarra told The National: “If we can persuade up to 10,000 people to chip in a little money on a regular basis we will ensure that it goes towards winning independence through the grassroots.

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“The money raised will not go to any political party, nor will we use it to campaign for independence ourselves – that’s not what we are about.

“It will go towards the sort of funding that groups across the country need to carry out their grassroots campaign.”

In tomorrow’s Yes DIY page The National will profile the activity which SIF has already funded and give examples of what the Mony a Mickle Maks a Muckle can help fund.

Full details of the campaign and how to register to donate can be found on the SIF website at www.sif.scot

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Paul Newton, who moved from Ireland to Scotland seven years ago and has worked as a charity fundraiser as well as campaigning for independence, is the man who dreamed up the concept.

He said: “All of us who support independence have a shared objective within a shared Yes campaign and people realise the need for funding the grassroots.

“Of the 1000 people who have already signed up, 84 were No voters in 2014 while a number of Labour Party members have signed – one person even said he was a Conservative Party member.

“About 60% of people who have signed up are under the age of 45, and 40% are over 45.

“Some 45% of the people say they are not activists and don’t campaign themselves, but they want to do something to help the Yes movement, and we suspect there will be a lot of people out there who feel the same.

“We ask people to give us their details on the website and their consent to be contacted going forward, which again will help the movement.”

Chair of the SIF Board Willie Wilson said: “SIF has been working hard for the movement largely under the radar, but thanks to the efforts of depute convener John Hunter-Paterson we now need to rise our profile and step up a gear.”