Hundreds of protected areas are under pressure from Scotland’s massive deer herd. Most agree deer numbers must be controlled to protect the environment, but are split on what should be done.
Edinburgh University students were “interrogated” by police at their desks over posters featuring Palestinians killed by the Israeli military, prompting dozens to complain.
Unsafe levels of faecal bacteria were recorded at dozens of Scotland’s best beaches this summer. Swimmers and paddlers could be at risk, but officials insist water quality remains high.
We are part-owned by our members, who help to shape our investigations and decide the future direction of The Ferret. As of October 2025 we had more than 2,500 members.
Without this support, we would not exist. Sometimes we also work with other media organisations, who pay us to co-publish our investigations.
We also deliver training and events, which brings in revenue.
Some of our funding comes from organisations and charitable bodies, which helps us to hire staff, cover core costs and produce investigations.
This funding must be in line with our ethical funding policy, which means we will not accept money from groups with unethical financial backing, or that seek to influence or dictate how we investigate.
The Ferret is currently 37 per cent funded through memberships and donations, 52 per cent from grant funding, and 11 per cent from other sources such as content sales and events.
In financial year up to September 30 2025, we received funding from these organisations.
Energy Transition Fund to investigate whether the fossil fuel industry is trying to delay the transition to green energy.
National Lottery Community Fund to develop training courses for librarians to teach young people how to identify disinformation online.
The Joffe Trust to investigate illicit finance in Scotland and its links to the UK's dirty money problem.
Journalismfund Europe to investigate the environmental impact of golf – and the effects of climate change on the sport – along with journalist partners in Italy and Spain.
The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust to investigate how global actors are attempting to roll back rights in Scotland, linked to the ‘culture war’.
In financial year up to September 30 2024, we received funding from these organisations.
The Joffe Trust to support our project investigating finance called The Money Trail.
The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust to investigate how the global ‘culture war’ is impacting Scotland.
The Logan Foundation to support core costs at The Ferret.
The Sunrise Project to look into fossil fuel finance.
Lush to investigate welfare and other issues linked to gamebirds.
