In This Section
About the Trust
The Cattanach Charitable Trust is a Scottish Charitable Trust, established in October 1992 by Miss Phyllis Mary Cattanach. The Trust Deed creates a very wide ranging general charitable trust, with objects based on the four traditional heads of charity which formed the basis for charitable recognition prior to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. In so far as the Trustees do not apply their resources to the furtherance of these objects, they are directed to apply the Trust income for the benefit of certain named charities in specified proportions.
In its early years, the Trust attracted a disparate range of appeals, which grew in number as the Trust became better known. In the face of this rising tide of very varied appeals, the Trustees felt they would prefer to adopt a more focused approach. Over time the Trustees developed a series of guidelines designed to focus their charitable awards, with the intention of having a greater impact on a smaller number of appeals.
In 1995, the Trustees adopted a "themed" approach to supplement their guidelines, identifying areas of urgent need and focusing their donations on charities working only within the chosen theme. The initial twin themes of homelessness and disability, with a particular emphasis on self help, were followed by the theme of community deprivation.
The theme adopted with effect from 1st September 2007, which will remain in place until September 2012, is based on the experience of the Trustees and on consultation with a range of organisations and individuals within and around the not-for-profit sector.
The Cattanach Charitable Trust believes that helping young children and improving their well-being can bring about a healthier and happier community. The Trust will therefore focus, for the five years from 2007, on organisations and projects which offer hope of a better life to children, especially those under 10 years of age, and their families and communities. By targeting its grants in this way, the Trust means to address the needs of young children living in difficult and deprived circumstances, and to help them make the most of their talents and opportunities.
The Trust has an annual grants programme of around £200,000. Grants are normally between £2,000 and £15,000 p.a. but may be more, and the Trust prefers to make grants which contribute substantially to smaller-scale projects. The Trust will fund charities registered either in Scotland or in England for work done exclusively in Scotland. However the Trustees have been giving consideration to a widening of the scope of the Trust, and may in the future fund charities based in Britain for work carried out overseas. For more details about the grants programme, please look at the section “How to Apply”.
There are currently seven Trustees, of whom one is a corporate trustee, the Royal Bank of Scotland plc. The Trust was administered by the Royal Bank of Scotland plc until November 2006, when a part-time assessor was recruited. She is responsible for the administration of the Trust’s grant-making programme and is the point of contact for applicants. The Trustees’ aim in recruiting a member of staff is to improve the information available to them about the organisations which apply for funding and about the not-for-profit sector in general, and to ensure that best practice in grant-making is maintained.
Developments in the Trust’s grant-making programme will be highlighted on the website and publicised in the not-for-profit sector press.
