Shetland Charitable Trust agrees additional grant funding

Over half a million pounds in extra grant aid is being paid out by Shetland Charitable Trust to boost services for vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the islands.

The new funding for local charitable organisations was awarded by trustees on Thursday following an application process that had to be halted temporarily with the advent of Covid-19.

A total of £530,173 will go to the 16 successful projects which aim to fill gaps in existing services and reduce social isolation and inequality in Shetland.

Trust chairman Dr Andrew Cooper said: “Trustees and staff were impressed by the vision and hard work that local charities put into their wide-ranging proposals, which are about supporting those of us who need a helping hand in life.

“Putting their plans into action will be all the more challenging with social distancing and stringent hygiene requirements to contend with so we wish all these organisations well in their endeavours.”

The extra funding made available for the projects is part of the charitable trust’s £8.2m Main Grants Scheme for 2020/21, which helps pay for the operation of the rural care model, Shetland Recreational Trust, Shetland Amenity Trust, Shetland Arts and a number of locally based charities.

The budget was increased from £7.3m last year due to the trust’s success in steering its reserves back to a self-sustaining level of over £300m for the first time since 2000.

Please see list of grant awards here