Who we fund

Shetland Charitable Trust provides funding to organisations and projects that improve life for people across Shetland.

These typically include local charities, groups and voluntary organisations who provide services that benefit our communities.

Shetland Charitable Trust - Large Grant Scheme Awards for 2026/27

In 2026/27, the Trust is providing over £10 million through its Large Grant Scheme to support a wide range of facilities, services, and activities that contribute to wellbeing, inclusion and quality of life across Shetland.

The Trust aims to provide stable, sustainable support across a wide range of community needs and we’re proud of the organisations we support, and the commitment and effort they bring to improving quality of life across Shetland.

Our Large Grant Scheme funds a wide range of organisations, including those that run facilities and services used by many different people from across Shetland, as well as many organisations providing more targeted support for specific communities, groups or needs.

The range of activity we support includes sport and leisure, arts and heritage, community care, advice and protection, children and young people, inclusion and employment, and voluntary sector infrastructure.

Alongside our Large Grant Scheme, the Trust also provides support through the Small Grant Scheme, Innovation Grant Scheme and the Capital Works Bridging Loan Scheme.

The 2027/28 Large Grant Scheme is now open for applications, more details can be found at add link

Community Facilities and Services

Some of our largest grants support community facilities and services that are intended to benefit all Shetlanders, rather than being aimed at a specific group. This funding enables significant leisure and cultural provision in Shetland, enjoyed by people of all ages and life experiences.

Total awarded for community facilities and services in 2026/27: £6.24 million

Organisation	Purpose of Funding		Grant Award £
Shetland Recreational Trust		Providing accessible leisure facilities and programmes that improve physical and mental health, aid recovery and participation, and help people of all ages stay active and connected.	3,800,000
Shetland Amenity Trust		Protecting and promoting Shetland’s natural, built and cultural heritage, enabling residents and visitors to connect with Shetland’s history, landscape and identity.	1,339,000
Shetland Arts Development Agency		Bringing people together through creativity across Shetland, with opportunities to learn, create and celebrate arts and culture, supporting confidence, participation, inclusion, wellbeing and community life.	1,102,500

Community Care, Support and Health

Supporting people who are facing challenging circumstances to live well and access care and support when they need it.

Total awarded for community care, support and health in 2026/27: £2.13 million

Organisation	Purpose of Funding	Grant Award £
SIC Rural Care Model	Providing a range of adult social care services, residential care and community-based support that support people to live safely, maintain independence, and receive care in the setting that best meets their needs.	1,820,000
Shetland Care Attendant Scheme	Offering in-home respite and support that enables unpaid carers to take breaks while their loved ones are safely cared for, improving wellbeing, reducing stress and helping sustain caring relationships.	77,500
Mind Your Head	Helping people to access mental health support and advice when they need it, to help them feel less isolated, build resilience, and improve wellbeing.	68,000
Shetland Link Up	Creating a safe, welcoming space for people experiencing mental ill health to connect with others, build confidence, and maintain wellbeing through ongoing social support and community participation.	63,000
Shetland Care Attendants Scheme – Shetland Carers	Supporting unpaid carers with advice, information and services that help them manage their caring role, protect their own wellbeing and stay connected to their communities.	51,500
Alzheimer Scotland - Shetland	Providing support, advice and activities for people living with dementia and those who care for them, helping people feel less alone and more able to manage their day-to-day lives.	25,000
Shetland Community Connections	Providing personalised, long-term support for people with complex needs, helping them navigate services, reduce isolation and take part in everyday community life.	25,000

Advice, Advocacy and Protection

Providing specialist and compassionate support and practical help so that people can understand their rights, stay safe and navigate difficult times.

Total awarded for advice, advocacy and protection in 2026/27: £552,000

Organisation	Purpose of Funding	Grant Award £
Shetland Islands Citizens’ Advice Bureau	Supporting free, confidential advice to help people understand their rights, navigate complex or stressful situations, and access the support they are entitled to, improving financial stability, wellbeing, and peace of mind.	345,000
Shetland Women’s Aid	Providing specialist support and safe accommodation for women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse, helping them feel safe, recover from trauma and rebuild their lives.	144,000
The Compass Centre (Shetland Rape Crisis)	Providing trauma-informed support, advocacy and counselling for people affected by sexual violence, helping them feel safe and supported, and better able to cope with and recover from their experiences.	52,000
Relationship Scotland – Shetland	Offering counselling and mediation services to help individuals, couples and families following conflict or trauma improve communication and build stronger, more respectful relationships.	11,000

Children, Young People and Families

Targeted support for children and young people to live a happy and confident life, with opportunities to grow, connect, and prepare for the future on their own terms, particularly those facing challenging circumstances.

Total awarded for children, young people and families in 2026/27: £267,500

Organisation		Purpose of Funding	Grant Award £
Voluntary Action Shetland – Shetland Befriending Service for Children and Young People		Offering one-to-one befriending support that helps children and young people build confidence, develop social skills and a sense of belonging through regular activities and a consistent, trusted relationship.	62,000
OPEN youth organisation		Supporting youth-led activities, including mentoring and peer education, that help young people develop skills, confidence and resilience, and have a stronger voice on issues that matter to them.	41,000
Moving On Employment Project		Helping young people with additional needs or barriers to employment to develop confidence, skills and experience, helping them move into training, work or other meaningful opportunities.	41,000
Who Cares? Scotland		Supporting care-experienced children and young people to feel heard, build confidence, strengthen relationships and have greater influence over decisions affecting their lives.	38,000
The Swan Trust	Providing sail training and outdoor learning experiences that help young people build confidence, teamwork, and practical skills through shared challenges and time at sea.		32,000
Clan Cancer Support		Enabling children and families affected by cancer to access dedicated care, emotional support and practical help in Shetland, helping them cope with the impact of diagnosis, treatment and recovery.	31,000
Dogs Against Drugs		Delivering education and awareness in schools and communities to help young people understand the risks of drug misuse and make informed, safer choices.	22,500

Inclusion and Supported Employment

Removing barriers and helping people participate more fully in community life, work and learning, and develop a stronger sense of belonging.

Total awarded for inclusion and supported employment in 2026/27: £609,500

Organisation	Purpose of Funding	Grant Award £
COPE Ltd	Providing supported employment, training and volunteering for adults with learning disabilities and autism, helping them to build skills, independence and a greater sense of belonging, and enabling them to participate more fully in their communities and local economy.	273,000
Ability Shetland (Core services)	Supporting children, young people and adults with disabilities and their families through clubs, groups, and outreach activities that build confidence, social connection and participation.	120,000
Royal Voluntary Service	Offering social groups, transport and practical support for older people, helping those who may be isolated or have limited mobility to stay connected, access services and live more independently.	62,000
Shetland Bike Project	Providing supported training, volunteering and work opportunities in bike repair and refurbishment to help people facing barriers to work to build confidence and take steps towards work or learning, contributing to healthier more inclusive communities.	56,500
Gaada	Creating inclusive opportunities for creative practice that help people facing disadvantage explore ideas, express themselves, develop skills, and connect with others through arts activity.	32,000
Ability Shetland (Sports Development Support Worker)	Offering support that helps children, young people and adults with physical, learning and sensory disabilities overcome barriers to physical activity and sport, helping them develop greater wellbeing and confidence.	30,000
Voluntary Action Shetland – Shetland Befriending Service 16+	Offering a befriending service to over-16s who are experiencing loneliness or isolation, helping build confidence, strengthen social connections, and take part more fully in everyday life.	18,500
UHI Shetland	Providing flexible core skills learning, including numeracy, that helps people overcome barriers to education, gain confidence and qualifications and progress into further learning, training and work.	17,500

Community Spaces and Voluntary Sector Infrastructure

Investing in the spaces, networks and organisations that support community and voluntary activity.

Total awarded for community spaces and voluntary sector infrastructure in 2026/27: £236,500

Organisation	Purpose of Funding	Grant Award £
Voluntary Action Shetland – Market House	Providing a shared, accessible workspace for voluntary and community organisations, enabling groups to collaborate, reduce costs and deliver services more effectively for people across Shetland.	113,500
Voluntary Action Shetland – core costs	Supporting a central source of advice, information and support for voluntary and community organisations across Shetland, helping groups strengthen governance and practice, develop skills, access funding, and deliver sustainable services for their communities.	108,000
Scalloway Youth and Community Centre	Supporting the operation of a community space that offers activities, events and support for people of all ages, helping reduce isolation, strengthen connections and support community life in Scalloway and surrounding areas.	15,000

Testimonials

The funding COPE Ltd receives from the Shetland Charitable Trust supports us in many ways. It allows us to develop and maintain a strong foundation to our core business and assists us to provide on-going employment skill development opportunities to people with disabilities living within Shetland. COPE Ltd highly values the support provided to our organisation by The Shetland Charitable Trust.

“The substantial grant made to us by Shetland Charitable Trust every year allows us to provide first-class facilities and dedicated staff to underpin sporting success among people of all ages and abilities in the islands.”

Having this core funding from the Charitable Trust means that we can use that money where we need it at any given time. It's multi-year funding which really takes the pressure off. To have the funding to keep going is really important as it is improving the lives of disabled folk in Shetland.

The funding that we get from the Charitable Trust pays for part of staff support and matching with other funders. Without local funders we wouldn't have national funders, and without either of those funders, we wouldn't be able to do this, so funding from the Shetland Charitable Trust is incredibly important.

The funding Shetland Arts gets from Shetland Charitable Trust is about making sure the organisation can thrive, access other funds, and deliver on behalf of the community of Shetland. Our funding from the Shetland Charitable Trust really helps us with our conversations with national funders because it shows that we're working on behalf of what the local objectives and priorities are.

The Access to Leisure scheme was introduced to allow folk to be able to get access to classes and activities for a lower cost. I feel that the SRT play a critical role in every community across Shetland and that's all down to the funding of the Shetland Charitable Trust that we're able to maintain that.

Unpaid carers do an amazing job looking after people 24/7 in their own homes, keeping them living at home safely, and they really need help to do that. Thanks to the funding from Shetland Charitable Trust, we've been able to employ a deputy manager, recruit more care attendants, and provide overnights. We're also really grateful for the funding because it means that everybody can get the service for free.