News / SCT seeks new trustees
SHETLAND Charitable Trust is on the lookout for two new trustees to help steward spending of around £10 million a year within the community.
Two years ago the trust, which was previously populated almost entirely by SIC councillors, changed its constitution to dilute the local authority’s control.
The 15 member trust now consists of eight appointed trustees and seven councillors. The two appointed trustees standing down are Ian Kinniburgh and Catherine Hughson.
In an advert with a closing date of 9 January 2015 at 12 noon, the trust says it is seeking “public-spirited people who are mainly resident in Shetland, have local knowledge, broad experience and can work well with fellow trustees.”
New recruits will be appointed by an independently-chaired interview panel.
SCT vice chairman Jonathan Wills said that while the post was unpaid, it was in a sense more important than the council: “It’s not government money, it’s the people’s money and if we don’t look after it very carefully nobody will bail us out.”
The trust was set up in 1976 using proceeds from the oil industry in Shetland. The bulk of its fund, worth around £215 million, is invested on the stock market and the interest generated – along with some from local investments – is used to finance annual spending of around £10 million.
In the 2013/14 financial year the trust spent £2.5 million subsidising rural care homes. It also dished out £2.5 million to Shetland Recreational Trust, just over £1 million to Shetland Amenity Trust and just under £700,000 to Shetland Arts.
The trust also funds various other charities, voluntary organisations and grant schemes.
Wills said people had direct experience of the services the trust funded every time they went to a care centre or walked into buildings such as Mareel, Shetland Museum and Clickimin.
Wills said: “It’s certainly very interesting, I’ve found, and it’s very rewarding. It’s a small organisation, so you can get things done and you can see things being done.”
- Anyone who is interested in applying to become a trustee can find out more information from Shetland Charitable Trust’s website, by phoning (01595) 744994 or by visiting its offices at 22-24 North Road, Lerwick.
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