Education / Trust fund for ex-Brae pupils to close after nearly 30 years
A TRUST fund which has provided grants to former Brae High School pupils and their families to support their further or higher education for more than two decades is winding down.
The decision has been made as the Ollie Leask Memorial Trust is no longer deemed to be sustainable.
It was set up in memory of former Brae headteacher Ollie Leask, who passed away in 1995, beginning life as a fund before gaining trust status in 2000.
The trust opened in the autumn every year to provide ex-pupils financial assistance with further or higher education.
Bursaries have been used in the past to help provide equipment and educational resources.
More recently the support from the scheme has included apprentices or those going through vocational training, as well as children of former pupils of Brae High School.
His daughter Susan Msalila, who is a trustee, said there was an “increasingly small” amount of funds available, which were mainly gained from donations.
A record number of awards have been made this year, but trustees feel that the scheme is no longer sustainable.
More than 120 awards have been disbursed during the near 30 years of life as a fund and trust.
Msalila said the the main source of contributions was from memorial donations at funerals and money raised from 500 evenings – “my father was a keen card player”.
This has reduced over the past few years which has an effect on the funds available.
“The lockdown was the final straw – no attendance possible at funerals, no 500 nights,” Msalila said.
“This, combined with the fact that, for several years, interest rates have been so exceptionally low meant that we are not able to retain a working balance in the trust while making meaningful awards to applicants.”
She said the decision to wind up was not taken lightly, and that the family would like to thank all those who have donated over the years.
Msalila highlighted that the Delting Educational Trust also provides funding for students in the area, meaning there is an alternative option if folk still want to donate to a similar worthy cause.
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