Solicitor and retired vet volunteer as trustees

August 29th 2023

Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT) has appointed two new voluntary trustees. The addition of retired vet Jim Nicolson and solicitor Neil Risk completes a recent recruitment process which also saw fisheries scientist Beth Mouat join in May.

The new faces on the £380 million charity start in time to help shape SCT spending plans for the next five years. Over £9m is spent each year through its main and small grant scheme to support a wide range of services, including vital funding for 28 voluntary organisations.

The trust’s overall mission is to benefit and improve the quality of life of all people living in Shetland.

Commenting on his new team of trustees, SCT chair Robert Leask said: “We have an impressive array of capable people around the table. Their combined talents will help the charitable trust develop to meet the needs of the community in the coming years as we distribute the earnings from our investments to achieve the best possible outcomes for the community.”

The new trustees replace three who stood down recently: former chair Andrew Cooper, Ian Napier and Ken Harrison.

Mr Risk was born in Glasgow but has lived most of his life in Shetland and stays in Gulberwick. He was director of administration at Shetland Islands Council before returning to private practice as a solicitor. Currently, he is partner in charge in the Lerwick office of Anderson Strathern.

He played a role in the establishment of the new Erik Gray Centre for special needs people and served on the Anderson High School Parent Council during the planning and building of the new school.

He feels he has much to learn about the trust and looks forward to making a contribution. He said: “I’m at an age now where I’m starting to look towards retirement and having the time to give something back to the community. I would like to see the trust help with facilities and support to encourage our young people to stay in Shetland rather than moving away.”

Mr Nicolson is from the West Side, where he still lives. After training as a vet, he returned to set up practice locally, establishing three branches and employing over 20 people. He was a keen footballer and sailor and has interests in history, culture and the natural environment.

He said: “Having established a successful company and raised our family in Shetland, I now have time to contribute to the community. I hope my experience in business and the rural economy will be an asset to the SCT.”

Since forming in 1976 with oil funds, SCT has spent over £350m improving Shetland community life. It has funded a wide range of voluntary organisations, museums, the cinema and music venue Mareel, care homes and leisure centres.

The other trustees are vice-chair Ryan Stevenson, Margaret Roberts, Susan Gray, Yvette Hopkins, Ryan Leith, Emma Miller, Aaron Ferguson and Ewen Adamson.

For more information

Contact: Shetland Charitable Trust - mail@shetlandcharitabletrust.co.uk - Tel: 01595 744 994

Media Contact: John Robertson - noostmedia@gmail.com - Tel: 07775 407 796

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.