Statement from Shetland Charitable Trust re Scalloway Pool

January 16th 2026

Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT) is aware that services provided at Scalloway Pool are to transfer to other SRT sites.

It is disappointing when a sport or leisure centre has to close. However, SCT recognises SRT’s responsibility to make its own management decisions and, clearly, it has undertaken a full review process.

Like many sports and leisure operators elsewhere, SRT is grappling with increased running costs and the challenges of maintaining expensive buildings. SCT has sought to help SRT as it transitions to a more sustainable operating model. This has included funding for Covid recovery, access to a capital grants scheme for building improvements and increased help with running costs.

SRT continues to provide an exceptionally high standard of sports and leisure services for Shetland with the £3.8 million grant it receives from SCT.

SCT has to balance its responsibilities to SRT with those to other organisations that it funds. This includes addressing the increasing pressure experienced by the services which support some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

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.