Trust seeks fresh talent

March 21st 2025

Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT) is on the lookout for two talented new trustees to help in its mission to improve the quality of life in Shetland.

The two new trustees will join the board of 12 volunteers who shape the strategic direction of the trust and oversee its reserves of almost £500 million which are invested to benefit future generations.

SCT gives out more than £10m each year to support a wide range of services, including vital funding for around two dozen voluntary organisations.

Since forming in 1976 with oil funds, SCT has spent over £360m improving Shetland community life and giving rise to the islands’ quality leisure centres, care homes, museums and the cinema and music venue Mareel.

Trustees serve two four-year terms and attend four formal trust meetings a year as well as contributing to specialist committees.

Ryan Leith, who chairs SCT’s audit and governance committee, said: "I've been a trustee for the past five years. It's a very interesting role, supporting a wide range of local charities and finding out about their activities in the community.

“I work full-time but my shift pattern allows me to attend trust meetings. Training is provided and new trustees are fully supported by the trust's staff."

Application packs for prospective trustees are available from the trust’s website www.shetlandcharitabletrust.co.uk or telephone 01595 744 994.

To learn more about the role, contact the chief executive Dr Ann Black at ann.black@shetlandcharitabletrust.co.uk

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.