For clarity, our white goods applications are for up to £300. The Trustees agreed to this increase in order to react to inflation and the difficulty in buying fridge/freezers and washing machines for £200. The £300 grants are exclusively for white goods only and not for any other items.
Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund SCIO is recruiting Board Members
Date for applications extended to Friday 24th June 2022
Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund (ELTF) is looking for two or three new Trustees to join our Board. Ideally, one of them will be able to fill the vacancy for Chair that will arise in November 2023.
About the Trust
ELTF is a grant making trust whose core aim is the relief of poverty. We provide small grants to individuals in need and grants to small local charities throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians. We also provide larger grants to individuals through the Edinburgh Fire Fund. In addition, we make grants on behalf of the Edinburgh Police Fund for Children. See https://www.eltf.org.uk/ for further information and a copy of our Annual Report and Accounts. In addition, in response to the economic impact of Coronavirus we provided short term crisis funding to individuals and families. In 2020-21, we distributed 1,596 grants through 90 agencies totalling £198,244.
The Trust has an investment portfolio of over £7m which is managed on its behalf by Investment Managers. Total income of around £250k annually is used to fund grant giving and meet overhead expenses.
The Board has a minimum of five Trustees and a maximum of nine. Trustees are appointed for an initial term of up to 4 years and may be re-appointed for a subsequent term of up to four years.
The role is voluntary and unpaid but we hope that working with ELTF will be a rewarding experience, helping to support vulnerable people in need.
Time Commitment
The Trustees meet four times a year to approve larger grant applications, to discuss and decide on policy, strategy and governance issues and to provide oversight of the Investment Manager that manages the investment portfolio. In addition, there may be one or two additional meetings on specific topics if the need arises. Between meetings, there will be a small amount of business conducted by email, perhaps once a month on average. The day to day operations of the Trust are managed by a full-time Administrator.
The Candidates
We are keen to improve the diversity of the Board so would especially welcome expressions of interest from individuals that would help us achieve this. The current membership of the Board can be seen on our website https://www.eltf.org.uk/trustees/ . We are looking for applicants who have a good understanding of issues relating to poverty and inequality, possibly but not necessarily, with first-hand experience of working with children and families in deprived circumstances, perhaps as a lawyer, social worker, health visitor, teacher or support worker in the public or charity sectors. Experience and understanding of grant-making and Board governance is desirable but not essential as training will be provided.
How to Apply
Please email the Chair of the Trust chair@eltf.org.uk with a CV including details of relevant experience. For further information or to arrange an informal discussion, please also send an email to this address.
Application Deadline: Friday 24 June 2022
General Fund changes to criteria
Please note that Trust has agreed a couple of changes to the General Fund grant criteria.
With immediate effect.
- White goods grants change to up to £300 (previously up to £200). The maximum amount for all the other grants remains at £200.
- The clothing/footwear grant will be up to £75, regardless of age. Previously it was £50 per child and £75 per adult, note the maximum grant award remains at £200 e.g. Grant for 1 adult and 2 children = £200 (not 3 x £75). Previously using this example the grant would have been £175.
Closing Date for Organisational Grant Applications
The closing date for the current round of grant applications for voluntary organisations is Tue 20 Jul, with the Fund’s Trustees meeting to discuss applications shortly after that.
However there is still time for voluntary organisations to apply up to £2000 to cover specific main administrative and developmental needs (annually). Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be properly constituted and registered with OSCR as charitable
- Provide social welfare and support those in need
- Specifically for the benefit of people in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Be solvent, not in debt, and have an annual turnover of under £200,000
- Have reserves of no more than 6 months in operating costs
For more information and to apply please visit the Organisational Grants page.
Recruiting: Trustees to Join the Board
We’re looking for two new Trustees to join our Board. Ideally, one of them will be able to fill the vacancy for Chair that will arise in November.
Trustees are appointed for an initial term of up to 4 years and may be re-appointed for a subsequent term of up to four years. The role is voluntary and unpaid but we hope that working with ELTF will be a rewarding experience, helping to support vulnerable people in need.
Time Commitment
The Trustees meet four times a year to approve grant applications, to discuss and decide on policy, strategy and governance issues and to provide oversight of the management of the investment portfolio. In addition, there may be one or two additional meetings on specific topics if the need arises. Between meetings, there will be a small amount of business conducted by email, perhaps once a month on average. The day to day operations of the Trust are managed by a full-time Administrator.
The Candidates
We are looking for individuals who have a good understanding of issues relating to poverty and inequality, possibly with first-hand experience of working with children and families in deprived circumstances, perhaps as a lawyer, social worker, health visitor or other support worker in the public or charity sectors. Experience and understanding of Board governance is desirable but not essential as training will be provided.
How to Apply
Please email the Chair of the Trust chair@eltf.org.uk with a CV including details of relevant experience. For further information or to arrange an informal discussion, please also send an email to this address.
Application Deadline: 14 May 2021
ELTF Grants to Organisations – Closing date for Applications
The Trustees welcome applications from voluntary organisations which meet the following criteria:
- Are properly constituted and registered with OSCR as charitable
- The organisation’s aims and objectives are to provide social welfare and support those in need
- Are specifically, for the benefit of people in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Are solvent, not in debt, and having an annual turnover of under £200,000
- Have reserves of no more than 6 months operating costs
The Trustees will consider funding to assist progress in any local charitable organisation by grant-aid up to £2000 annually to cover specific main administrative and developmental needs.
For more information and to apply please visit Organisational Grants.
The closing date for the next round of is Tuesday 26th January 2021 and the Trustees will meet to discuss applications on Tuesday 16th February 2021.