The Edinburgh & Lothian Trust Fund SCIO disburses grants to individuals and families in need. The aim of the Fund is the prevention or relief of poverty and/or to assist those in need experiencing illness or disability. The Trust’s funds are restricted to beneficiaries who reside in the City of Edinburgh or the Lothians. A proportion of the funds are allocated for the purposes of social welfare in Edinburgh with priority given to children and young people.
Among the General Fund grants available to individuals, The Edinburgh & Lothian Trust Fund SCIO is pleased to administer grants on behalf of the Ponton House Trust. This fund helps young people in the Edinburgh area who are in need, with priority given to those who also have additional difficulties such as a physical or mental disability.
Applications for individual grants must be submitted via a post holder in a local authority, NHS, or voluntary sector agency. Suitable post holders include social workers, Health Visitors, Midwives, G.Ps, Head Teachers, family support workers. Applications will not be accepted directly from members of the public.
Application guidelines and process
Only one application on behalf of an individual, family or household will be considered in a rolling twelve-month period.
The maximum grant awarded is £200 (except white goods which is up to £300).
Applications may be for any relevant and urgent need including:
- baby equipment
- furniture
- bedding – limited to £100
- household items including floor coverings
- clothing and footwear all ages– (subject to a maximum of £75 per person)
- small electrical items (a vacuum cleaner, kettle, toaster, microwave up to the maximum value of £100 per item)
- white goods (fridges, cookers etc) up to £300
- pre-payment electricity and gas cards up to £100
When completing the application form please be specific about the items you require and the approximate cost.
Excluded items
The Trust will not normally fund student fees or equipment, the repayment of debt of any type, holidays anywhere except in special circumstances, e.g. where a holiday is arranged by a recognised charity. Priority will be given to applications where there is serious illness of the individual or in the family, which should be stated.
Application process
Please apply using the online form available below.
An email acknowledgement is sent to the post holder when an application has been received. The email contains a unique identifier for the application e.g. ELTFI 12345 please quote this reference in any future correspondence.
Applications are processed on a continuous basis, with a turnaround of approximately four weeks.
If the application is approved, a confirmation email containing our acknowledgement form will be sent to the nominated Finance Officer and the post holder applicant.
If the application is unsuccessful, the Trust Administrator will email the postholder outlining the reason(s).
The payment will be issued by BACS to the Agency bank account nominated in the application form. Payments will not be made directly to an individual.
The grant should be used within four weeks of being issued, ideally by a supervised spend with or on behalf of the client.
The acknowledgement form and sales receipts (as evidence that the grant has been spent appropriately and as originally intended) should be returned within four weeks. They can be returned electronically by email to administrator@eltf.org.uk or by post to the:
Trust Administrator,
Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund SCIO
525 Ferry Road
Edinburgh EH5 2FF
The failure to provide sales receipts may mean that the Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund SCIO will be unable to issue further grants to the submitting organisation.
Any unpaid or unused portion of a grant must be returned to the Edinburgh & Lothian Trust Fund SCIO within eight weeks of receipt, otherwise future applications will not be considered.
Please ensure that you have read and understand our full terms and conditions.
If you have any enquiries or need advice please email administrator@eltf.org.uk
Download the Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund SCIO leaflet