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.co.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: Monday 6 June 2022

Please note that Trust has agreed a couple of changes to the General Fund grant criteria.

With immediate effect.

1. White goods grants change to up to £300 (previously up to £200). The maximum amount for all the other grants remains at £200.
2. 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.

FUNDING CLOSED – Thank you to everyone who applied.

We are delighted to announce we’re now accepting applications for ‘Get Into Summer’ grants of up to £100 – offered in partnership with The City of Edinburgh Council with Scottish Government funding. 

These funds are part of an initiative to help children, young people and families have fun throughout the holiday period and the transition back to school and are to support those who have been particularly affected by the pandemic to make the most of their summer and connect with others.

Aims of the funding
This funding is to specifically: 

• Support children and young people’s wellbeing after a year of disrupted school, nursery and informal learning and periods of isolation from friends
• Build on existing provision and good practice, and promote innovation
• Ensure young people’s views shape and inform the programme of activities
• Remove barriers and ensure participation of target groups

Eligibility Criteria and Information
Please note the funding is for children, young people and families

• We will accept applications from b oth third and statutory sector organisations, including NHS Health Visitors
• Eligible families are those in need, with at least one child under child/ young person under 25 years.
• The family must reside within the City of Edinburgh Council administration area.
• A grant will be limited to a maximum of one application of up to £100 per family/household. 
• Eligible application items include:
  – Trips to attractions e.g. Zoo, East Links Farm, Deep Sea World, etc.
  – Swimming, Tenpin bowling, Cinema, etc
  – Subscriptions to Brownies, Guides, Cub Scouts, recreational activities etc.
  – Membership/outings to football clubs, hockey clubs, athletics, tennis etc.
  – Games
  – Online activities for children
  – Toys e.g. scooter
  – Other resources or passes for children, young people and their families might be considered
• Applications can include food and travel costs.
• If a family has had an ELTF grant within the last 12 months they are still eligible to apply to the Get into Summer Fund.

APPLY
Applications will be made using our existing online ELTF General Fund application form
Please make sure to put ‘Get into Summer’ in the grant details purpose field of your application. 

OTHER INFO

Sales receipts are required to evidence that the grant has been spent as intended on the item(s) required. They should be returned to the ELTF Administrator within four weeks of the grant being issued.

Applications will be processed w/c 9 August 2021.

^{The funding available is limited. If the funding is oversubscribed the ELTF will not be in a position to honour any outstanding ‘Get into Summer’ 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.