annual review 2015 Annual Review 2015/ therobertsontrust.org.uk Contents Introduction 02 Director's Report 03 Grant Making Overview 04 List of Awards: Education & Training 06 Health 17 Care 26 Community Arts 35 Community Sports 40 Criminal Justice 44 Alcohol Misuse 46 Animal Conservation & Welfare 48 Saving Lives 49 Community Facilities & Services 50 Environment 57 Development Awards 58 Outreach Programme 60 Robertson House 62 The Robertson Scholarship Trust 64 Financial Review 66 Trustees Responsibilities 67 Auditor’s Report 68 Summarised Accounts 69 Trust Information 71 Trustees 73 Annual Review 2015 therobertsontrust.org.uk 01 Introduction In writing this introduction for the first time as Chairman. I am proud to report the continuing growth in our work and in our capacity to deliver a significant programme of grant giving around Scotland. In what has been a very In our Annual Report last year we signalled our challenging year for the belief in the need for early intervention and charitable sector as we cope preventative spend and we remain committed with intense public scrutiny to the idea of partnership. We are continuing and continuing Government to engage in discussions about how to better funding changes, I am achieve co- operation in order to avoid pleased that we have been able to support duplication and gaps. a broad range of charities which are showing remarkable resilience in difficult circumstances. I pay tribute to our Trustees who give so generously of their time to advise and guide As well as our regular activity, in 2015/16 we the Trust in these challenging times. Thank are undertaking a Five Year Strategy review. you for your support, encouragement and It has been an exciting and refreshing exercise wise counsel. as we reminded ourselves of the aims and objectives of the trust as laid down by our Thanks, as well, to Kenneth Ferguson, our Founders , the indefatigable Robertson Sisters. Director, and everyone in our marvellous staff Their vision and generosity has meant that since team who have shown such dedication and its inception 54 years ago, The Robertson Trust commitment to the delivery of our objectives has distributed more than £150 Million Finally we must recognise our investment in across Scotland. Edrington, whose success we depend on to make possible everything we do. It was a very We spent time making certain that our special moment earlier this year when we objectives remain clear and agree that our celebrated that for the first time our annual raison d'être is ‘To improve the quality of budget was over £20 Million. life and realise the potential for people and It is an enormous privilege to be part of such an communities in Scotland inspired by the inspiring organisation. I count myself lucky to be example of the Robertson sisters’. We will do this by continuing to recognise and respond to on board and am confident of our continuing need and disadvantage, by capacity building capacity to support the charitable sector which charities of all sizes bringing positive change. plays such a vital, key role in the lives and well At the heart of our work is the need to be being of the nation. supportive in building good relationships with I hope that you enjoy reading this Report. our partners; by being open to finding new ways of funding to ensure sustainability; by Dame Barbara Kelly being committed to monitoring and evaluation Chairman to improve our effectiveness and to share what we learn. We must challenge others to consider our findings to inform change in practice and policy across Scotland. 02 Annual Review 2015/ therobertsontrust.org.uk Director’s Report When the Trust was founded in 1961 the three Robertson sisters stressed in the founding document that “the support we have given to a large number of charities should be continued and extended”. I am delighted to report that this indeed has been the case for the year under review. Our total giving went up by 10% to £18.2m, the most we have ever given and the number of awards made rose by 7% to a record 742. The breakdown of this received over 7000 visitors last year. We are shows that our main funding pleased that Robertson House is now a thriving categories were Education charity hub in the heart of Glasgow. and Training at 30% of all our The Robertson sisters served for a combined awards, Care at 15% , Health total of 71 years as Trustees. In all that time at 15% and Community Arts they ensured that the Trust operated on the at 13%. These awards were spread across the principles of honesty, integrity and a willingness length and breadth of Scotland from the more to help people in trouble. remote rural locations to the most densely populated inner cities. I am delighted to confirm that these principles can be clearly seen in the following pages The size of our awards also varied greatly where we highlight the work we have with our largest award being £500k towards supported over the last year. the Citizens Theatre redevelopment project in Glasgow. However, the vast majority of Kenneth Ferguson our awards were much smaller but no less Director important at an average of £7k. As well as money, we have helped build capacity within the charity sector through our investment in Robertson House. We now have 26 organisations based in our building which Annual Review 2015/ therobertsontrust.org.uk 03 Grant making Overview The focus of funding made through theTrust’s grant making programme. This continues to help those charities and projects which provide direct support to create opportunities for disadvantaged groups and individuals living in communities. This is clearly a difficult time for many Main Awards charities which are operating at full capacity 02 Revenue donations in excess of £10,000 whilst having to deal with cuts in funding. per annum and capitald onations of up to The fact that the Trust is able to provide £100,000. Capitaldonations will normally be for core, unrestricted funding to support on- a maximum of 10% of the total project cost. going projects and services has been widely Also included in the Main Awards listing are appreciated by many charities coping with awards for continuation funding. these challenges. Small Awards This type of core funding is something that the 03 Revenue donations of up to £10,000 Trust sees as a growing need within the sector per annum. Applications for Main and Small and one that it will continue to support in the donations will be considered six times a year year ahead. Donations to these charities can and a suggested format for all applicants take the form of core funding, including salaries is provided on the Trust’s website which is and general running costs, grants towards designed to make the process as simple specific projects,or capital grants for building as possible for all applicants. or equipment. Donations are classified according to four main types, to which different guidelines apply. Development Awards 04 Seek to undertake a proactive role by Major Awards investigating and funding specific areas or 01 Capital donations above £100,000, for issues where the Trustees believe there is an which the overall project costs will normally be unmet need for the provision of services. We in excess of £1 million. Major capital donations also seek to inform national policy through will normally contribute specifically to one the commissioning and sharing of external of the Trust’s priority areas other than under evaluations. The Trust’s support in this area is exceptional circumstances. currently focussed on support for offenders and their families; alcohol misuse and Major capital applications are considered three community sport. Development Awards are not times a year in January, May and September. part of our open application process. 04 Annual Review 2015/ therobertsontrust.org.uk 2015 Awards Category Open Development Connected Giving Total applications awards Trusts more Alcohol Misuse £256,750 £348,500 £605,250 Animal Conservation £23,500 £23,500 & Welfare Care £2,449,150 £45,000 £2,494,150 Community Arts £2,374,000 £2,374,000 Community Facilities £1,409,500 £1,409,500 & Services Community Sports £719,450 £370,000 £1,089,450 Criminal Justice £339,500 £372,000 £711,500 Education & Training £4,874,000 £1,721,000 £6,595,000 Environment £118,000 £118,000 Health £2,585,400 £2,585,400 Saving Lives £26,000 £26,000 Giving More Awards £216,000 £216,000 Total £15,175,250 £1,090,500 £1,766,000 £216,000 £18,247,750 Award Type Number of Total Average award awards Committed £M amount Major 13 £2.9 £226k Main 289 £9.3 £32k Small 424 £3.1 £7k Development 14 £1.1 £78k £18.2M 2 n/a Connected Trusts £1.7 awarded Total 742 £18.2 an increase of 10% £19.3M £20.4M 742 £1.4M expenditure income awards Trust’s annnual an increase an increase up by running costs of 12% of 9.8% 7% Annual Review 2015/ therobertsontrust.org.uk 05 Education & Training This category includes support for community-based activities which increase opportunities in education or which nurture talent and develop positive life skills opportunities. Examples include youth work projects which seek to develop confidence, self-esteem, leadership and employability skills amongst young people, or community based learning centres which target hard to reach groups to provide access to education and training. Universities and FE Colleges should note that the Trust wishes to target revenue funding to projects and activities which provide and increase access for young people and mature students from disadvantaged backgrounds although applications for other areas of work may be considered.