About us
In the past year we have…
- Assisted 19 children to go on school trips with grants amounting to £2748 in total.
- Provided children with grants for various causes e.g. attendance at Feis totalling £2034.
- Assisted 1 family to have a holiday with grants totalling £350.
- Helped 12 students at college or University with grants totalling £11573.
It should be noted that these figures are down on recent years due to Covid 19.
Governance
The Trust has a governing body of 5 Governors, one of whom is a member of Highland Council.
The current Governors are Angus Mackenzie, a retired Chartered Accountant who has been involved for many years with the Trust, David Hewitson, a retired solicitor, Ali Fry, a management consultant, Irene Bews and Lyndsey Johnston from the Highland Council.
The day to day business of the Trust is carried out by Grace Dennison White, the Trust’s administrator, with the support of Eunice McAdam, a Chartered Accountant who is the Trust’s Secretary and Treasurer.
The Trust has limited funds, and is subject to the review of OSCR. The Governors in seeking to award assistance have to consider whether each application falls within the Rules set out in the Trust Deed, and is also a proper use of funds.
Meetings
The Governors meet four times a year to approve applications. The administrator has authority to award certain defined grants between meetings.
Our History
The Highland Children’s Trust was established by Trust Deed in April 1985, taking over from a predecessor trust scheme originating in 1936. The formal powers set out in the Trust Deed are:
To maintain the beneficiary in suitable accommodation while in need of care or while undergoing any form of full-time education;
For the education of the beneficiary, including his or her further education at such school, training college, university or other educational establishment as the Governors may consider to be appropriate;
For obtaining suitable employment by the beneficiary , including the payment of any necessary travelling expenses or the cost of temporary accommodation and the cost of entering into, undergoing and completing any training or apprenticeship;
For setting up the beneficiary in business on his or her own account, subject to such conditions as to the use, application or repayment of any grant, loan or allowance made for this purpose as the Governing body may think fit to impose in the circumstances;
For finding a suitable home for the beneficiary when no longer in need of care or undergoing full-time education or apprenticeship;
For providing the beneficiary with a holiday in cases where the beneficiary would not otherwise be able to go on holiday.