Argyll and Bute Trust: supporting the present, sustaining the future
Despite the support it has given community groups and organisations for more than four decades, many people are unfamiliar with the work of Argyll and Bute Trust.
In a bid to change that, Kintyre trustee Walter Bell has shared some information about the charity.
‘The trust, of which I have been a member for a decade,' he said, ‘has its roots in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Trust of 1977, and has its boundary within the area of the original Argyll and Bute County.
‘Although the trust shares part of its name with our local authority, it is a totally independent charity, with no connection with our local authority, except that of a mutual respect.
‘The trust received its charter in 1978, and is thus 44 years old, but it is little known to many in our county, for its dedicated work.
‘Parents of children who enrolled in P1 classes of our schools throughout our area, however, will remember that, in 2018, each child received a high visibility garment, to reduce the risk of accidents on our roads in the dark days of winter. This donation was done to mark the ruby anniversary – 40 years – of the trust.'
Argyll and Bute Trust gives grants and donations to organisations and projects across the area, which support children and young people, older people, people with disabilities or health problems and which benefit the community.
Recently, the trust provided £1,500 towards Campbeltown mum Iona MacLean's campaign to purchase and install a swing-set for people of all abilities at Jock's Adventure Playground.
Walter said: ‘The trust's motto could be: “Supporting the present = sustaining the future.” Throughout all the years, the trust has given grants to many individuals, and groups of individuals, to further those ideals, however this grant of £1,500 is the largest donation the trust has ever made in its normal proceedings.
‘The reason for this is twofold: first, the country-wide lockdown has prevented activities that could otherwise have generated requests; and secondly, the entire trust members were so impressed with Iona's unselfish campaign.'
He added: ‘I am also a member of the Rotary Club of Campbeltown, that also donated to the swing venture, and can confirm that the club is always willing to accept new members that have charity in mind, and support the theme of “service above self”.'