Charitable trust begins independent trustee recruitment process

Shetland Charitable Trust has begun the recruitment process for its eight independent trustees.

The appointed members will join seven SIC councillors on the new 15-member trust, which has an independent majority.

The charity, founded from Sullom Voe oil income in 1976, currently dispenses some £11 million each year to a number of community based sectors, including social care and welfare, arts, sports, the environment and heritage.

The income from the oil industry ceased in 2000 and the trust’s only source of income now is investment returns. Its funds are currently worth around £215 million, with £175m invested on the world’s markets and £40m in the local economy.

The eight new trustees will be appointed by an independent interview panel and, they will be expected to take decisions on all aspects of trust business, from investment to charitable disbursements.

Charitable trust chief executive Ann Black said: “This is an exciting time for the trust. When we announced our proposed changes earlier in the year there was a lot of interest from around the Shetland Islands. We hope that our advert will attract similar levels of interest and that we will receive a significant number of applications.”

Trust chairman Drew Ratter said: “We have funded, and will continue to support, a wide range of projects across the isles, as well as managing our key investment funds and we hope that our new trustees will be people whose knowledge and experience will assist us going forward.

“We are looking for people who can contribute effectively in a group and who have a broad cross-section of experience of the Shetland Islands.”

Anybody who would like to talk about the role is cordially invited to phone Edna Mainland at the charitable trust on (01595) 744994, who will make them an appointment for a chat with Mr Ratter or Dr Black. Information packs and application details are available from www.shetlandcharitabletrust.co.uk.