The core aim of Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund (ELTF) is to relieve poverty. We provide small grants to individuals in need and to small local charities throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians. We also provide larger grants to individuals through the Edinburgh Fire Fund. Last year we supported almost 2,000 individuals and families in total. More details are available on our web-site eltf.org.uk

There are a minimum of five Trustees and a maximum of nine. Trustees are initially appointed for up to 4 years and may be re-appointed for up to a further four years.

The Trust has an investment portfolio of around £7.5m which is managed by external Investment Managers in accordance with the Board’s investment policy. Investment income of around £250k annually is used to fund grant giving and meet overhead expenses. If you would like to contribute to the decisions about who receives grants, please consider applying.

The Role

ELTF is recruiting up to three new Trustees to replace members who are retiring from our Board over the next few months.

ELTF’s Trustees work together to provide oversight and support to the Administrator of the Fund. We already have a Treasurer and a board member with investment management experience. All our other Trustees have different skills and experience, and each of them brings different perspec-tives. This means that the decisions we make together are better, because they are drawing on in-put from a more diverse group of people.

We are looking to broaden the range of skills and experience on our Board. We would particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of poverty, teachers with experience of working with families in poverty, people with legal expertise or with a background in issues related to poverty and inequality. We would like this diversity on our Board, because we want to be able to reflect the diversity of the people who receive our grants.

We welcome applications from people who have no Board experience as well as those who do.

All new trustees will be supported through an induction and training programme to help you understand how our Board works, what your responsibilities are and to make sure you are comfortable and able to contribute successfully. More experienced Board Members will be available to support you.

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 as well as building links with other charities working with those in poverty. Applications for grants are increasing and exceed our available income. Over the next few months, we will be looking at how we manage this challenge. You will be helping to address this, deciding who should benefit from our grants.

Time Commitment

There are 4 Trustees’ meetings a year, mostly in person at our office in Edinburgh which is wheelchair accessible. At meetings we discuss and decide on policy, strategy and governance issues, provide oversight of the Investment Managers, review our financial position and approve larger grant applications. As noted above, training is provided. There will be occasional additional meetings on specific topics as the need arises. Between meetings, some business is conducted by email.

If you have any specific needs, we’d be happy to discuss these before you apply, to make sure we can accommodate them.

Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund (ELTF)

Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund (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.

There is 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 Trust has an investment portfolio of £7.5m which is managed on its behalf by Investment Managers. Income of around £250k annually is used to fund grant giving and meet overhead expenses.

ELTF is looking for a suitably qualified Accountant to be our Treasurer. Our current Treasurer is happy to talk to people interested in the role.

The Role

ELTF’s Treasurer provides advice to the other Trustees and oversees the financial management of the Trust. Financial services, including preparation of quarterly management accounts and statutory accounts, are provided by an outsourced contractor. The Treasurer will liaise with them as needed and provide appropriate challenge on behalf of the Trustees. Ideally, the successful candidate would have experience of charity accounts This may be a suitable role for someone who is looking for Board level experience.

Working with ELTF is a rewarding experience, helping to support vulnerable people in need. Applications for grants are increasing and over the next few months we will be developing a new strategic direction.

Time Commitment

There are 4 Trustees meetings a year and there will be occasional additional meetings on specific topics as the need arises. Between meetings, some business is conducted by email.

Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund (ELTF) is recruiting for a new Chair to join our Board. This is a great opportunity to make a difference to the lives of people in poverty in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Most of our grant making directly benefits individuals and families in need and we aim to respond quickly to requests for support. We have links to over 100 charities locally and work in partnership with many of them. If you are committed to helping the poorest in society and have relevant experience as a Board Member or Chair, then you could be the person we are looking for. Experience and understanding of board and charity governance is a key requirement; a good understanding of issues relating to poverty and inequality would also be welcome. The current membership of the Board can be seen on our website eltf.org.uk/trustees

About the Trust

ELTF is a very active grant making trust whose core aim is the relief of poverty. We operate three funding streams:

• The General Fund which provides small grants to individuals in need and grants to small local charities throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians.
• The Edinburgh Police Fund for Children which provides grants for shoes and warm jackets for school age children in Edinburgh
• The Edinburgh Fire Fund which provides larger grants to individuals who have experienced a house fire in Edinburgh

In addition, we distribute small grants to vulnerable young people on behalf of the Ponton Trust.

See eltf.org.uk for further information and a copy of our Annual Report and Accounts.

The Trust has an investment portfolio of around £8m 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 as well as building links with other charities working with those in poverty.

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 Administrator reports to the Chair who liaises with them on a regular basis on policy and operational issues.

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 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 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.

Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund (ELTF) is looking for two new Trustees to join our Board. Ideally, one of them will be able to fill the vacancy for Chair that will arise in November.

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. See eltf.org.uk for further information. In addition, in response to the economic impact of Coronavirus we have provided short term crisis funding to individuals and families.

The Trust has an investment portfolio of over £7m which is managed on its behalf by Investment Managers. Income of around £240k annually is used to fund grant giving and meet overhead expenses.

There is 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 grant applications, to discuss and decide on policy, strategy and governance issues and to provide oversight of the management of 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 looking for individuals who have a good understanding of issues relating to poverty and inequality, possibly with first-hand experience of working with children and families in deprived circumstances, perhaps as a lawyer, social worker, health visitor or other support worker in the public or charity sectors. Experience and understanding of Board governance is desirable but not essential as training will be provided.