The Robertson Trust was established in 1961 by the Robertson sisters Elspeth, Agnes and Ethel who donated the shares in the businesses, founded and developed by their grandfather and father, to the Trust for charitable purposes. The origins of these businesses, based in Glasgow, stretch back to the 1850’s when William (W.A.) Robertson began business in the city. Keen to ensure their on-going success, the sisters brought them together under the Edrington Group (named after the farm near their home) and established The Robertson Trust.
Today, the Trust controls The Edrington Group, one of Scotland’s largest private companies in the Scotch whisky industry which owns the well known brands: The Famous Grouse, The Macallan, Highland Park and Cutty Sark. In 2008 it acquired a controlling interest in Brugal, a leading brand of rum produced in the Dominican Republic.
When the sisters established the Trust, their purpose was to ensure that the family businesses remained active and independent, and to continue and extend the past support they had given to charities. They were among the first Trustees, serving for a combined total of 71 years, ensuring that the Trust operated along the principles, which they, their father and grandfather had employed in the family business, namely: honesty, integrity and willingness to help people in trouble or need.
Charitable Object
The Robertson Trust is an independent Scottish grant-making Trust (Scottish Charity No: SC002970). The object of the Trust is the provision of financial support for charities as defined by the Law of Scotland.
The Trust Deed confers wide powers on the Trustees to make payments to such charities as the Trustees determine. They have chosen to focus on organisations whose work takes place in, or which has a direct impact on Scotland. The Trust aims to identify and support charities, large and small, which can demonstrate that they can deliver measurable outcomes on behalf of the individuals, groups and communities they seek to serve.
The Robertson Trust
Life President: Sir Ian Good
The Trust is now governed by its Corporate Trustee, Kintail Trustees Limited. The Directors who fulfill the role of charity trustees are:
Chairman: David Stevenson
Trustees: Dame Barbara Kelly Shonaig Macpherson Mark Laing Sandy Cumming
Committee Members: Ian Curle Richard Hunter Andrew Walls Heather Lamont Judy Cromarty
The Directors have established a series of Committees to assist in their work, as follows:
Trust Committees:
Giving: Dame Barbara Kelly (Chairman) David Stevenson Shonaig Macpherson Mark Laing Sandy Cumming Ian Curle Richard Hunter Judy Cromarty
Risk and Audit: Shonaig Macpherson (Chairman) Sandy Cumming Andrew Walls
Nominations: Sandy Cumming (Chairman) Dame Barbara Kelly Mark Laing
Investment: David Stevenson (Chairman) Mark Laing Heather Lamont
Investor Relations: David Stevenson (Chairman) Shonaig Macpherson Sir Ian Good Ian Curle
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Staff Team |
Summary of Financial Year 2011/2012
In the year to March 2012 the Trust committed £14.7 million to 746 different charities. This year’s total includes a £2.5 million Award Programme to mark the Trust’s 50th Anniversary. The majority of these awards will be paid out over the next three years subject to the agreed donations being met by the recipient charity.
92% of donations made in the year totalling £11.6 million were to support the Trust’s four priority areas which are Care, Health, Education and Training, Community Arts and Community Sports.