News / SRT to receive £3.8m as over £10m in grants announced by charitable trust
THE TRUST which operates leisure centres across the isles is again the largest recipient of Shetland Charitable Trust’s (SCT) large grant scheme.
Shetland Recreational Trust, which runs eight leisure centres, swimming pools and other sports facilities, will receive £3.8 million in 2026/27.
The charitable trust has awarded more than £10 million in grants in total for next year to support 32 valued community services.
The large grant scheme has increased its payout by £1 million over the past two years.
A grant of £1.82 million is going to enhancing the standard of community care that Shetland residents receive from Shetland Islands Council.
The two other organisations to receive more than £1 million are Shetland Amenity Trust (SAT) and Shetland Arts Development Agency (SADA).
SAT has a wide range of services in the heritage and culture worlds to fund with its £1.34 million grant award while SADA will spend just over £1.1 million to cover the arts from dance to drama, film, music and crafts.
Ability Shetland meanwhile is getting an extra £120,000 in core funding to help continue delivering its groups, clubs and outreach services.
A new grant of £30,000 will also help the group support a sports development support worker role.
It is one of four new grant awards for 2026/27, totalling £73,500.
The others are:
- £17,500 to UHI Shetland for running online skills training to help people with numeracy.
- £15,000 to Scalloway Youth and Community Centre to strengthen the organisation and help fund staff costs.
- £11,000 to the Shetland branch of Relationship Scotland to help people dealing with the after-effects of conflict or trauma.
Shetland’s Citizens Advice Bureau has been given £345,000 to start a free, independent and confidential advice and information service.
Cope Ltd. will receive £273,000 for supporting placements, training and employment for adults with learning or physical disabilities, while Shetland Women’s Aid will get £144,000 to support services for victims of domestic abuse.
Voluntary Action Shetland has been given £113,500 to support the operating costs of running Market House, and a further £108,000 to cover the charity’s core costs.
The Shetland Care Attendant Scheme has been given £77,500, while Mind Your Head is getting £68,000.
Shetland Link Up has been awarded £63,000, the local befriending service has been granted £62,000 for a children and young people project, and the Royal Voluntary Service has also received £62,000.
The Shetland Bike Project is to receive £56,500 while the Compass Centre (£52,000), Shetland Carers (£51,500), Moving On Employment Project (£41,000) and OPEN (£41,000) are also among the recipients.
Who Cares? Scotland has been awarded £38,000, with £32,000 each going towards the Swan Trust and Gaada, and £31,000 heading to CLAN Cancer Support.
The local branch of Alzheimer Scotland is getting £25,000, as is Shetland Community Connections.
Dogs Against Drugs, meanwhile, has received £22,500 to support an education programme in Shetland’s schools.
The befriending service is also getting £18,500 to support over-16s.
The chair of SCT’s trustees Robert Leask said: “We are fortunate as a community to have these funds. The £10 million is money well spent on the huge amount of effort that goes into making life in Shetland a little bit better for everyone.”
SCT said it is also helping organisations plan ahead and have a more certain future by offering annual grant funding in principle until 2030.
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