What is The Barcapel Foundation?

The Barcapel Foundation has been supporting charitable works and endeavours in Scotland and beyond for over 40 years.

Today's trustees still operate guided by the philosophies of the original settlors, R Clement Wilson and Andrew C Wilson, especially their view that "From the outset the Foundation saw that its most effective giving would be directed to those organisations who were in the early stages of development and in need of help to get off the ground". The current trustees refer to this ambition as "pump priming".

The Trustees are actively seeking to increase the number of awards and as such welcome applications from charities that engage our aims and objectives. As mentioned above we are particularly keen to hear from charities who require finance to get new initiatives and endeavours started. If you are a charity seeking financial assistance for a project please browse the site to learn a little more about the Foundation and its work before contacting us.

The following awards are a sample of those approved by the Trustees at the board meeting of 8/05/2007:

 

The National Trust for Scotland

- To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns in 2009, the National Trust for Scotland is raising £20 million to create the Burns National Heritage Park. The extensive project, on the site of the existing museum at Burns Cottage in Alloway, will provide a considerably more informative and rewarding visitor experience than currently available as well as being a lasting tribute to Robert Burns. The Barcapel Trustees were impressed by the professionalism of the NTS as well as the ambition, scale and importance of the project and consequently awarded the substantial grant of £200,000.00.

 

Depression Alliance Scotland

- Depression Alliance Scotland is working towards a future where depression is recognised, understood and acknowledged to be a common and treatable medical condition, just like any other. Barcapel has funded this charity in the past agreeing with the excellent work of DAS in raising awareness of an illness which often goes undiagnosed, and on this occasion the Trustees approved a further grant of £55,000.00

 

The Traverse Theatre

- Class Act is the Traverse Theatre's flagship education project for children aged 12-18. The project gives school pupils the unique opportunity to experience the entire process of the creation of a piece of theatre - from planning to writing to performance. The Trustees were not only impressed by the substantial educational benefits of Class Act, but also the evident personal development benefits to the children. Barcapel decided to become the lead funder awarding a grant of £15,000.00.

Brain Tumour UK

- Since its formation in 1997, Brain Tumour UK has provided services for anyone whose life is affected by the diagnosis of a brain tumour, be they a small child, teenager, young adult or grandparent. The directors agreed that the charity provides excellent services and support to those who truly need it, and that it was in urgent need of up-to-date informational literature that can be distributed to brain tumour sufferers imediately they are diagnosed. Barcapel awarded £13,100.00 to cover both the design and production costs of this literature.

Kilgraston School

- Kilgraston School is raising money for the construction of a new swimming pool. The school has undertaken to work with the local authority to provide access to its sporting facilities for voluntary groups and charities as well as children less fortunate than the Kilgraston pupils. They are also building a relationship with Sense Scotland, who are about to embark on an initiative to develop and promote physical activities for young people with support needs because of deafblindness and are especially keen to have access to the pool once open. This community contribution element of the appeal impressed the Trustees who awarded a grant of £10,000.00.