- email: admin@barcapelfoundation.org - telephone: 01475 521616 -
Registered in Scotland
: NO 36795
What do we support:
- Heritage
The original financiers of the foundation had a keen interest in our heritage, specifying that one of the foundations aims was "the preservation and beautification of historic properties". The foundation continues to support the built environment and will support our literary and artistic heritage as well as architectural.
The Built Environment
The phrase "built environment" refers to the manmade surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging from the large-scale civic surroundings to the personal places. As well as the substantial donations to the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Civic Trust in Barcapel's history the trustees continue to support smaller, but no less important projects.
Cultural Heritage
It is more important than ever to support our literary heritage in an increasingly digital age. As well as acknowledging the importance of literary figures, for example Robert Burns in a Scottish context, the foundation recognises that all forms of historical literature from poetry to prose and plays is vital in influencing and educating future generations, and as such need to be preserved and promoted. Barcapel's annual funding of a scholarship for the Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama reflects this interest.
Barcapel also supports the preservation of our artistic heritage, not only by donating to established galleries and other organisations which display the arts of a previous age, but also to more contemporary artistic endeavours with a view to ensuring their longevity. An example is our enthusiastic support for the Little Sparta Trust, a unique display of Ian Hamilton Finlay's greatest work of art.
Case Study - Heritage :
The Scottish Civic Trust
- The Scottish Civic Trust was founded in 1967 and is Scotland’s only voluntary organisation working to raise the quality of the whole built environment. They encourage excellence in the conservation of the past, in contemporary architecture and planning and in effective public education and participation in all these concerns.
The Trust operates from its headquarters, the A-listed Tobacco Merchants House, the last surviving tobacco lairds house left standing in the Merchant City of Glasgow. It required extensive renovation and restoration in 1997 and the Barcapel Foundation loaned the Scottish Civic Trust £100,000 in order to get this work underway.
Whilst it is unusual for Barcapel to make a loan rather than award a donation, in this instance it was deemed appropriate. The loan was interest free which alleviated the SCT's financing costs, and the commitment of £100,000 in place encouraged other trusts and charitable foundations to donate, ultimately culminating in the award of a substantial lottery grant.
The trustees decision was based on:
- The SCT's commitment to enabling everybody to have a say in decisions affecting their physical surroundings
- the historical importance of the Merchant's House as part of Glasgow's Merchant City
- the desire to lead the funding, encouraging other bodies to follow
- The SCT's willingness to accept alternative sources of funding - in this case a loan
What Barcapel Supports :
- Our three priority areas of interest for funding are health, heritage and youth.
HEALTH - all areas of medicine and healing are supported by the foundation, with a particular interest in complementary and alternative therapies.
HERITAGE - we are committed to preserving and protecting our artistic and cultural heritage, especially with reference to the built environment.
YOUTH - the foundation supports all areas of development for young people especially those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Most Recent Awards: (external links)
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 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
- 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
Document Downloads :
Application Process
- notes and flow chart diagram illustrating the various stages of the grant application process.
Grant Application Form
- to apply for a grant, in the first instance please download this form, complete it concisely and return it with a covering letter to Barcapel HQ.