# Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland stops accepting new applications

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/10/14/lloyds-tsb-foundation-scotland-stops-accepting-new-applications/
- Published: 2009-10-14T20:34:02+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, one of the largest grantmakers in Scotland,
is closing its door to new applications for grants “for the foreseeable future” 
in a move which could deprive hundreds of charities of at least £6 million a year.

 

The suspension follows predicted losses at Lloyds Banking Group, which shares 1%
of its pre-tax profits amongst the four Foundations that cover the UK. “There are
virtually no monies due to the Foundation in the coming year”, according to the 
Foundation for Scotland.

## Advertisement

 

The Foundation will, however, honour its existing commitments to charities and will
make final awards in December as planned.

 

The closure also follows the failure of talks over nine months between the Foundation
and [Lloyds Banking Group](http://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com) over how to enable
the Foundation to continue its work until the Group returns to profit.

 

According to the Foundation, the Group has offered to make funding available for
the next year but only if the Foundation agrees to cede its independent status and
accept a reduction in the terms of the covenant between it and the Group.

 

Mary Craig, Chief Executive of the Foundation, explained: “Lloyds Banking Group 
has put money on the table to get the Foundation through the next few years until
the Group returns to profit.

 

“That is to be welcomed but, unfortunately, that has come with a significant condition
attached that would seek to alter the covenant immediately, leading to future funds
reducing from a share of 1% of profits to a share of 0.5% of profits. There are 
also conditions that we believe would lead to the end of the Foundation’s independent
status, such as the Group choosing where the money would go in future”.

 

She added that the charity’s legal and financial advisers have reported that “what
has been offered is not in the best interests of the Foundation and that Trustees
should therefore not agree to this”.

 

She also pointed out that the Scottish Government had recently set up a £1.7 million
fund for charities that have been hit by the recession. “If the Foundation stops
its activities”, she said, “this money will simply be filling part of the hole we
will leave, not providing the additional help as was intended.”

 

[The Group told Third Sector](http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/DailyBulletin/945356/Lloyds-TSB-Foundation-Scotland-suspends-acceptance-grant-applications)
that it was disappointed that the Scottish foundation had chosen not to continue
discussions. The three other Foundations are still in discussions with the Group.“
Our intention is to agree with all four foundations a mutually satisfactory accommodation
that is realistic, fair and durable,” said the Group’s statement.

 

Since it was established in 1985, The Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland has made
over 12,000 awards to charities, worth almost £85 million.

 

www.ltsbfoundationforscotland.org.uk

 

 * **[Support Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/10/15/support-lloyds-tsb-foundation-scotland/)**(
   15 October 2009)
 * **[Entries open in Scottish Charity Awards](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/02/23/entries-open-scottish-charity-awards/)**(
   23 February 2010)
 * **[Arts & Business Scotland Awards 2010 open for nominations](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/03/09/arts-amp-business-scotland-awards-2010-open-nominations/)**(
   9 March 2010)

## Comments

### By: admin

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/10/14/lloyds-tsb-foundation-scotland-stops-accepting-new-applications/#comment-3785
- Published: 2009-10-14T20:36:26+01:00

There’s already a campaign on Facebook to support the Lloyds TSB Foundation for 
Scotland in it stance. It uses the Causes application.

[http://apps.facebook.com/causes/373633/38383816](http://apps.facebook.com/causes/373633/38383816)
