# Support Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/10/15/support-lloyds-tsb-foundation-scotland/
- Published: 2009-10-15T20:47:33+01:00
- Author: Simon George

Over 12000 grant awards and almost £85m awarded since 1985 to charities working 
in Scotland and overseas. The reason for their extraordinary decision not to accept
any new funding applications?

 

Simple. Lloyds Banking Group – now partly owned and funded by the bank of you and
me – wants to sweep away everything that makes the [Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland](http://www.ltsbfoundationforscotland.org.uk)
unique. Oh, and haven’t actually got round to giving them any money this year.

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The four Foundations in the UK were established by an Act of Parliament when the
Trustee Savings Bank was floated on the stock market in 1985. A covenant was also
put in place guaranteeing their independence and a fair and transparent funding 
formula.

 

The Lloyds Banking Group has tried to ignore the convenant and shift the goalposts.
Effectively it wants to bring the Foundations inhouse and change the funding mechanism.
Currently the bank has no say in how the Foundations disburse their funds – if brought
inhouse that could change.

 

Each of the Foundations sets its own rules for applying grants. But generally they–
and especially the Foundation for Scotland – have taken the broadest possible approach.

 

Many fundraisers, the organisations you work for, and the causes and needs you support,
will have benefited from a Lloyds TSB Foundation grant over the years.

 

Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland has worked hard to ensure that the poorest communities
got their fair share: it is proud of its roots in the values of the Dumfriesshire
man who founded the TSB in 1810 believing that everyone, regardless of wealth or
status, could benefit from a savings bank.

 

The trustees at the Foundation for Scotland have shown an independence of thought
and action that is to be applauded. They are standing up not only for themselves
but for us all. The offer being made by Lloyds Banking Group would result in an 
estimated £22 million less for good causes in Scotland over the next nine years.
Unlike our politicians who have failed to rein in the worst excesses of our financial
sector, the Foundation’s trustees are taking a firm stand.

 

For fairness, for independence, for transparency, for universality.

 

They are doing so for our benefit. The least we can do is support them.

 

Join the cause at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/373633/38383816

 

 * **[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)
 * **[Session proposals sought for Scottish Conference](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/04/12/session-proposals-sought-scottish-conference/)**(
   12 April 2010)