Blindcraft Trust Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £150,000-£210,000 (based on recent expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only process)
• Decision Time: Twice annually (spring and winter meetings)
• Grant Range: Up to £5,000 (Small); £5,000-£50,000 (Medium); Over £50,000 (Large)
• Geographic Focus: 12 Scottish council areas (Glasgow City, Argyll & Bute, West Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire, Inverclyde, East Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Stirling, and Falkirk)

Contact Details

Address: Glasgow City Council Corporate Finance, Ground Floor, 40 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1JL

Phone: Contact through Glasgow City Council main switchboard

Website: Information available through Glasgow City Council Sundry Trust Accounts page

Note: This is an invitation-only trust. Organizations cannot apply directly but must be invited by trustees.

Overview

The Blindcraft Trust Fund was originally established in 1825 by a private Act of Parliament to carry out the testamentary wishes of John Leitch, creating an Asylum for the Blind in Glasgow. The trust obtained formal charitable status (SC043029) on 26 March 2012 when Glasgow City Council applied to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) as part of a council-wide review of sundry trusts. With assets of approximately £196,116 professionally managed by Ruffer Limited Liability Partnership, the trust has distributed between £150,000-£210,000 annually in recent years (2021-2024). The trust operates across 12 Scottish council areas and maintains a strategic focus on advancing education for blind and visually impaired individuals, relieving poverty through employment training, and supporting the Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) - Europe's largest supported employment facility for people with disabilities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates an invitation-only grant program with three funding tiers:

• Small Grants: Up to £5,000
• Medium Grants: £5,000-£50,000
• Large Grants: Over £50,000

Application Method: Organizations do not apply directly. Trustees meet twice annually (spring and winter) and invite pre-selected organizations to submit proposals. The Trust Deed recommends that RSBi (Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries) should be among invited organizations to comply with trust terms.

Priority Areas

1. Education Advancement: Supporting education for blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages, with particular emphasis on children from birth to 19 years with statutory education rights (excluding areas where local authorities have statutory duty)

1. Poverty Relief and Employment: Relieving poverty among blind and visually impaired individuals, especially unemployed persons, through training and skills development that assists in obtaining mainstream employment

1. Blindcraft Factory Support: Particular support for the Blindcraft Factory (RSBi) run by Glasgow City Council, which employs over 250 people (more than half with disabilities) in Europe's largest supported employment facility

1. Other Charitable Projects: Supporting ancillary charitable programs and projects benefiting blind and visually impaired individuals, including advancement of public education

What They Don't Fund

• Projects where local authorities have statutory duty to provide support
• Organizations or individuals outside the 12 designated Scottish council areas
• General applications (invitation-only process)
• Projects not directly benefiting blind and visually impaired individuals

Ready to write a winning application for Blindcraft Trust Fund?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Structure: The trust is governed by a board of trustees comprising representatives from the 12 participating Scottish councils. Each council nominates a councillor to serve as an ex officio trustee.

Meetings: Trustees meet twice annually (spring and winter meetings) to:

• Review trust expenditure and set budgets for the financial year
• Determine which organizations to invite to apply for funding
• Review proposals and make funding decisions

Administration: Glasgow City Council Corporate Finance handles financial administration, with council staff conducting financial and governance vetting of invited organizations before trustees make final funding decisions.

Investment Management: Trust funds are professionally managed by Ruffer Limited Liability Partnership with a strategy balancing capital preservation and growth.

Expenditure Limits: While the Trust Deed contains no spending restrictions, trustees have agreed to limit grant expenditure to a pre-determined amount reviewed annually.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: This is an invitation-only trust. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications.

Process:

1. Trustees meet twice annually and identify organizations they wish to invite to apply
2. Selected organizations receive invitation to submit proposals
3. Glasgow City Council staff conduct financial and governance vetting
4. Trustees review vetted proposals and make funding decisions

Decision Timeline

• Trustee Meetings: Twice annually (typically spring and winter)
• Decision Time: Decisions made at trustee meetings following staff vetting process
• Notification: Organizations notified after trustee decisions

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only process, invited organizations undergo thorough vetting, suggesting those invited have strong alignment with trust purposes.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy not publicly disclosed. Organizations previously funded or invited may be considered for future invitations based on trustee decisions and continued alignment with trust purposes.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors:

1. Direct Benefit to Target Population: Projects must clearly demonstrate direct benefit to blind and visually impaired individuals within the 12 designated Scottish council areas

1. Relationship with RSBi: According to trust guidance, RSBi should be among invited organizations to comply with Trust Deed terms, suggesting strong connection to the Blindcraft Factory and its workforce

1. Employment and Skills Focus: Projects supporting employment training, skills development, and mainstream employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired individuals align closely with trust priorities

1. Educational Impact: Programs advancing education for blind and visually impaired individuals, particularly children and young people (birth to 19 years)

1. Poverty Relief: Projects addressing poverty among blind and visually impaired populations through practical support and training

1. Track Record: As trustees invite organizations to apply, having established credibility and previous relationship with participating councils or the trust itself appears important

1. Financial and Governance Strength: Council staff conduct thorough financial and governance vetting before proposals reach trustees, indicating strong organizational management is essential

Project Example: Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi), Europe's largest supported employment facility, employs over 250 people (more than half with disabilities) manufacturing kitchens, furniture, and other products. The trust specifically supports RSBi in line with its mission to provide employment and skills training for blind and visually impaired individuals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-Only Process: You cannot submit unsolicited applications. Building relationships with participating council representatives and demonstrating strong work with blind/visually impaired communities may lead to future invitations

• Multi-Council Coverage: The trust operates across 12 Scottish council areas, so demonstrating reach or partnership potential across multiple councils could strengthen positioning

• RSBi Connection: The Trust Deed recommends RSBi be among invited organizations; partnerships or connections with this major supported employment facility may be beneficial

• Employment Priority: While education is supported, the trust places particular emphasis on employment training and poverty relief through skills development for unemployed blind and visually impaired individuals

• Meeting Timing: With only two annual trustee meetings, funding cycles are limited; building relationships with trustees and council staff throughout the year is important

• Statutory Exclusion: Projects where local authorities have statutory responsibility are explicitly excluded from funding consideration

• Financial Vetting Required: Strong organizational governance and financial management are essential as council staff conduct thorough vetting before trustee consideration

References

1. Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). (2025). “Blindcraft Trust Fund - Charity Details.” Charity Number SC043029. https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC043029 []

1. Argyll and Bute Council. “Outside bodies - Blindcraft Trust.” https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/moderngov/mgOutsideBodyDetails.aspx?ID=710 []

1. Glasgow City Council. “Blindcraft Trust Minutes.” https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/1075/Blindcraft-Trust-Minutes []

1. Glasgow City Council. “Blindcraft Trust Fund Minutes - 22nd March 2024.” https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/media/14648/22-March-2024-Blindcraft-Trust-Minutes/pdf/22nd_March_2024_Minutes.pdf []

1. City Building Glasgow. “Manufacturing Services Glasgow | RSBi.” https://www.citybuildingglasgow.co.uk/services/manufacturing/ []

1. Project Scotland. (2016). “Glasgow factory where jobs come before profits.” https://projectscot.com/2016/01/glasgow-factory-where-jobs-come-before-profits/ []

1. British Association for Supported Employment. “Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi).” https://www.base-uk.org/procurement/listing/city-building-glasgow-rsbi-llp []