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PRINTEmbargoed until: Wednesday 24 November
National poverty charity Elizabeth Finn Care is to help even more people living in financial need in Edinburgh by taking over the management of 38 locally based trusts from the City of Edinburgh Council.
The move will herald a new era for funds that have remained dormant for many centuries, by being used to benefit the people of Edinburgh. In addition, some 670 beneficiaries currently supported by the trusts will gain extra help and support from the new arrangements.
Elizabeth Finn Care will take transfer of the funds from the City Council at the start of the new financial year and aims to use its expertise in giving grants and the added value of its innovative Turn2us service, which helps people to check their eligibility for benefits and charitable grants, to increase the reach and focus of the funds.
Matthew Sykes, Chief Executive of Elizabeth Finn Care, said: “This is very exciting news not only for Elizabeth Finn Care, but also for those in Edinburgh who are struggling financially. The City of Edinburgh Council has shown considerable foresight in recognising the benefits a charity can bring to the City’s residents in administering these funds. We have supported people struggling financially for over 100 years and look forward to bringing that experience, along with our new and innovative service, Turn2us, to Edinburgh.”
The funds will be ring fenced for the benefit of the residents of the City of Edinburgh and will offer a range of funding streams which will be announced in the New Year.
Councillor Tim McKay from the City of Edinburgh Council said: “This is excellent news for people in Edinburgh who stand to gain from the knowledge and expertise Elizabeth Finn Care will bring to the trusts, some of which are bequests made hundreds of years ago.
“We want to see the money used in the best possible way. By transferring management of these trusts to the charity, they are in effect consolidated and can be run more efficiently as one rather than 38. Also Elizabeth Finn Care has more of the specialist skills required to administer and disburse payments to beneficiaries. This will mean more benefit to those people in Edinburgh who need help. In these financially difficult times, this is good news for everyone.”
ENDS
For further information and interviews, please contact:
Kellie Smith, Senior Press Officer. Telephone: 020 8834 9263. kellie.smith@elizabethfinn.org.uk Or Laura Johnston, Press Officer. Telephone: 020 8834 9260. Laura.johnston@elizabethfinn.org.uk. Hythe House, 200 Shepherds Bush Road, London, W6 7NL.
Notes to Editors:
Elizabeth Finn Care
• Elizabeth Finn Care is a national charity that helps people in financial need to improve their lives.
• Elizabeth Finn Care gives direct financial support to people from over 120 occupational backgrounds, and through Turn2us helps millions more people in the UK to access the money available to them in welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help.
• Turn2us is part of Elizabeth Finn Care, a charity registered in England and Wales: 207812 and Scotland: SCO40987.
• Since being founded in 1897, Elizabeth Finn Care has given away over £130m in direct financial assistance to people in need. In 2009/2010 over 3,500 British and Irish citizens received grants totalling almost £4m from Elizabeth Finn Care.
Turn2us
• 13.5 million people in the UK live below the poverty line (source - Households Below Average Income: An analysis of the income distribution 1994/95-2007/08). Yet latest annual figures show that around 16.8 billion of welfare benefits go unclaimed and there are also over 3,500 charitable funds available which distribute grants worth over £366 million a year.
• Turn2us helps people to access to the money available to them in welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help.
• The Turn2us free, confidential online service - www.turn2us.org.uk is designed to help individuals quickly and easily find welfare benefits, tax credits or charitable grants available to them - all in one place. The site has a number of tools to make the process simpler, including a benefits checker, grants search and ‘find an adviser’ tool to help locate someone to speak to. Over 3,500 charitable funds are listed on the website and people can apply online to many of the charities for help. In the last 12 months over 2 million people have used the website.
• Turn2us works in partnership with organisations across the UK, including AdviceUK, Association of Charitable Officers, Citizens Advice, Child Poverty Action Group, Home-Start UK and Money Advice Trust to develop our services and reach the many millions of people that need our help.
• As part of the Armed Services Advice Project, Turn2us has partnerships with Poppy Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland. Turn2us also works in collaboration with Teacher Support Scotland.
The transfer
• Trusts being transferred: Ada Noble, Alexander Mortification, Brabazon Employment Society, Dalmeny Parish Fund For Benefit Of Poor, David McCall Mortification, Douglas Brown Bequest, Dr James Wilson Legacy, Edinburgh Civil Defence Services Benevolent Fund, Edinburgh District Council Retirement Trust, Eric Shacke Fund, George Vallance Bequest, Henry Seton Bequest, Irvine Trust, Isabella Hay Bequest, James Neil Barclay Bequest, John McGibbon Fund, John Reid Mortification, John Watson Of Saughton, JT Neill Bequest (Leith), Kirk Treasurers Mortification, Lord Provost’s Benevolent Fund, Mary Erskine (Re James Hair), Miss Catherine Stewart Leslie, Mrs C Maclaughlin’s Legacy, Mrs M J Fleming Trust, Mrs Margaret Todd Or Fraser Legacy, Pauls Work Mortification, Schaws Mortification, Schools Benevolent Fund, Sir Alexander Keith’s Bequest, Sir James Steel Trust, Sir William Ramsay Watson, Tollcross Feu Duty Fund, Trinity College Hospital Fund, W J Macintosh Trust, William Crambe Reid Bequest, William Lennie Trust, William Ross Bequest.
• The trusts include a residential care home in Haugh Street, which is currently managed by Bield Housing Association on behalf of Trinity College Hospital Fund. The management of the care home will remain unaffected.
• The total value of the funds is approximately £12 million.
• The City of Edinburgh Council is planning to transfer the Trusts to Elizabeth Finn Care on 5th April 2011.
• Elizabeth Finn Care will set up an Elizabeth Finn Care office in Edinburgh with a dedicated caseworker.