Our purpose is to protect, care for, share and speak up for Scotland’s magnificent heritage. We’re Scotland’s largest membership organisation and we’re independent of government.
Is the National Trust for Scotland a charity?
Yes! We are an independent charity that protects and shares some of our country’s most precious historic places and natural landscapes on behalf of the people of Scotland.
With over 330,000 members we’re also the largest membership organisation in Scotland.
What does the National Trust for Scotland do?
Since 1931, we’ve pioneered public access to and shared ownership of some of the most magnificent buildings, collections and habitats in Scotland. We care for ancient houses, battlefields, castles, mills, gardens, coastlines, islands, mountain ranges and all the communities, plants and animals which depend upon them.
Culzean Castle, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Glencoe National Nature Reserve, St Kilda, Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve, Culloden, Bannockburn and Ben Lomond are among the jewels that are familiar to anyone who has ever lived in or visited Scotland. These places mean so much to so many people. From the simple fun and happiness of taking the children around a country park, the exhilaration of being alone with only the sounds of the sea and the birds, and the quiet contemplation of great historical events to experiencing simple insights into the daily routines of lives once lived.
Together, the places and objects in our care tell the stories of Scotland and the Scots: how our people travelled and interacted with the wider world, taking with them their energy and values and returning with new ideas and treasures. Without our involvement, many of these places and things would have been lost forever to the damage caused by time, tide, climate, voracious pests and developers.
The phrase ‘conservation charity’ simply doesn’t do justice to the range of skills and experiences that our volunteers and staff bring to bear each day. Our 100+ visited places, 300,000+ artefacts and more than 76,000 hectares of countryside and gardens are brought to life by our volunteers and staff, doing everything from guiding visitors to thatching cottages and building footpaths.
Each year we welcome 3 million visitors to our properties, and few realise how much effort and resources are needed to ensure their enjoyment, safety and wellbeing and that they learn something fascinating even on the most casual of trips.
We do more than welcome visitors – we also take Scotland’s heritage out into communities. Our outreach teams have programmes that target people from early years to adulthood, including planned outdoor learning experiences within school grounds, in urban green spaces and the great outdoors. We offer free services to primary schools within areas of multiple deprivation and groups within schools that face social, cultural, financial or physical barriers.
Around 80,000 school children visit each year and we offer a range of experiences, ensuring that the stories of Scotland are received by young minds hungry for knowledge so that they can be shared and passed onto new generations.
As a membership organisation we’re governed by a Board of Trustees, most of whom are directly elected by our members and who must be Trust members themselves. They’re accountable to no-one but our membership, and their duty is to ensure the long-term protection of Scotland’s heritage.
Under the unique powers given to us under the National Trust for Scotland Order Confirmation Acts 1935–1973 (amended in the National Trust for Scotland (Governance etc.) Act 2013) we have the ability to enter into legally binding conservation agreements that enable us to protect important places that we don’t own, reinforcing our mission to speak up for all of Scotland’s heritage wherever and whenever it’s under threat.
As the Trust is independent and not part of government, we’re free to raise our voice when we need to, challenging politicians, policy-makers and commercial interests, as well as offering constructive advice based on the hard-won experience of nearly 90 years of pioneering conservation work.
We reach out internationally, directly through our National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA, as well as through our INTO partners, such as the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, ensuring our members enjoy reciprocal rights and that we all work together for the cause of world heritage.
Between 2018 and 2023 we’re investing £60 million in conserving our properties and bringing about new innovations to enhance visitor experiences and present Scotland’s stories in new and appealing ways.
We can’t do this without you. Please join us and support us.
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Join todayFair Work – Statement of Commitment
The National Trust for Scotland is committed to adopting fair work practices and to adhering to the dimensions outlined in the Fair Work Convention. Fair Work aims to balance the rights and responsibilities of employers and workers and generate mutual benefits for individuals, organisations and society, such as increased participation in work, improved productivity in the workplace and wider distribution of wealth within local communities. Fair Work can be defined as work that offers the following outlined below, and the associated commentary states the Trust’s position regarding each.
Payment of the Real Living Wage
The Trust is committed to paying the Real Living Wage and already does so for all staff except apprentices. However, paying the Real Living Wage to apprentices will have a knock-on effect on other grades. The issue of affordability will therefore need to be considered carefully. The Trust is currently reviewing its pay and grading structure. The outcome of the review will then be considered by our Executive Committee (ExCo), and then be discussed with Prospect (our recognised Union) along with a plan for implementation.
The aim therefore is to adopt the Real Living Wage and to implement our new pay and grading structure. However, implementation of the new structure may have to be phased over 2024/25.
Effective voice
Effective channels of communication in workplaces along with a safe environment enable workers to contribute to discussions, be listened to and make a difference, promoting an environment of employee engagement. Activities that the Trust already has in place which support this are:
- Recognition of and work with Prospect, which includes regular meetings and formal Joint Committees
- Conducting an annual staff survey, studying the results and formulating action plans to address issues that have been raised
- Start of season regional conferences linking regional delivery into the wider Trust strategy
Opportunity
Ensuring that everyone who wants to can access work and, in work, can develop and progress. The Trust is committed to several initiatives in this area such as:
- Increasing the number of apprenticeships employed by the Trust
- Partnering with the Open University and Skills Development Scotland to give staff access to a wide range of training and development opportunities – this initiative was launched in August 2023.
- Access to training that leads to employment, looking at different ways into the Trust
- Setting up Buddying and Mentoring schemes – this is likely to be implemented in 2024.
- Making improvements to our EDI data – this is scheduled for 2024.
Security
Including stability and predictability of employment, working time and income.
- Supporting stability of employment by careful financial management – this is being managed through the budget system for 2023/24.
- Improving our pay transparency with the review of our pay and grading structure, to be introduced in 2024/25.
- The ‘New Ways of Working’ project is reviewing how staff engage with work at the Trust. How much flexibility do we want/need as an employer and what are the expectations of staff? The outcome of this project is due in 2024.
Fulfilment
Developing and using skills, career advancement and employee engagement.
- Investment in training, learning and skills development – this work has commenced with the launch of the Learning, Skills and Careers initiative with partners at the Open University and Skills Development Scotland.
- Creating clear and transparent criteria and opportunities for career progression, as well as opportunities for personal development. The People team have recently created job families and aligned those job families with the development opportunities provided by the Open University.
Respect
Ensuring workers are respected in terms of (for example) health, wellbeing and safety regardless of their role or status.
- The Trust’s Values are used in the Trust’s recruitment process and in the staff recognition awards.
- The Trust has a Health & Safety Committee which includes Prospect members.
- A huge amount of work has been completed this year to support mental health, including the recruitment of Mental Health Champions and granting every member of staff a paid day off in support of their mental health and wellbeing.
- Work life balance and opportunities for flexible working – the Trust operates a flexible working and hybrid working policy, which is well used by staff.
The Trust has initiatives, in various stages of maturity, in all the areas outlined in the Fair Work Convention and will continue to support progress in those areas.