The OneCity Trust has received a Burns Night boost thanks to the Lord Provost's annual fundraising supper which took place on Friday January 26.
The traditional Scottish dinner held at Prestonfield House raised a total of £30,500 in ticket sales and donations. This amount will be used by the OneCity Trust to support Scottish charitable organisations and constituted groups in their 2024 Main Grant Funding Programme which opens to applicants in March. The funding theme for the coming year is ‘assisting people affected by the housing emergency’.
Over 200 guests attended the Lord Provost's Burns Supper which featured an excellent array of entertainment. This included a rousing ‘Address to the Haggis’ from James Macsween (Managing Director of Macsween of Edinburgh – Haggis Producers) followed by a poignant and fascinating ‘Immortal Memory’ from Professor Sir Geoff Palmer, culminating in a boisterous ‘Toast tae the Lassies’ from Cameron Goodall and a hilarious ‘Reply fae the Lassies’ from comedian Janey Godley.
Guests were also treated to a musical rendition of Burns songs from multi-award-winning Scots musician Robyn Stapleton.
The Lord Provost and President of the One City Trust, Robert Aldridge, said:
I’m delighted that the annual Burns Supper has raised much needed funds for the One City Trust which will be distributed as grants to projects across our city.
As Lord Provost my duty is first and foremost to the people of Edinburgh and I am committed to helping them in any way that I am able. I look forward to seeing the One City Trust continue its work in the year ahead it is my sincere hope that we will be able to make a strong and lasting difference for our most vulnerable residents.”
I want to sincerely thank all colleagues involved in organising this year’s event, particularly James Thomson OBE and his staff at Prestonfield House, our Sponsors, Macsween of Edinburgh – Haggis Producers, Bentley Edinburgh, Whyte & Mackay, Tunnocks and Turkish Airlines. My special thanks must go to all my guests for attending and supporting the event, and every single person who donated and took part in the fundraising activities, making the night such a resounding success.
About the OneCity Trust:
The mission of the One City Trust is to fight inequality and exclusion in the City of Edinburgh. It is an independent charity which is uniquely linked to the city.
The Trust was established in 2003 in response to the One City report of the Lord Provost’s Commission on Social Exclusion. It uses the idea of a ‘community foundation’ to give people and organisations a means to reach across the divides of the city and support those who are excluded from the community. A permanent endowment was established with a donation from the City of Edinburgh Council, which the Trust has added to over the years, and continues to build.
In 2012 with the creation of the ‘Lord Provost’s Rapid Action Fund’ the Trust acquired the ability to raise funds specifically for the purpose of giving out grants (rather than rely solely on the interest from the Trust).
Further information on the 2024 Grants Programme, or to make a donation, go to the One City Trust website.