The Barrack Charitable Trust has awarded £106,642 to 25 charities across Scotland as part of its latest round of funding, supporting projects ranging from heritage restoration and homelessness services to cancer care, education and accessible outdoor experiences.
The latest tranche of grants forms part of the Trust’s two funding rounds for 2026, with major awards including £25,000 each for Belmont Community Cinema in Aberdeen and Alpha International.
The funding for Belmont Community Cinema will contribute towards the capital costs of restoring and refurbishing the historic Belmont Cinema in Aberdeen city centre, helping to conserve the landmark building and bring it back into community use as a centre for film, heritage and the arts.
Gemma Cruickshank, Funding & Development Manager at Belmont Community Cinema, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Barrack Charitable Trust and thank it for its generous support of the Belmont Cinema project.
“As we work towards reopening this much-loved cultural venue, donations such as this are invaluable in helping us preserve an important part of Aberdeen’s heritage to create a vibrant, accessible cinema for future generations of the city’s community to enjoy.”
Alpha International also received £25,000 to support the re-filming of its Parenting Course resources, which are used by churches and organisations around the world to support parents and carers of children and teenagers. The updated films will include refreshed guidance on digital technology, online media and modern parenting challenges.
Chris Williams, Product and Development Manager at Alpha International, said: “Re-filming The Parenting Courses will modernise content, visuals and expert perspectives to better engage today’s parents. Improved digital access and updated guidance on devices, online media and technology will help ensure the course remains relevant, accessible and effective for families for years to come.”
Among the other organisations to receive funding is Teenage Cancer Trust, which has been awarded £5,000 to support its Outreach Clinical Nurse Specialist service across Aberdeen and the surrounding area.
Bernadette Sampson, Trusts and Foundations Manager at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Not all young people with cancer are treated on one of our specialist Teenage Cancer Trust units. Some choose to have their treatment closer to home, while others may live too far away and be unable to afford travel costs, or to leave their work, studies or family behind. This generous grant from The Barrack Charitable Trust ensures that young people with cancer can receive the age-appropriate and specialist care they deserve, no matter where they live.”
Edinburgh-based homelessness charity Cyrenians received £7,500 to support its Navigator Project, a street-based outreach service helping people experiencing homelessness.
Mark Diver, Outreach Worker with the Navigator Project, said: “This funding will help us continue providing long-term, flexible support to people experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh, allowing us to meet people where they are and support them towards more stable futures.”
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, based in Cumbernauld, has been awarded £1,500 to improve the outdoor play and recreation space at its Dan Young Building.
Andrew Flynn, Head of Fundraising and Communications at SBH Scotland, said: “We are incredibly grateful to The Barrack Charitable Trust for their generous support of our project to enhance the outdoor play and recreation space at the Dan Young Building. This funding has enabled us to transform a currently unusable area into an accessible, safe and inclusive environment where children and families affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus can play, connect and thrive.”
Greenock’s Ardgowan Hospice received £2,000 to support its Community Nursing Service, enabling more people receiving palliative care to remain in their own homes.
Monica Keenan, Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist at Ardgowan Hospice, said: “This grant will go towards the cost of our Community Nursing Service, which will be a lifeline to many across our community. As a charity which has to fundraise over 60% of its daily running costs, we couldn’t be more grateful for this generosity.”
The School Bank West Lothian has been awarded £1,500 to provide transition packs, including school shoes and bags, for 50 children starting secondary school in August 2026.
Laura Kearney from the charity said: “This award will support young people in West Lothian starting High School in August 2026. Transition packs are provided for young people from the most deprived areas of West Lothian who are referred for support. Providing the key items required for their new school uniform helps get young people off to a good start in their first year at High School.”
Bendrigg Trust, a specialist residential outdoor education centre in Cumbria, also received £1,500 to enable 30 disabled children and families from Scotland to access its fully accessible adventure activities.
Emily Kinder from Bendrigg Trust said: “Thanks to the Barrack Charitable Trust, we can support disabled people from Scotland to visit Bendrigg for an exciting adventure at our accessible outdoor centre. Visitors will take part in outdoor activities like climbing, canoeing and caving, building their confidence and realising what they’re capable of.
In Case You Missed it:
“We’re so grateful for the Trust’s support, which will enable disabled people who would otherwise be unable to afford a trip to experience the transformative power of outdoor adventure.”
James Barrack, Chair of The Barrack Charitable Trust, said: “We are committed to supporting organisations that make a tangible difference in communities across Scotland. This latest round of grants reflects the breadth and quality of charitable work being undertaken throughout the country and we are delighted to provide funding that will help these organisations continue delivering lasting benefits for those who rely on their services.”
Established in 2009 by Knight Property Group founder and chairman James Barrack, The Barrack Charitable Trust is funded solely by Knight Property Group. Since its inception, the Trust has donated more than £1.7 million to over 250 registered charities across Scotland, supporting projects that have been affected by declining charitable donations and challenging economic conditions.
