Crockart: Lloyds Banking Group Decision Bad News for Edinburgh Charities

24 February 2010

Liberal Democrat PPC for Edinburgh West Mike Crockart is warning officials at Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) that their decision to sever funding ties with the Lloyds TSB Foundation in Scotland could have severe consequences for the voluntary sector in Edinburgh.

Today’s decision is the latest move in an ongoing dispute over funding that saw the Scottish Foundation suspend their grant awards process at the end of 2009. In 2008, the last year full and complete figures are available, more than 60 charities across Edinburgh received funding from the Foundation for a total sum of more than £460,000.


Commenting, Mr Crockart said:

‘I know from my discussions with local charities just how important a source of funding the Lloyds TSB Foundation’s grants have been in the past. Though the Foundation are now pursuing alternative funding arrangements, it is clear that this decision is likely to have a profound impact on Scottish charities.

‘While the LBG are wholly within their rights to withdraw from the funding arrangement with the Foundation, the way in which this whole process has been managed does them no credit and is certainly not in keeping with the admirable commitment to charity they have displayed in the past.

‘After a quarter century of work in Scotland it would be a calamity if the relationship between LBG and the Scottish branch of the charity were to end under these circumstances. LBG needs to think again and come up with a solution that will secure the long term future of the voluntary sector in Edinburgh.’

ENDS