The trust has donated to a number of local organisations, the most recent being Access RGU.
Access RGU scholarships are committed to widening participation and extending access to talented individuals from underrepresented groups, particularly those from deprived areas to achieve their ambitions.
The first recipient of The Barrack Charitable Trust donation was Dawn Findlay, a social work student who wasn’t sure she would be able to continue her degree due to unforeseen circumstances.
Dawn commented: “I can’t thank everyone enough for giving me this opportunity to continue to attend RGU, which seemed impossible at the start of the year. My son had a traumatic accident last year and the scholarship has meant that I could spend time with him and my daughters, instead of needing to work whenever I wasn’t at university.
“The added study skills support which I’ve had when writing essays has also been fantastic and it has made all the difference just knowing that there is extra help there whenever I need it.”
Development Manager of the RGU Foundation, Sarah Dingwall commented: “We are extremely grateful to The Barrack Charitable Trust for their generous support. In establishing an Access scholarship at RGU, the Trust is creating opportunity and raising the aspirations of a student who otherwise may not have been able to attend university.
“The support from donors like The Barrack Charitable Trust is vital in that it allows RGU to continue to attract a diverse student body and helps to break down barriers that exist to higher education”
James Barrack, Chairman and Founder of The Barrack Charitable Trust, said: “Often in life we are faced with hurdles that are difficult to overcome. The Access RGU Scholarship supports students whom without the grant may be unable to continue with their higher education.
“The Barrack Charitable Trust is committed to supporting organisations and individuals within the local community with the intention to develop their skills, whether it be through support within schools, grants to allow further study, or projects within voluntary organisations. We’re delighted that we have been able to support Dawn through a difficult time, allowing her to continue with her university studies.”
The trust are always looking for new opportunities to support. Recently The Barrack Charitable Trust have been recognised for supporting a number of education projects throughout Scotland, including the Paired Reading project which focuses on developing children’s literacy skills.
For information on the trust visit thebarrackcharitabletrust.co.uk