An educational charity on the Isle of Coll has been given a financial “lifeline” amidst the pandemic.
The Project Trust specialises in international volunteering and helps up to 300 young people each year from the UK to experience life in Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania.
The charity – Coll’s biggest employer – estimates it will lose over £700,000 of fundraising income as a direct result of Covid-19.
But the £250,000 provided by Clydesdale Bank through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will help to stabilise its funds.
Project Trust chief executive Ingrid Emerson MBE, said: “The loan from Clydesdale Bank is a lifeline, allowing us to continue our operations, albeit on a reduced scale, providing us with additional time to rebuild the charity even if in a different size and shape.
“As the single biggest employer on the Isle of Coll, we have a responsibility to do all we can to reimagine our projects post-pandemic to make sure we can return to supporting the community and sending young people overseas again.”
Kenny Reilly, relationship manager at Clydesdale Bank, said the businesses wanted to ensure charities like Project Trust remain “operational”.
