Nearly 200 jobs at the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) have been saved from being axed following a £3.8million bailout from the Scottish Government.
The support package is designed to help the country’s conservation charity recover from the impacts of Covid-19 and stave off the“worst-case scenario”.
A significant downturn of almost £30m in income left the charity poised to enact emergency measures including making 429 staff members redundant and delaying the reopening of various properties until 2021/2022.
However, officials have confirmed the financial boost will help safeguard 197 jobs and enable the reopening of 33 properties this year – six more than originally planned.
A further 230 redundancies are still expected to be made by the charity in the coming months.
Chief executive Phil Long OBE said the grant was a lifeline for the charity but stated future “redundancies are unavoidable”.
He said: “We were confronted by the worst crisis in our charity’s history and we had a very real fear that this history was about to end abruptly. The generous support from the Scottish Government, together with the inspiring number of donations made by many individuals, has diverted us away from that terrible outcome.
“My joy at this announcement is tempered by the fact that the effects of Covid-19 are so devastating that we’re still having to say goodbye to many friends and colleagues.
“I wish it were not so, but redundancies are unavoidable, although this support has helped us to keep them to the absolute minimum possible.”
NTS owned properties, including Glencoe, Culloden Battlefield, Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve and Culzean Castle have now reopened for business following a five month closure.
The Trust’s management team and Board of Trustees will now concentrate on securing the charity operationally in the immediate future and prepare a re-jigged strategy and recovery plan to be presented to members at the Trust’s September AGM.
Meanwhile, Richard Hardy, prospect national secretary for Scotland added: “The work of our reps and members has substantially reduced the potential redundancies at the National Trust for Scotland.
“The announcement of £3.8m funding from Scottish Government is most welcome. The assistance is conditional on sites re-opening and more jobs being saved, a key ask from prospect, that was vitally important.
“However over 200 staff still face redundancy and we will continue to do all we can to assist them.”
