The Commonweal Fund

In terms of the Deed of Trust the revenue in the Commonweal Fund is to be used for any good and pious use which may tend to the advancement of the “commonweal” of the Burgh.

“Good and pious use” is to be interpreted in the widest sense having in view the custom and practice of the House since 1605.

The practice of the House has been very wide in the making of grants for good and pious uses.

For two hundred years the Trades House of Glasgow regularly contributed, without any obligation to do so, for the benefit of the general poor of the City and during times of distress for food for the inhabitants. It made grants to the various war funds, local and national during the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. For building schemes and for special and even ordinary purposes it also made grants to the University, to public charitable and educational institutions in the City, including all the Infirmaries and Hospitals and to local schemes for social improvement.

The general instructions above referred to are followed in the Deed of Trust by specific indications as to the manner in which the revenue may, amongst other purposes, be expended. These indications are, however, only detailed by way of example, and do not limit the powers of the Committee to any particular form of good and pious use.

Consequently, the Committee has a free hand to make grants to all schemes for social improvement. Child welfare; social and moral training of youth; charitable and educational schemes, and schemes for the advancement of education or for scientific study or research.

All charitable and educational institutions may therefore be assisted as well as charitable societies which assist the poor in general, as apart from their members and members’ families only, but not those institutions which have been nationalised under the Health Services Act.

THERE ARE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS UPON THE COMMITTEE WHICH REQUIRE TO BE CAREFULLY NOTED

• No Grant is to be made for a period of years.
• Special consideration must be given and care taken that money awarded will be used in that particular year.
• Grants are not to be given for political, municipal, or ecclesiastical purposes but may include the YMCA, the YWCA, the Salvation Army, etc.
• Societies which distribute their revenue chiefly among members and members’ families are also excluded. This covers the case of the Fourteen Incorporations and similar bodies like, for instance, the various County Associations, but it would not exclude such organisations as The City of Glasgow Native Benevolent Society.

While direct applications have been received for grants, the duty of the Committee is to select for grants any Scheme, Body or Institution which appeals most strongly to them.

RESOLUTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF 1934-35
“It was unanimously agreed that in future every effort should be made to avoid giving grants to existing Institutions and Schemes which do not show from their appeal cases of extension or reconstruction, or modern improvements, or new capital equipment, or great necessity or financial straits; also that consecutive or periodical donations to the same Institution or Scheme should cease unless in very special circumstances of the above nature”.

To download application click here.

For further information contact:
The Trades House of Glasgow
Administration Centre - Trades Hall
85 Glassford Street
Glasgow
G1 1UH
Tel: 0141 553 1605
Fax: 0141 553 1233
Email: click here