A research grant of £1.1m from Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland marks the start of The Royal Society of Edinburgh’s fundraising campaign, Realising Scotland’s Excellence. The campaign aims to raise over £5m which will be used to promote Scotland’s wellbeing, by addressing issues of national importance through partnerships with government, charitable trusts, commerce and industry.

The £1.1 million grant comes from a rolling three year partnership between The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland to develop new research into improving the quality of life of Scotland’s ageing population. The money will enable more of Scotland’s brightest researchers to explore a wide range of issues affecting older people. Mr Andrew Muirhead, Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland will announce the grant at the RSE’s annual Research Awards ceremony being held today (Monday 6th August) in the presence of H.R.H The Duke of Edinburgh, who is Patron of the RSE’s fundraising campaign. The reception will take place in the Society’s George Street conference centre.

The £1.1 million provided by the Foundation and administered by the RSE, will mainly fund research in 2001-2004 into areas such as: ageing and creativity, IT support for older people, ageing and the perception of emotions, as well as work into memory and dementia. Distributed to exceptionally talented academics, through the RSE’s successful Research Awards scheme, the funding makes possible some of Scotland’s most innovative and promising new work. The awards make provision for postgraduate studentships, three year postdoctoral research fellowships and one year support programmes. While most of the work is carried out in Scotland, individuals of any nationality may apply.

Commenting on the research grant, the Chairman of Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, Mr George Mathieson said:

The Foundation is delighted to be continuing our connection with the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Scientific, Medical and Social Research is one of our principal criteria for our grant-making. Who better to carry this out for us than RSE. We have much enjoyed our collaboration with them and have been most impressed with the results they have achieved to date. Quality of life for the ageing is an important matter for the population of our country. We have no doubt that this additional funding will assist the Society in achieving their goal to produce results for the benefit of this sector of the population in Scotland.

Sir William Stewart, President of the RSE, said:

This grant of £1.1m from Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland is a tremendous boost to start our campaign. We thank the Chairman and the Foundation. We very much look forward to developing our partnership with the Foundation and are most grateful for its continuing support. We want the expertise of the Society to be used as effectively as possible for Scotland’s well-being. By working in partnership with far sighted organisations such as the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, we can help address problems and find solutions for issues of concern to Scotland and its people. We are keen to work more closely with the Scottish Executive and the business community to realise mutual objectives.

for Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, please contact:
Marlies Cruse (Mrs)
Project / Press Officer
Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland
Tel. +44 (0)131 260 0382
www.ltsbfoundationforscotland.org.uk

Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland
A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee
Registered in Scotland Number 96068
Scottish Charity Index Number SC009481
A Member of the Scottish Grant Making Trust Group
A Member of the Association of Charitable Foundations

1. Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland is making available an additional £767,000 to The Royal Society ofEdinburgh to distribute 2002 - 2004 in Research Awards. In 2001 £203,000 was made available to the Society and £144,000 had been previously agreed as the sum for 2002 for distribution of Research Awards.
2. Full details of criteria for application are available from the RSE
3. Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland received in excess of £6.7 million from Lloyds TSB Group’s pre-taxprofits to support charitable activities within Scotland in 2001.
4. Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland funds recognised charities, which provide support in the fields of social and community needs, education and training, and scientific, medical and social research.
5. Every three years, the Trustees of Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland review the criteria and priorities which guide them. Priority support is considered for projects which include children, young people, ageing population, parenting, rural disadvantage, physical and mental disability, homelessness, substance misuse, minority groups and infrastructure.
6. The Lloyds TSB Foundations, each with its own Board of Trustees, consist of four independent charitable Foundations, (Scotland, England & Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands). They were formed in 1986 by the then TSB Group, and in 1997 changed their name following the merger of Lloyds Bank and the TSB Group. By deed of covenant, the Foundations receive one per cent of Lloyds TSB Group’s pre-tax profits, averaged over three years, in lieu of the dividend on their shareholding. Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland receives 19.46% of the fund given to the four Foundations.
7. In 2001, the four Lloyds TSB Foundations will distribute £34.4 million.