ABOUT THE SCOTTISH CIVIC TRUST
The Scottish Civic Trust was founded in 1967 and is Scotland’s only voluntary organisation working to raise the quality of the whole built environment. We encourage excellence in the conservation of the past, in contemporary architecture and planning and in effective public education and participation in all these concerns.
The Trust operates from its new headquarters, the recently restored, A-listed Tobacco Merchants House, the last remaining building of its kind in the heart of Glasgow. The Trust is administered by a small Executive Staff overseen by a Board of Trustees under the Chairmanship of Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith CBE.
The Trust’s principal aim is to encourage :-
An important feature of the Trust’s routine work is Casework - ongoing consultations with Local Authority Planning Departments on proposals which affect the character of listed buildings, conservation areas and local townscapes.
On behalf of Historic Scotland we operate Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register which offers the public a much-valued service designed to find new uses for a wide range of endangered buildings.
The Trust co-ordinates annually throughout Scotland the increasingly popular European Heritage Day/Doors Open Day events during September weekends, when fine buildings of many types and uses, normally closed to the public, are opened free of charge.
The Scottish Civic Trust came into being as a vehicle for ordinary people to have a say in decisions affecting their physical surroundings. The Trust acts as the umbrella organisation for Scotland’s Local Civic and Amenity Groups giving advice and assistance as may be required.
Over the years in response to the increasing threat to the quality of Scotland’s environment, the scope of its activities has broadened considerably.
The Trust maintains close liaison with the wider Civic Trust Movement within the U.K. and Europe and regular meetings are held with colleagues from The Civic Trust, The Civic Trust for Wales and The North East Civic Trust. The Trust is a member organisation of Europa Nostra, the Pan-European non-Governmental organisation with matching aims and objectives.
Close contact is maintained with Staff of Central Government, notably Historic Scotland and both the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, plus many other associated organisations.
The Trust relies on outside sources of finance and is always pleased to receive any support you can give. You may be interested to find out more on How To Help Us.
Don't forget to take a look at the people page, to find out about the people who make Scottish Civic Trust tick.