Help charities modernise without needing a law, committee urges
3 Feb 10
MSPs back proposed changes to charitable fund
A review should be undertaken of Scottish charities set up under their own legislation, to see whether they can be helped to modernise without having to promote a further Act, according to a committee of MSPs.
The Holyrood committee made this recommendation in its report approving the aims of the Ure Elder Transfer and Dissolution Bill, which seeks to reform the charitable fund set up by 19th century Glasgow philanthropist Isabella Elder.
The Ure Elder Fund for Indigent Widow Ladies was established by an Act of Parliament in 1906 following the death of Isabella Elder, the widow of the owner of a Govan shipbuilding yard. After her husband's death Mrs Elder worked to advance the further education of women and the health of the people of Govan. At present the fund can only offer an annual grant of £25 to widow ladies resident in Govan or Glasgow, a sum which in 1906 terms would be worth £2,300 today.
About 185 other Scottish charities have been established under similar legislation.