Renfrewshire Environmental Trust's Blog

The Renfrewshire Environmental Trust is a unique organization in the sense that its skill in developing and managing innovative partnership projects, promoting sustainable development at a local level is widely recognised. It is the local umbrella body for environment in Renfrewshire. It is a Company Limited by Guarantee, and has Charitable Status.

Its core business is driving forward a range of sustainable development activities, but it has particular expertise in developing and promoting projects and programmes which support learning through sustainable development. It also brokers relationships between groups who have ideas, and major funders. Where the group does not have the confidence, legal status, track record or organisational resources to bid for funds directly, the Trust applies for funding, acts as grant holder, and supports the group to deliver the agreed outcomes.

The Renfrewshire Environmental Trust was established in 1997 as an arms length organization for the distribution and management of landfill tax from Renfrewshire Council’s own landfill site at Linwood and from Shanks Greengairs landfill site in Lanarkshire on a partnership agreement with EB Scotland. As landfill tax income began to dry up, the Trust diversified into development of projects with Community Planning Partners (often Renfrewshire Council), using Trust’s excellent track record to attract funding to these projects from a variety of new sources.

The Renfrewshire Environmental Trust is uniquely placed for networking within the voluntary, community and private sectors, particularly Housing Associations, commercial and community businesses. It has a long standing relationship with Renfrewshire Council, and a long history of community engagement.

Over the last year, we have focused on consolidation of work through development of partnership working and capacity building activities. We have worked on building relationships and securing future income, whilst managing existing projects. Staff resources are available for one or two days per week and have been involved in the development of local environmental improvement projects.