Governance

Constitution

The purpose of The Cross Trust is to provide opportunities for young people of Scottish birth or parentage to extend the boundaries of their knowledge of human life and to employ their leisure in such pursuits as will foster their love of nature and improve their physical health and well being and whereby the British and especially the Scottish public may participate in the enjoyment of drama and opera from which Sir Alexander Cross himself derived lasting pleasure.

In terms of the Constitution, the Trustees have an absolute discretion as to whether or not to make an award to any applicant.

Objectives

The objectives of the charity are broad and the Trustees over the years have thus been able to adopt policies reflecting the nature of applications received whilst continuing to meet the Trust’s objectives. Furthermore, the Trustees are mindful of Sir Alexander's known wishes and therefore may make awards that best reflect the raison d'être of the Trust.

Grant Making Policies

Awards may be made to individuals and to organisations.

Individuals

Most awards are provided for educational studies or projects. Applicants are required to have a record of distinction and ability and to put forward proposals of demonstrable merit in a recognised discipline. Awards are made with regard to the extent of financial hardship anticipated if no award were to be made.

Organisations

The Trustees support the visual and performing arts as well as charitable organisations supporting disadvantaged young people through environmental and recreational projects. All of these awards are on a restricted basis.

Administration

The Trust is administered on a day-to-day basis by the firm of McCash & Hunter LLP, solicitors, in accordance with directions given by the Trustees at their meetings, now normally held three times per year. The firm acts as the Trust’s Secretaries and Treasurers. Arrangements are made in certain circumstances for applications to be considered out with these formal meetings. Within the firm of McCash & Hunter LLP, Paul R McGregor, a partner of the firm, has the responsibility of the administration of the Trust.

The Cross Trust was established by Sir Alexander Cross, Baronet, LLD of Battleby, Redgorton, Perthshire in terms of the Constitution completed in 1943 and is a Scottish Charity, number SCO08620.

Trustees' responsibilities statement

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in Scotland requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the provisions of the charity's constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Our detailed accounts are available via OSCR and can be accessed here.