I WISH to reassure readers and members of the National Trust for Scotland that we are not facing financial meltdown, nor is the trust considering a "major downsizing of its 80-strong portfolio of flagship attractions" in order to cut costs ("Troubled heritage charity us facing senior staff shake-up", The Herald, January 29).
Our last annual report showed that we have rebuilt our property reserve (General Income Fund) to the target of £21m and that membership has grown to well over 320,000. With our chairman, Sir Ken Calman and our CEO, Kate Mavor moving on in a few months, it is appropriate to recognise their very real achievements. In fact, in the last five years they have pulled the trust back from the "brink".
There is no dispute that we have to adapt to evolving social, economic and political trends. This may mean a changing our property portfolio to reflect more recent eras and interests, and perhaps introducing different ways of managing our shared heritage.
These enormous challenges are not unique to us and confront many other organisations. We are confident that we have put our own house in order and are ready to play our part within the heritage sector as we collectively strive to overcome them.
Sir Ken and Kate's legacy puts us in the strongest possible position to consider how our conservation charity can best meet the nation's needs in the future. Everyone who cares about Scotland's heritage owes them a great deal.
Pete Selman,
Director of Strategic Development,
The National Trust for Scotland,
Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh.
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