The BALMORE TRUST is a recognised charity [SC 008930], established in 1980, which owns The Coach House and distributes its profits as well as other donations. Two thirds of the money disbursed goes overseas and the other third to projects in the UK. The Trust works in the areas of education, health, alleviation of poverty and community development.

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United Kingdom is concentrated mainly in the Glasgow area and favours families, teenagers, and women's aid groups.

Overseas we have close connections with community development programmes in India (Kolkata, Rajasthan and Kerala), Burma and Africa (Kenya, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia).

The Trust has a strong commitment to those programmes to which it has given long-term support and is not presently able to receive any new applications.

Brief history

The Trust was established in 1980 by a group of friends in Balmore to the north of Glasgow, as a result of discussions in the local church about world poverty. They agreed to open a shop in a former Coach House which they acquired rent free, with the simple purpose of raising money and supporting some of the development work that members had contact with. The shop is staffed by volunteers, supported by a full-time manager. All the profits are covenanted to the Trust. In the 25 years of its operation it has raised some £400,000. Together with donations this has enabled the Trust to give away around £750,000.

From the start The Coach House sold goods from third world projects through Oxfam,Tearfund and Traidcraft. In the early '80s a woman worker from Bangladesh visited us who was working with women's groups from the poorest levels of society. When we asked her if she would be interested in a grant, she said, "No. I don't want your money. I want you to sell the goods these women make. That is what gives them their dignity". Since then our goal has been to sell at least 50% fairly traded goods in the shop. In practice, it is more; other goods come from Scottish craftworkers and producers in Central and Eastern Europe, whom we are also keen to support.

THE COACH HOUSE is a shop and coffee & tea room run almost entirely by volunteers, which carries an impressive range of fairly traded and organic foods, fairly traded crafts, jewellery, accessories, toys, stationery and books. It also has a well-stocked second hand book cabin.

It has a particular interest in promoting crafts from the developing world. It is an associate member of the British Association of Fair Trade Shops.

It stands on the A807 between Milngavie and Kirkintilloch and is open every day except Monday from 10.30 to 5. It is also open on public holidays except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

The Coach House is also the main UK distributor for Eswatini jams, marmalades and sauces from Swaziland.

The Coach House also houses a branch of TOOLS FOR SELF-RELIANCE, an organisation which refurbishes tools and sends them out to partners in Africa.

The Balmore Trust, Balmore, Torrance. Glasgow G64 4AE

Scottish Charity No: SC 008930

Tele/Fax 01360 620742