After your application is approved

Once your application has been approved, the Scottish Forestry Trust will issue a formal contract setting out the terms and conditions of the award. Please sign and return the contract to the Director, and keep a copy for your records.

Depending on the nature of the project, the conditions will typically include:

  • A schedule of progress reports linked to payment dates.
  • A requirement to acknowledge the Trust's support in all publications relating to the project.
  • A commitment to publish articles summarising the project's outcomes in practical terms.
  • A requirement to provide photographs and text for use in the Trust's Annual Report or on its website, as appropriate.

Submitting progress reports

Progress reports are an important part of the Trust's monitoring process, and will inform decisions about the release of grant payments. Your contract will indicate when reports are expected, and the official submission deadlines will be published in advance of each year.

These deadlines are linked to the Trust's scheduled business meetings. Reports received after the notified deadline will be deferred to the next available meeting, unless there are exceptional circumstances agreed with the Trust. If you anticipate difficulty meeting a deadline, please contact us as early as possible.

Please use our report templates, and email your completed reports to the Director.

Interim report template - download

Final report template - download

What to include in your reports

There is no prescribed length for progress reports, as projects vary in scale and nature. However, each report should include a section covering:

  • A summary of the original aims and objectives of the project.
  • Progress or achivements made towards these aims and objectives during the reporting period.
  • The work still to be completed before the project ends.
  • Any significant changes to project resources, including staffing or budget, within the reporting period.

Your final report should cover these points and also include a summary of lessons learned, any recommendations arising from the work, and whether further research is needed.

Please also provide a separate 150–300 word summary of the project with your final report. This should describe the work and its outcomes in accessible, practical terms, and will be published on the Trust's website.

Acknowledging the Trust's support

We welcome acknowledgement of the Trust's contribution to your work. All publications relating to the project should recognise the Trust's support.

Our guidance explains how to acknowledge the Trust and use its logo. You can download the acknowledgement and logo guidance here.

If something changes

Projects do not always develop exactly as planned, and we understand that circumstances can change. However, it is important that you contact us as soon as possible if there are significant changes to your project, your organisation or its timescale. This includes changes such as a student leaving their course, a change in project staffing or a significant alteration to the planned work.

Please contact the Director to discuss proposed changes before they are implemented, wherever possible.

Keeping the Trust informed helps us understand the circumstances and agree how best to proceed. Changes made without prior discussion may affect your funding agreement. The Trust may also need to reclaim any funds that have not been used for their agreed purpose.

Highlighted Projects

The Scottish Forestry Trust SCIO is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Scottish Charity No. SC053147). The Scottish Forestry Trust was established in 1983 by a gift of share capital, and our role is to provide funds by way of grants, to support research, education and training throughout the UK.  Since our establishment, we have provided nearly £2.7m to fund over 190 projects ranging from supporting post graduate industry applied research, social and environmental forestry, policy formulation and broader public education and awareness.