The Society’s objectives are of a charitable nature beneficial to older people within the community. Those objectives are achieved by supporting people over the age of 65 with the provision of retirement housing and annual grant payments (consideration may also be given to people under 65 in exceptional circumstances) who are resident in Scotland and any individuals who are not resident in Scotland but have a connection with Scotland.
We are a charity operating in Scotland under the provisions of OSCR the Scottish Charities Regulator. Our entry in their database can be found here www.oscr.org.uk/charities/search-scottish-charity-register/charity-details?number=SC016247.
The Society was founded in 1889 by William Small at a time when extreme poverty was widespread. There were no old age pensions or a National Health Service and often those who lived in tied houses were turned out on to the streets when they could no longer work. For them, the Poor House was the only place to go. William Small and the other original members of the Society were concerned with the plight of the aged poor who, through no fault of their own, found themselves destitute. The site in Colinton was acquired to provide sheltered accommodation in eight cottages and these were all occupied by beneficiaries by 1898. The number of cottages has expanded over the following century and there are now 41 homes available within the complex.
