Our Story
Lintel Trust has been part of Scotland's social housing story since 1979. Established to support people and communities connected to housing associations, our work has grown from a clear charitable purpose into a continuing role in helping local ideas, partnerships and grassroots projects make a lasting difference.
Where our story began
Originally established by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations as the Scottish Housing Associations Charitable Trust, Lintel Trust was created to respond to the wider needs of people living in social housing. From the beginning, the charity recognised that good housing is about more than bricks and mortar. It is also about opportunity, wellbeing, participation and community life.
In 1979, those wider needs included barriers linked to poverty, isolation, health, confidence, skills and access to opportunity. Lintel Trust’s role was to help housing associations and community organisations respond in practical, community-led ways, supporting activity that strengthened neighbourhoods and improved lives.
How we have evolved
Over the last four decades, Scotland’s housing sector has changed significantly, and Lintel Trust has evolved alongside it. As housing associations have deepened their role as community anchors, our work has continued to support local activity that helps people take part in the communities around them.
Our journey has been shaped by changing community needs, new partnerships and the continued commitment of Scotland’s housing associations to social purpose. While individual projects and programmes have changed over time, our focus has remained consistent: helping community-led ideas become practical support, meaningful activity and lasting local impact.
Our purpose today
Today, we provide opportunities for people living in social housing to live fulfilled lives. We do this by supporting community development, local projects, social value activity and grassroots initiatives that enable people to participate fully in community life.
Lintel Trust is now a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with OSCR and guided by a voluntary Board of Trustees, and through its governance is a subsidiary of LHC Procurement Group. Our current work brings together grant-making, fund management, partnership working and fundraising, while remaining rooted in the same belief that communities understand their own needs and should be supported to shape local solutions.
Looking ahead
As we look to the future, our focus is on strengthening governance, improving grant processes, building stronger evidence of impact and growing trusted partnerships. This will help Lintel Trust continue to respond well to changing community needs while staying rooted in the purpose it was created to serve.
Our story continues through the people, projects and partnerships we support. By working alongside Scotland’s social housing communities, we remain committed to helping local ideas grow into meaningful, measurable change.