| 1. SCOT – Background and History |
| • | SCOT is one of the older Tamil organisations in the UK, established in 1977 and a registered charity from 1978.
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| • | SCOT is resolutely apolitical, and as a charity, its main aim is to provide support for relief and rehabilitation projects, help alleviate poverty amongst young and vulnerable people, and to work and campaign to protect and promote health education social welfare and the human rights of the Tamil-speaking people of Sri Lanka.
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| • | Main activities in the early days: Poverty alleviation and assistance to those affected by violence or natural disasters.
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| • | Always worked with partner organisations that are close to their local communities; this is so to the present day.
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| • | Funding policy: Always in keeping with the needs and priorities of the community in the NorthEast; Application of available resources to where the need is greatest, and on the basis of sound value for money.
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| • | The membership of SCOT is around two hundred and forty and is increasing, slowly but steadily.
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| • | SCOT sources of funds: Members’ subscriptions, contributions by members and well wishers, and regular fund-raising events.
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| 2. Onslaught of civil war |
| • | From the mid 1980s the effects of a brutal ethnic war on the local communities were horrendous.
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| • | Loss of life and limb and destruction of property at a massive scale; displacement of whole communities was commonplace. Arrest, torture and imprisonment without trial of Tamils occurred regularly in many areas of the NorthEast.
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| • | SCOT has responded positively to regular pleas for help over the years and is continuing to do so.
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| 3. Devastation by Tsunami |
| • | Desolation caused by the 26th Dec 04 tsunami in Sri Lanka is well known. Some coastal regions of the NorthEast were among the most severely devastated areas.
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| • | Requests to SCOT for funding from its partners in Sri Lanka started arriving within twenty four hours of the tsunami.
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| • | SCOT responded to urgent requests for help by making funds available very promptly towards immediate needs.
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| • | This was followed soon afterwards by funds towards other necessities of life.
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| • | Members and well-wishers donated over £20,000 to support all these tsunami related projects.
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| • | The third stage of its tsunami relief & rehabilitation is under way now with the funding of a Preschool Project in Northern Sri Lanka.
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| • | SCOT intends to fund other post-tsunami rehabilitation projects in the NorthEast based on the specific needs of local communities
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| 4. Continuing attention to core activities |
| • | SCOT General Council is mindful not to let its tsunami relief initiatives adversely affect its regular funding activities.
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| • | Financial support for a range of activities and organisations in the NorthEast has to go on without serious disruption. Assistance to Orphanages, Children’s and Elders’ Homes, nutrition and tuition programmes for children, counselling torture and trauma victims, healthcare initiatives and widows’ income generation activities are examples of continuing care by SCOT to the disadvantaged in the NorthEast.
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| • | Majority of partner organisations supported by SCOT are small and work in rural areas helping communities that are often forgotten or overlooked by other NGOs.
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| • | SCOT recognizes that in many areas of the NorthEast children are in need of greater support and intends to expand its nutrition and education programmes in these areas.
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| • | To meet these challenges, SCOT needs the continuing support of its members, friends and well-wishers.
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| 5. Management and decision making |
| • | The General Council (GC) decides strategy and manages the affairs of SCOT. It has thirty one members, including the President and eight other officers, three elected Trustees, seventeen (General Council) Members, all elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and two immediate past presidents. It convenes at least nine times a year, usually every month except during December and during the month when the AGM is held.
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| • | The task of implementing GC strategy and decisions rests primarily with the President, General Secretary, Treasurer and Projects officer. Members of this executive group together with other elected officers handle the administrative work of the GC too.
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| • | Details of income and expenditure are presented at every General Council Meeting (GCM) for scrutiny and approval. At end of each financial year, the year’s Accounts audited by an independent external auditor are presented at the AGM.
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| • | Similarly every application for funding received is considered and appropriate action is authorised at a GCM.
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| • | Members of the executive group and the three Trustees elected at AGM are Trustees of SCOT.
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| 6. How friends and well wishers can help |
| • | The President and General Council acknowledge with gratitude the regular support of members and particularly the spontaneous and generous contributions from members, friends and well-wishers to the ‘SCOT Tsunami Relief Fund’.
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| • | Friends and well-wishers are welcome to consider membership of SCOT.
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| • | Members who could spare a little time can consider joining the General Council to assist in the decision making.
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| • | For contacts and more information, please visit the SCOT website: www.scot-uk.org.uk
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| • | The President and members of his Team will be very happy to hear from anyone with offers of support, assistance or other proposals.
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