30 years of Foundation Scotland
For 30 years, we’ve been bringing together communities, donors and partners to support and strengthen communities in every corner of Scotland. To date, we have distributed over £220 million to communities across the country. To kick off our 30th Anniversary celebrations, we’re going back in time to where it all began…
Foundation Scotland was ‘born’ in 1996, starting life as the Caledonian Foundation. Under this roof, the founders provided small-scale grants across Scotland. There was only one employee and a large volunteer base, mostly focussed on grantmaking. The founding trustees set-up ‘donor-advised’ funds and they also brought in some funds for grantmaking in Scotland from existing charitable trusts based in London. Many of these funds, and relationships, have endured to the present day.
In parallel, the Caledonian Challenge, a team-based sponsored walk on the West Highland Way, was born.
The Caledonian Challenge was founded in 1996 by businessmen Angus MacDonald and Alex Blyth, inspired by a walking endurance event they had experienced in Hong Kong.
Determined to bring a similar challenge to Scotland, they created an event that would test participants’ endurance while raising funds for communities across the country. What began as a small initiative quickly grew into one of Scotland’s most recognised outdoor fundraising events, and its founder sought a means to distribute the funds raised.
The first Challenge took place in 1997 with just 17 walkers, raising £16,000 for what was then called the Scottish Community Foundation.
Over time, the event expanded dramatically in both scale and ambition. Participants formed teams of three to six people and attempted to walk 54 miles of the West Highland Way non-stop within 24 hours, navigating rugged terrain, unpredictable Scottish ‘summer’ weather and physical exhaustion. Despite the difficulty, the event’s unique blend of camaraderie, challenge and spectacular scenery proved hugely appealing.
By the mid-2000s the Caledonian Challenge had grown into a major logistical undertaking. In 2006 more than 1,500 walkers took part, raising nearly £1 million in a single year. Participants travelled from across the UK and beyond, many returning year after year to test themselves against the demanding route.
Local philanthropist Tom Ward completed the Challenge multiple times, and at the time he said: “It’s great to know that the money we raise will go to help local charities who can really make a difference in the community.”
Over its lifetime of 21-years, more than 18,000 challengers laced up their boots and collectively raised over £13 million for charitable causes.
The funds supported hundreds of community projects across Scotland, ranging from youth theatre groups and healthy eating initiatives to services supporting older people and those seeking advice on drugs and addiction. However, after more than two decades as one of the UK’s longest-running endurance fundraising events, participation began to decline as the market for challenge events became increasingly competitive. With falling numbers and rising costs, organisers made the difficult decision to bring the event to a close in 2018.
Though the Caledonian Challenge has ended, its legacy lives on through the millions of pounds raised and the thousands of people who took part in an unforgettable journey across some of Scotland’s most spectacular landscapes.
As we mark this milestone year, we’re reflecting on how far we’ve come and looking ahead to the opportunities still to come. Because at our core, our mission remains unchanged - to help communities thrive, now and for generations to come.
More information about Foundation Scotland's history can be found here