The MacRobert Trust has announced a new initiative to support military families after receiving an extraordinary legacy gift of approximately £1 million from the Estate of the Limb family.
The MacRobert Trust, a grant-making charity, based in Tarland, Aberdeenshire, has been named sole beneficiary of the Limb family’s estate and will use the legacy to create a lasting impact that reflects both the values of the Limb family and the charitable mission of the Trust.
Established by Lady Rachel MacRobert in the 1940s, The MacRobert Trust has long championed education, innovation and support for the Armed Forces community. Over the decades, the Trust has supported thousands of charitable initiatives and major projects, including the MacRobert Building at the University of Aberdeen and the MacRobert Arts Centre in Stirling.
Trustees carefully considered how best to honour the generosity and intentions of the Limb family. Over the longer term, the Trust intends that the legacy will be commemorated permanently on the MacRobert Estate through the development of a future charitable building or memorial project that supports the Trust’s aims and delivers lasting benefit to future generations.
In the immediate term, however, the Trust has chosen to transform the legacy into something with an immediate and meaningful impact for military families by partnering with military charity, Give Us Time.
Founded to support serving personnel, veterans and bereaved military families, Give Us Time provides respite opportunities that help families reconnect after periods of separation, bereavement, injury, financial hardship or the wider pressures associated with military life. The charity creates opportunities for families to spend time together in supportive environments where they can rest, recover and rebuild relationships.
Through this new partnership, Douneside House — The MacRobert Trust’s award-winning country house hotel located within the MacRobert Estate — will be made available exclusively to Give Us Time on selected dates each year. The programme will provide families with fully funded stays including accommodation, meals and a range of experiences and activities designed to create special memories and valuable time together.
For many military families, periods of deployment, injury or personal hardship can place significant pressure on family life. The Trust hopes these breaks will provide much more than simply a holiday; they will offer time, space and support for families to reconnect.
Gillian Currie, Chief Executive of The MacRobert Trust, said:
“We were deeply honoured to receive this remarkable legacy from the Limb family and wanted to ensure that their generosity created something meaningful and lasting.
“We know that the Limb family had strong connections to the Armed Forces, with multiple generations serving in both the RAF and the Army. We also understand that a visit to Douneside House played a part in their decision to leave their estate to The MacRobert Trust.
“The MacRobert family also has a deeply rooted military story and long history of supporting the Armed Forces community. Bringing these connections together through a partnership that directly benefits military families felt incredibly fitting.
“Give Us Time does exceptional work, and we are delighted that this legacy will enable families facing difficult circumstances to spend precious time together creating positive memories and strengthening family bonds. We very much look forward to welcoming our first families to Douneside House.”
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Rupert Forrest MBE, at Give Us Time, said: