North Berwick Trust Ltd (NB Trust) is a local charity working to help make North Berwick a great place to be!
– more sustainable, resilient, vibrant, inclusive and equitable.
North Berwick Trust is managed by up to 12 volunteer Trustees from within our community, supported by 2 part time employees
Working in partnership with others, NB Trust uses its resources to help meet identified community needs and improve the quality of life of the residents of North Berwick. We work to ensure that a ‘North Berwick Forever Fund’ is available to benefit the North Berwick community in the long term.
Through our grant-giving program, we support individuals and organisations in need living or operating within North Berwick. These include –
- Supporting and enhancing recreational, cultural and sporting activities and facilities
- Supporting and enhancing educational and lifelong learning opportunities
- Conserving and enhancing the historic and built environment of North Berwick
NB Trust also offers a Young Person’s Scholarship scheme for residents age 14-21 years old and a capital grants programme to provide funding support for large scale development projects in North Berwick.
In addition to its grant programmes, NB Trust is also proudly developing and maintaining 20 hectares of land in the town, for the benefit of the community.
Annual Report
As a registered charity, the Trust submits accounts annually to the office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. You can download a copy of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2026 here.
Board Meeting Dates
The North Berwick Trust Ltd meets quarterly.
Board meeting dates for 2026 are:
Thursday 5th March
Thursday 4th June
Thursday 3rd September
Thursday 12th November
Who’s Who in North Berwick Trust?
Meet the people who run and govern the North Berwick Trust Ltd
Bruce Harrison (Interim Chair)
Bruce retired in 2022 from a career in financial services. He was appointed to the Trust’s main board and the Finance Group in September 2025.
Bruce attended both schools in North Berwick and whilst his career took him away from North Berwick he has always considered it ‘home’. He joined North Berwick Trust to give back to our amazing town.
Like many others who were brought up in North Berwick, Bruce enjoys sailing and golfing. His favourite place in North Berwick is the West Bay where he can often be seen walking his dog or launching his kayak.
Damian Quinn
Damian is a Fellow of both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and holds an MBA from Manchester Business School.
With 30 years of experience in the construction industry, both in the UK and internationally, Damian has led multiple high-profile developments. He brings valuable commercial insights in collaborating with developers, funders, legal advisors, and design consultants. Currently, he operates a development consultancy that provides advice on various pre-construction projects.
Favourite pastimes include weekend walks and appreciating the ever-changing North Berwick skyline.
Damian enjoys all sports and plays golf and tennis, and is a keen landscape painter.
Douglas Sinclair
Douglas is originally from Aberdeen and moved to Edinburgh for University in 2000 before making the move to just outside North Berwick 8 years ago. He has two children at Law Primary and enjoys spending time out and about in the countryside and coast around the town.
Douglas is a solicitor and chartered tax advisor. He is partner in the law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn and deals mainly in the areas tax, trust and succession.
David Petrie
David has lived in North Berwick for 19 years, having previously lived in Glasgow, Nottingham and Edinburgh.
David is a chartered surveyor and has worked within property for some 30 years, having been active in all sectors of the industry including brokerage, asset management, development and bank refinancing. David currently runs a residential and commercial development company active across Scotland.
David has a love for all things to do with the sea, especially surfing, swimming and sailing, as well as being a keen golfer. David has a great enthusiasm for the town of North Berwick, and by joining the Trust he hopes to be able to contribute the future success of the town and the well being of the people living there.
Favourite place in North Berwick : The West Bay on a busy sunny day.
Ben Palmer
Ben is a Landscape Architect who takes a professional and personal interest in what makes a unique place. He graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2000 and has been a practicing Landscape Architect since, working on projects across the UK and overseas. Through this experience, Ben has designed and delivered many landscape and public realm projects, often involving a range of clients, stakeholders, and engagement with community groups.
Ben moved to North Berwick from Edinburgh with his family four years ago, with all feeling very settled and proud to call the town home. With Ben’s children now attending both Law Primary and North Berwick High, he has a direct insight into what they need from the town. Through his professional work however, he understands the need to listen to a diverse range of community members, ensuring their views are represented and can truly influence the future of North Berwick.
Ben’s favourite place in North Berwick is pretty much anywhere when sat on a bike, standing on a paddle board or enjoying a cup of coffee.
Lesley Skinner
Lesley was appointed to the Trust’s main board and the Grants Group in September 2025.
Lesley was educated at Edinburgh University and qualified as a GP in 1985. She is semi retired and still undertakes some clinical work ,tribunal work and appraises other GP’s.
Her parents had a holiday home in North Berwick and she has had a long association with the town since she was a child .She learnt to swim in the open air pool ,perfected her putting on the course behind Marine parade and saw the last film at the cinema before it was closed .
She became a permanent resident of North Berwick 7 years ago and has involved herself in community volunteering as front of house in the Coastal Communities museum and at Fringe by the sea .She is an active member of North Berwick East Links golf club and enjoys gardening and swimming.
Keith Anderson
Keith is Chair of the Trust’s Finance Group.
Keith was born and brought up in Dunfermline, graduating from Edinburgh University in 1978 with a BCom and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1982. After qualifying Keith worked in Zimbabwe. Following his return to Edinburgh in 1985 he spent the rest of his career specialising in Business Recovery and Insolvency with a number of professional firms.
Keith moved with his wife to North Berwick in 2019. On retirement Keith has taken up golf joining the The Glen East Links Golf Club and has indulged his love of the sea by joining the North Berwick Rowing Club. Keith joined the Trust in 2021 as a member of the Finance Group and was appointed to the main board in 2023.
Favourite place in North Berwick? The top of the Law for the extensive panoramic views of the Forth, East Lothian and Fife.
Jane McMinn
Jane is Chair of the Trust’s Grants Group
Having experienced many happy memories on extended holidays during her childhood, Jane finally settled in North Berwick, joining her two brothers, about 20 years ago.
Jane graduated from Glasgow University in 1977 with a BSc in Pure Science and was the first sabbatical President of the Queen Margaret Union.
Jane worked for IBM for about 20 years starting in Glasgow, then Edinburgh with a couple of assignments in San Jose California. Latterly Jane worked in technical support for large mainframe storage management and recovery, and also authored two manuals.
Due to health and with a love of being on the water, Jane decided to change direction and qualified as a Commercial Coastal Yacht master. Jane was also Director of Wildgull Charters Limited, running Braveheart boat trips out of North Berwick Harbour. Jane really enjoyed this role on the water, seeing the wildlife with no two visitors or boat trips the same.
In 2006 Jane became a founding member of local charity North Berwick Harbour Trust (NBHT). In 2010 Jane helped found The Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery, which is an educational and conservation charity.
Jane hopes through the Trust to help as many as possible to thrive and enjoy being in North Berwick. She would like to encourage more folk to invest their time and skills in NB to secure its future and heritage.