01 Identity
Scottish charity record
- OSCR charity number
- SC045779
- Status
- Active
- Regulatory type
- Standard
- Designated religious body
- No
- Geographical spread
- A specific local point, community or neighbourhood
- Volunteers
- 0 volunteers
- Staff
- 5
- Postcode
- EH2 3ES
02 Purpose and work
What the charity exists to do
The old Royal High School, built in 1829 by neoclassical architect Thomas Hamilton, is a Category A listed building in Edinburgh’s New Town Conservation Area and World Heritage Site. It symbolises Scotland's commitment to education and architectural excellence. The Royal High School Preservation Trust, founded in 2015, aims to conserve the building, find sustainable uses, and ensure public access. With planning approval in August 2024, restoration led by Richard Murphy Associates and Simpson & Brown will create a cultural hub centered on music. The project includes new gardens designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, offering urban green space with stunning city views. The Trust seeks to engage communities through events and activities while ensuring environmental sustainability. The project is supported by the Dunard Fund, donors, and a volunteer Board, with a focus on developing a long-term sustainable business plan.
Charitable purposes
- the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science
- the provision of recreational facilities, or the organisation of recreational activities, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities or activities are primarily intended
Beneficiaries
- No specific group, or for the benefit of the community
Activities
- It carries out activities or services itself
Constitutional objectives
The Charitable Purposes of the Trust ('the Charitable Purposes') are. 3.1.1 the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science, including: i.3.1.1 to conserve the history and heritage of the buildings comprising the former Royal High School, Calton Hill, Edinburgh (which was built originally in 1825 - 1829) (the “Former Royal High School”) and to preserve these buildings for appropriate uses commensurate with their history, and both Category A-listed and UNESCO World Heritage status. ii.3.1.2 to develop, oversee, manage and maintain the buildings comprising the former Royal High School. and iii.3.1.3 to create, arrange, manage and oversee activities and events at and from the buildings comprising the former Royal High School in order to ensure cultural benefit, community benefit and public benefit. and 3.1.2 the provision of recreational facilities by developing, overseeing, managing and maintaining a public garden for recreational use by the public and for its environmental, horticultural and restorative benefits.
03 Annual returns
Income and expenditure history
| Year end | Income | Expenditure | Staff | Return received |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2025 | £11,739,421 | £1,031,754 | 5 | 2 December 2025 |
| 31 March 2024 | £2,038,516 | £264,895 | 5 | 30 October 2024 |
| 31 March 2023 | £9,228,213 | £3,249,680 | 5 | 18 December 2023 |
| 31 March 2022 | £251,132 | £664,479 | 5 | 22 December 2022 |
| 31 March 2021 | £2,180 | £115,777 | 5 | 10 December 2021 |
Figures are those reported by the charity and supplied in the OSCR bulk download. Blank facts remain distinct from zero.
04 Contact record
Principal office or trustees address
- Address supplied to OSCR
- Colinton Suite, Strathmore Offices, 91 George Street, Edinburgh
- Website supplied to OSCR
- www.rhspt.org
- Parent charity
- Not supplied
No direct external links on this profile. The official OSCR record and source documentation are available through BritDB’s dedicated source page.
05 Provenance
Source for this profile
© Crown Copyright and database right 2026. Contains information from the Scottish Charity Register supplied by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. BritDB is an independent service and does not claim to be the Scottish Charity Register.