About Us
History of Barcapel
The existence and wealth of the Barcapel Foundation is thanks to the sale of a family business. Scottish Animal Products manufactured petfoods, and was a relatively recent addition to the activities of Robert Wilson & Sons (1859) Ltd, but after a period of spectacular growth in the 1950s when the two main brands Kennomeat and Kattomeat achieved a 20% share of the market, the company was sold to rival manufacturers, Spillers, in 1964.
The Clement Wilson Foundation
R Clement Wilson, the chairman of the company, established the Clement Wilson Foundation in 1965 with funds provided by the Clement Wilson Trust. The aims and objectives of the Barcapel Foundation today are very closely linked with the original charitable ambitions of the Clement Wilson Foundation.
The Truth Research Foundation
Also in 1965, Clement Wilson’s brother, Andrew Wilson, established the Truth Research Foundation with funds from the sale of the family business. In line with Andrew Wilson’s pioneering philosophies, the Truth Research Foundation was a visionary charity with ambitions well ahead of its time, particularly in the field of integrated health and complementary medicine.
Today’s Directors still operate guided by the philosophies of the original settlors, R Clement Wilson and Andrew C Wilson, especially their view that “From the outset the Foundation saw that its most effective giving would be directed to those organisations who were in the early stages of development and in need of help to get off the ground”. The current Directors refer to this ambition as “pump priming”.
In 1994 the family combined the assets of the Wilforge Foundation (the Clement Wilson Foundation had been renamed) and the Truth Research Foundation to form the Barcapel Foundation. Clement Wilson’s eldest son, Robert (Dickie) Wilson chaired the foundation from its incorporation until his death in 2006. The current chairman of Barcapel, also called Robert, is Dickie’s eldest son and Robert Clement Wilson’s eldest grandson.
Since 1965 the Wilson family have distributed over £35 million to causes in Scotland and beyond through the Barcapel, Clement Wilson, Wilforge and Truth Research foundations.
Board of Directors
Jed Wilson
Jed currently lives in Central London. He is the Principal of Wilson Wealth, a leading wealth advisory business. Jed has an international finance background, worked professionally in Canada, USA and Switzerland. Before moving abroad, he spent several years in the City and prior to this enjoyed a distinguished career in the Corporate Travel industry including running his own successful luxury travel business for over a decade. He has been a Trustee of Barcapel since 1996.
Amanda Richards
Amanda was appointed to the Board in 2009. A graduate of Caius College Cambridge, she is a qualified solicitor and currently works as legal counsel within the film industry. She has a particular interest in charities supporting young people with societal challenges. She is R Clement Wilson’s granddaughter.
Robert Wilson Chairman
Robert was appointed Chairman in 2006. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, has attended Harvard Business School, and has enjoyed a long and successful career in homeopathic medicine, as Managing Director and now Chairman of Nelsons.
Hermione Wilson
Hermione graduated from Edinburgh University with First Class honours before completing a Masters in International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS achieving Distinction. She now is on the Civil Service Fast Stream, currently working for the Ministry of Justice in Legal Aid while living in London. She has a keen interest in charitable affairs, with a particular interest in sexual violence and modern slavery.
Clement Wilson
Clement joined the board in 2002, and works as a freelance journalist, writer as well as IT consultant. He is actively supportive of charitable endeavours in the arts and literature fields, particularly those involving young people.
Administrator - Mia McCartney
Mia takes care of the day to day administration of the foundation. Prior to joining Barcapel she worked for the Local Authority in a business support capacity for many years. She is the first point of contact for all dealings with Barcapel.
Mia is available by telephone on 0131 381 8111 or email: admin@barcapelfoundation.org
Monday – Wednesday, 10am – 4.30pm.