The Tust was established in 2005 by Alec J Spalding MBE who had given a lifetime of service to the Scout Association.

His intention in establishing the Trust was to promote the education and training of young people not just within the Scout movement but across a much wider spectrum of youth organisations. It was very important to him that support was to be provided at a local level and indeed the Purposes of the Trust specifically exclude providing funding to finance participation in, Jamborees, National, Regional or District, events of the Scout Association or the equivalent in other organisations.

An extract from Alec Spalding's obituary gives a much fuller picture of this remarkable man.

During his life Alec Spalding also found time to write three books:-

• Games and Activities for Scouts
• The 24th 1908 to 1988
• Activities and Expeditions for Youth Groups

Alec Spalding was also a keen photographer and kept a photographic record of Scout activities as well as collecting archive material covering much of the history of the 24th Glasgow ( Bearsden) Scout Group. In 2008, the centenary year of the 24th Glasgow ( Bearsden) Scout Group, a DVD was produced containing over 4000 photographs spanning the years 1910 to 2003.