The Herald has profiled Dr Patricia Turner and Dr Ewan Kirk, co-founders of the Turner Kirk Trust, highlighting the organisation’s distinctive approach to philanthropy and its guiding principle of giving projects “permission to fail.”
The feature outlines how their scientific backgrounds shape the Trust’s strategy, encouraging critical examination of orthodoxies and supporting innovative projects that might otherwise be overlooked. Recent initiatives include funding the new Centre for Spatial Reasoning at the University of Glasgow to improve numeracy among disadvantaged children.
Their philosophy extends globally, from backing solar energy solutions in Malawi to addressing barriers to maternal healthcare in South Africa and Nepal. By approaching issues from different perspectives, the Trust aims to find practical, scalable solutions beyond conventional funding routes.
The article also spotlights the Trust’s support for Hope and Homes, a charity working to close orphanages worldwide, challenging long-held donor-driven practices. As Dr Turner explains, the Trust’s mantra is clear: failure is not an endpoint but a catalyst for better, more effective solutions.
Read the full article here.
“I think our mantra – permission to fail – underpins the approach that we have. We don't see failure as a problem. We see it as a kind of springboard to do something better, something different."
