National Trust for Scotland: SOS

The Scottish actor Brian Cox has donated his time and iconic Scottish voice to the National Trust for Scotland’s 'SOS' appeal TV advert.

Brian Cox, who is currently starring in the Sky Atlantic drama, Succession, recorded the voice-over remotely from him home in up-state New York as he got behind the Trust’s appeal to help it safeguard the future of its properties, natural heritage sites, designed landscapes and conservation projects.

The TV ad, which aired from Monday 22 June, runs on STV and highlights the plight of the Trust, following lockdown measures. Showing some of Scotland’s most treasured places and spaces such as Glencoe, Culzean Castle and The Hill House, Brian urges people to; ‘Save our sealife, save our summits and save our stories’ by donating today.

Although some National Trust for Scotland properties are gearing up to re-open in the summer months, lockdown measures, caused by the Covid 19 pandemic has created a £28million shortfall in the charity’s income for 2020. This means that only a fraction of its locations will be able to open in 2020 and into 2021, either due to lack of resources or because they cannot be adequately adapted to on-going social distancing restrictions.

The Save our Scotland appeal needs to raise a minimum of £2.5million to ensure the continued protection of the properties and cultural heritage in its care. The charity relies on memberships and donations to ensure the long term preservation of its sites, and a drop in income may see sites mothballed or - worse still - sold to private owners.