Scottish social enterprise Scarf has woven four decades of impact into something truly special – an officially registered tartan, created to mark its 40th anniversary and inspired by the organisation’s distinctive brand colours.
Founded in 1985 to help households across the North-east stay warm and well, Scarf has grown into one of Scotland’s leading voices in energy efficiency and fuel poverty. Now, as it celebrates 40 years of supporting communities, Scarf is launching a bespoke anniversary tartan that reflects its roots, values, and bold vision for the future.
The tartan, registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans, features a rich blend of orange, purple, blue, and green – a reflection of Scarf’s brand colours and its warm, approachable ethos.
“This tartan is a symbol of our heritage and the communities we serve,” said Lawrence Johnston, co-CEO at Scarf. “We wanted to mark our 40th anniversary in a way that was distinctively Scottish and would last beyond the year. Our tartan gives us something tangible that symbolically weaves our past, present, and future together.”
Lawrence Johnston, co-CEO at Scarf
40 years ago, Scarf started with a simple mission: help people heat their homes more affordably. Today, it delivers complex national programmes such as ECO4 for over a quarter of Scotland’s local authorities, operates from offices in Aberdeen and Dundee, and manages its own schemes like the Scarf Fuel Fund – offering financial support to those most at risk.
Scarf was recently named Regional Vulnerable Customer Support Organisation of the Year in recognition of its work supporting those most affected by rising energy costs. The achievement was also highlighted in a motion lodged at the Scottish Parliament, reflecting growing awareness of Scarf’s impact at a national level.
As part of its 40th year, Scarf will be incorporating the anniversary tartan into a range of celebratory activities – but the milestone also marks a moment of growth and evolution. Building on its time-tested model, Scarf is introducing new areas of focus, including an early intervention programme for schools and a grants scheme that will open later this year to third sector organisations across Scotland.
The anniversary tartan reflects not only Scarf’s Scottish roots, but also its longevity and ongoing commitment to community-led solutions, innovation, and social justice. Scarf’s 40th anniversary is in August, with more announcements to follow.
Scarf is a registered charity and social enterprise that works in partnership with local and national government, private sector and other third sector organisations to help lower fuel bills and carbon emissions. Founded in 1985, the organisation operates from offices in Aberdeen and Dundee to deliver a range of energy-saving services to householders, communities and businesses across Scotland.