Transition Town Forres to invest £10, 764 Scottish Land Fund grant in plan for Bogton Road centre

A LOCAL charity focused on sustainability has been awarded nearly £11,000 towards expansion.

Transition Town Forres (TTF) will invest a £10, 764 development grant from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) in an options appraisal, feasibility study and business plan for their Environmental Education and Healthy Living Centre at Bogton Road.

TTF board director and secretary, Kristy Lee Harris, is delighted business consultants SKS Scotland will carry out the work.

She said: “We want to ensure that all of the Forres catchment can benefit from the facilities and opportunities offered at the centre so we are undertaking a consultation and revising our business plan, to ensure the viability of the charity. It will enable the community to have more input and inform our board in producing a robust business plan to ensure a sustainable community asset.”

TTF centre manager, Anne Owen, added that the charity is aiming to support more community action, following the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “TTF has been working to support the community and help move towards a greener, healthier and more resilient future.”

SKS Scotland provide specialist advice in financial business planning and modelling, funding, budgeting and financial projections.

Spokeswoman, Kerrien Grant, said: “TTF are developing exciting plans for new activities and partnership projects. We will be helping to update their business plan, identify income streams and make sure that this valuable resource can continue to provide outdoor and indoor community space for learning, making and social activities. As part of this, we will be carrying out a survey to find out what the community wants to see developed, and how best the centre can encourage people to take part.”

TTF is in its 11th year. The charity was formed to help create a “vibrant and sustainable community with social and economic resilience to meet the challenges of climate change and fossil fuel depletion”. Its strategic aim is to “encourage and promote health, choice and empowerment within an ecologically and ethically grounded framework”. Ongoing projects include a community garden at Bogton, free cooking classes, wellbeing classes and social events, and interest group cafés.

The Environmental Education and Healthy Living Centre uses produce from its gardens in the kitchen for cooking, juicing and more. TTF also runs courses, talks, film screenings and discussions at the centre around topics including nutrition, gardening, vermiculture and composting.

TTF hope to continue six main projects: 60 Forres residents growing organic food in the allotment/community garden; classes in mindfulness, yoga, tai chi; the Let’s Eat project – teaching tasty, healthy and economical cooking, ingredients from the garden; the Growing Strong project - volunteers growing food in potato boxes to then offer as food packages for those in need; the Repair Cafe – repairing items; and the hiring out the centre as a venue.

TTF would like to further use their resources as part of the local response to the coronavirus pandemic. The centre was closed as a result of lockdown but, using £2000 awarded from the Corra Foundation’s response fund, TTF made instructional videos on mindfulness and cooking, as well as documentaries on other TTF projects, Forres Area Community Trust, Forres Community Orchard and Incredible Edibles Forres. The films can be viewed at www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ5SF8T_hJ17XngUijZHBsw

Moray Council has agreed to wave TTF’s rent on the Common Good land at Bogton Road until the centre can be reopened when restrictions ease.

Local councillor Lorna Creswell said: “Everyone’s wellbeing needs enhanced, and open spaces and outdoor activities can all be something we aspire to in 2021.

“I wish TTF all the very best in this next stage of their development.”