Forres OAP Association awarded £3000 by Auchernack Trust for excursions
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A LARGE group of older people from the area has been awarded £3000 by the Auchernack Trust to help fund excursions and events.
Forres OAP Association, founded in 1950 and based at Forres Town Hall, was pleased to be recognised by the trustees who twice-yearly assess applications for, and make grants from, the Auchernack Trust Fund.
Association secretary, June Kirk, was encouraged to apply for the support, originally bequeathed by late Forres postie and Auchernack House supporter William Cameron for the benefit of his fellow residents.
June said: “We’re grateful for the amount we received. We spent close to £3000 on our Christmas lunch at the Mosset Tavern and gifts to hand out there to our members.”
She added: “In 2016, the Auchernack Trust gave us £1000 to cover our rent at the town hall. Five years later, we applied for £5000 as we’ve had nothing for years. Three thousand pounds is a small amount if you look at the capital amount. It’s taken from the interest.”
Forres OAP Association have one or two fundraising coffee mornings a year. Membership subscription costs £3 for a year but the group also charges a £1 at the meetings to pay for refreshments. The pensioners restarted weekly meetings from 1.30-3.30pm at the town hall on Wednesdays after Covid-19 restrictions were loosened. During the year, the group usually has an outing to a show in Inverness or Elgin on hired coaches. The trips may also include a tour of the area and a stop for lunch.
“Rotary Club of Forres are good to us,” said June. “They allow 25 of our members to attend their afternoon teas. The Forres Freemasons usually give us vouchers at Christmas too. We don’t apply for funds from elsewhere.
“Our pensioners are guaranteed one day a week at the town hall to socialise and be happy. New members are always welcome.”
For more information, call June on 01309 673194.
