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Berry Burn Community Fund pays out £60,312.85 for 12 projects across Moray and the Highlands


By Garry McCartney

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PROFITS from natural energy are helping to fund three groups and a girl with health issues in the Forres area.

In the latest round of funding awards, Berry Burn Community Fund (BBCF) has approved grants of a total of £24,210 to Moray Firth Credit Union, Nature 4 Health, Forres Footpaths Trust and Barbara Spicer from a total of £60,312.85 for 12 projects spread across Moray and the Highlands.

BBCF chairwoman, Jana Hutt, said: "Communities and individuals can be struggling to maintain and develop projects and services during this time. However, we continue to support good applications which can make real difference in our area, and congratulate the successful applicants."

The Community Fund receives an index-linked annual budget of £190,000 from international renewables company Statkraft, whose 29-turbine Berry Burn wind farm lies between Forres and Grantown-on-Spey.

The fund is overseen by 11 volunteer fund members, living and working within its operational boundary, which takes in the community council areas of Forres, East Nairnshire, Grantown-on-Spey, Cromdale and Advie, Speyside, Heldon, Findhorn and Kinloss, Finderne and Dyke Landward. The annual budget is spread over three awards rounds and this latest round brings the total contribution to date to £1,191,243 towards local causes.

Forres High Street-based Moray Firth Credit Union will use £17,160 to promote and support salaries for two part time staff to focus on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nairn-based environmental charity Nature 4 Health has been awarded £3000 towards funding two 'Branching Out' mental health recovery programmes at Sanquhar Woods and Quarrel Wood in Elgin.

Forres Footpaths Trust is using £1,200 to create a map of all the current walking routes identified and described on their website which will be printed on three panels of vandal proof material.

Barbara Spicer will invest £2,850 in a hot tub with access/entry steps for vital hydrotherapy for her daughter who has a disability as Forres Hydrotherapy pool is closed.

The remaining funding is going to eight projects further afield, including £3000 for the Social Enterprise Academy (facilitators of their programmes include Forres Area Community Trust, TSI Moray and ReBoot) towards provision of three online learning programmes for leaders of community organisations in the fund area helping people during the challenges of the current pandemic, and £985 to Jasmin Robertson from the Royal Findhorn Sailing Club for a class legal Laser Radial sail plus winter sailing kit.

This annual budget is spread over three awards rounds held during the year. The closing date for the next round is January 18, with decisions due to be made at the awards meeting for round 21 on February 22.

All details of how to apply, application forms and contact details for the administrator can be found at www.berryburncommunityfund.co.uk.



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