Our SwimABLE & SurfABLE Scotland Projects in collaboration with Active Schools Moray (Forres ASG) have only been made possible, with thanks to funding from The Berry Burn Community Fund and support by Forres Swimming Pool.  The ripple effect in providing opportunity and support for school aged children, regardless of disability or condition has led to significant positive outcomes. Through water-based activity these young athletes learned through practical experiences, guided discovery and fun. Many skills include lifesaving, fitness and sport which could have been unattainable in mainstream.

Thank you to all involved and especially our young athletes who continually inspire us.

The main objective of this project was to insulate the Community Hall to reduce the running cost. This was achieved by lining the walls and ceiling with insulating board, and installing led lighting. The decision to insulate was made long before the current energy crisis, and in this recent energy crisis will reduce the energy usage and will provide a warmer Hall during the winter evenings. This project has enabled us to give a commitment to our users that the cost for the use of the hall will be held until the end of the year.

The grant from Berry Burn Wind Farm Community Fund has brought the community together, stimulating new ideas for the use of the Hall. The most exciting of these is holding a ceilidh, traditional Scottish music (using and encouraging local talent).

The funding awarded enabled Findhorn Bay Arts to stage a range of creative events and activities to support, engage and inspire communities in Moray during the devastating Covid-19 pandemic. Working in collaboration with the third sector, businesses, community partners, artists, cultural organisations and local people, and with support from our funders and stakeholders, Findhorn Bay Arts successfully delivered a programme of creative events and activities to engage the local community throughout the year. Our work during the Covid-19 pandemic helped bring people in Moray together to laugh, smile and breath in equal measure, and was recognised with several awards.

The restoration of the bowling green edges at the Grant Park Bowling Club will now ensure that the club can continue welcoming both young and old alike for many years to come with the club celebrating its 100-year centenary in 2024 along with the town of Forres. This is a great step forward and is a good legacy for both the members of the club and BBCF that has enabled this to happen.

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The Berry Burn Community Fund has been integral to the smooth running of our club for many years. With their support we are able to take out many of the financial barriers that stop people supporting or taking up the sport.

Our numbers have increased, and we see a big uptake from both juniors and adults in the local community getting involved as both players, volunteers and coaches.

Thank you so much for all your support.

Grantown Swim Club, with the aid of Berry Burn funding Community Fund, delivered a return to the water specific swim programme aimed at children who were at the stage of needing to swim more distance and improve skills in order to be able to be at a standard to trial for Swim Club.  This was a catch up programme to help make up for the lack of swimming available due to Covid 19.  This resulted in 12 children being able to trial for Swim Club.

The phone box and bus shelter at Logie Primary’s gate had fallen into disrepair and were an eyesore. The funding from the Berry Burn Community Fund allowed the school to refurbish both, improving their appearance and making them usable again. The phone box, lit by solar power, will become an art gallery for the children’s work. The bus shelter is now once again a meeting place and focal point for parents gathering at the school gate.  The school is proud and pleased to have been able to restore two points of Dunphail local heritage for the community it serves.

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I am absolutely delighted to have opened the newly renovated Fiona’s Wholefoods and Refills in the YM Community Centre in Grantown-on-Spey in September. I am passionate about enabling local people and visitors to access a wide selection of eco-friendly and ethical product with zero or reduced packaging within the town and local area. Moreover, I am pleased to have created two job opportunities and look forward to increasing employment. I now move onto phase two of my plans which are both community and Business-to-Business focussed.

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With funding support from the Berry Burn Community Fund, Grantown Museum was able to undertake learning and research that uncovered new stories and deepened the community’s understanding of our rich heritage.

 We shared this in a meaningful and effective way.  Two, high quality exhibitions about Strathspey history with associated publications were created at a time when giving a cultural experience to our community was crucial in enhancing people’s wellbeing.

 We produced a series of podcasts that will enable people to continue to engage with aspects of Strathspey heritage in the future.

With support of the BBCF, the Friends of Blairs Loch (SCIO) have created a wonderful venue in a woodland, loch side, setting that can be used by schools and special interest groups for educational, recreational and well-being activities. Just a few miles south of Forres, on the Altyre Estate, the Boathouse, Bothy & Stable facility is an important new addition to the paths, bird hides and picnic areas at Loch of Blairs that are popular with the local community.

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