Fourteen projects, including 10 in Forres have benefited from the latest round of awards from the Berry Burn Community Fund, which has recently approved grants totalling £90,869.
Applications received totalled more than double the amount of funds available, therefore it was not possible to help everyone, no matter how worthy the cause.
This latest round brings the total contribution to date towards local causes in the area from the Berry Burn Community Fund to £ 2,443,028.
Chair of the Berry Burn Community Fund, Alex Ross, said: “The number of applications for funding shows no sign of slowing, which is positive; however that does mean the volunteer Fund members are unable to satisfy all expectations. Each application is researched and reviewed before a collective decision is reached. Within the limit of funds available the Fund attempts to distribute some funding to as many applications as is possible.”
This year the Community Fund received an index-linked annual payment of £266,187 from international renewables company Statkraft, whose 29-turbine Berry Burn wind farm lies between Forres and Grantown-on-Spey. The fund is overseen by eleven volunteer 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. This annual budget is spread over three awards rounds held during the year.
Become a fund member
Vacancies exist for new members to be appointed to the Fund. Applications are invited from local individuals – particularly those with financial skills – living in the Community Council areas listed above. The role is voluntary and no fee is payable. Legitimate travel expenses can be claimed. For a more detailed description of the Fund Member role, and application form please see: https://berryburncommunityfund.co.uk/documents/
The date of the next Berry Burn Community Fund awards meeting is 15 June 2026, with the closing date for applications 11 May 2026. All details of how to apply, application form, and contact details for the Administrator, can be found online at berryburncommunityfund.co.uk
Round 36 – February 2026
Funding in this round has been offered to a variety of organisations throughout the Berry Burn Community Fund area, as follows
Forres area (IV36):
- Moray Hydrotherapy Pool – £14,596 to replace the Arjo poolside hoist and support lifeguards
- Moray Rape Crisis – £10,358 for frontline outreach support in Forres for survivors of sexual violence and abuse
- Edinkillie Community Association SCIO – £10,000 for a car park extension Edinkillie Hall
- Forres Community First Responders (FCFR) – £7,500 for equipment bags
- Forres Area Soccer7s – £6,000 for overseas football trip to Vienenburg
- Earthtime for All Ltd – £5,712 for Forres Woodland Wednesdays
- Findhorn Village Community Resilience Group – £5,537 for Findhorn Village Community Emergency Preparedness & Resilience Project
- Findhorn Watersports – £5,000 for Findhorn Watersports Marine Academy
- Moray Local CIC – £5,000 for development of the IV36 area as a tourism and leisure destination
- forWORDS, the Forres Writing Group – £1,766 for publication of Magic Myth & Folklore
Elsewhere in the area covered by the trust community groups and organisations received:were
- Seafield Park Community Trust – £14,050 for a Seafield Park Feasibility Study
- Grantown Business Association – £3,853 for Open Ground: A Creative Exchange & Skills Network system
- The Grantown Society – £1,000 for Strathfest
- Abbigail Hollie Mitchell – £500 for essential travel costs and performance equipment for local national standard competitive swimmer