Lottery cash delight for Buckie area community groups
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THREE Buckie area community groups have hit the National Lottery funding jackpot to the tune of over £25,000.
Moray Reach Out (MRO), which is based at 23 East Church Street in Buckie, has been handed a grant of £10,000 by the National Lottery's Awards for All fund to create a patio area which can be accessed by wheelchair users.
A grant of the same amount, this time from the Community Fund, has gone to Fochabers Christmas Lights, while the fund has awarded the Three Kings Cullen Association the sum of £5365.
MRO's patio project will require significant groundworks and landscaping at the site to the rear of the building, which is currently inaccessible. It is envisaged the once completed the area would not only be used by MRO staff, volunteers and trainees but also by other community groups as well.
The charity has also successfully applied for a Social Investment Scotland, Social Enterprise Just Transition Fund grant/loan which will be used for the garden development and to complete refurbishments on the building.
MRO's general and business development manager Shona Radojkovic said: “Significant funds are needed to achieve the vision for the garden, but we are nearly there.
"A final push with a summer raffle should ensure that we have funds for this and for the trainee outing fund. Prizes include a two-night stay at the award-winning and unique Hideaway Under the Stars near Aberlour.
"If you are a local business and would like to donate a prize, please contact info@morayreachout.org.uk, 07511 127229 or pop in and see us."
MRO helps adults with disabilities gain a real sense of purpose and pride, through participation in meaningful activities at MRO’s seven projects. People learn new skills, gain confidence and a sense of belonging.
The charity took the bold step in 2018 to buy their current base and is halfway through a 10-year fixed term commercial mortgage. Significant fundraising took place and by September 2019 extensive renovations had been completed, including installation of a lift to ensure the building would be accessible to all.
The doors of the new premises were formally opened on October 3, 2019 introducing new projects MRO Thrift Shop and MRO Art Yarn alongside existing project MRO Yarns and Crafts (previously Buckie Yarns). The charity has MRO Recycling Buckie and MRO Upcycling at March Lane, Buckie, and MRO Embroidery in Elgin.
It also staffs the Moray Council’s Materials Recycling Facility (cans and plastics) at Moycroft which is managed by the MRO Recycling Elgin team.
Funds received from the Moray Chamber of Commerce Auction last year £10,000 are also ringfenced to support the new developments.
Moray Reach Out will be holding a coffee morning on Saturday, August 5 from 9.30am to 11.30am during which time their summer raffle will be drawn. Tickets for the event will be on sale at Moray Reach Out, The Original Factory Shop and other local stores.
MRO is keen to hear from people interested in volunteering at any of its projects, in particular anyone who loves working with wood for the MRO Upcycling project.
The MRO Thrift Shop can be supported by donating items, and those making cash donations are urged to sign up for Gift Aid if they are eligible.
For news and updates on MRO, follow the charity on Facebook, Instagram and at www.morayreachout.org.uk
The cash will add extra sparkle to Fochabers' festive offering, being earmarked to purchase new displays for the main road through the village square.
Welcoming the cash boost was Liz Rennie from Fochabers Village Association, who noted that the award had, in turn, unlocked further funding
She said: "The year Covid struck, Fochabers Village Association had plans to improve the lights on the avenue of 12 millennium trees in the Square.
"The trees had outgrown the tiny lights. This, of course, did not happen, however, three years on, we are absolutely delighted to have been successful in being awarded £10,000 from the National Lottery which will enable us to light up the square once again! In addition, if our lottery application was to be successful, SSE Beatrice fund agreed to give £5000 towards the project. too. This tremendous boost will ensure the job is done to the best of standards.
"Over the years, many people both locals and visitors have commented on the Christmas display in Fochabers. In these days when there are still many stressors and hardships, it will be excellent to bring some Christmas cheer to the village as well as positive vibes for our health and well-being.
"We are grateful to both National Lottery and SSE Beatrice for supporting us in this way. I can guarantee it will be much appreciated.
"Terry Pickard, from the Village Association is busy looking at the purchase of lights and the next task will be recruiting fit volunteers to help with the actual installation of the lights. Once again we refer to our strapline, ‘By the community, for the community’, and we’ll look forward to when the job is done!"
Meanwhile, over in Cullen, the cash will be put to work creating a new path and lighting to provide safer and more accessible access to the community centre in the town. The National Lottery cash completes a jigsaw of funding sources that enable the project to proceed.
Stan Slater from TKCA, said: "The Three Kings Cullen Association has recently secured funding fora new path from Seafield Place up to the community centre and library.
"The funding will come from three sources – Paths for All, the Beatrice wind farm and the National lottery.
"The first school path was made during the harsh winter of 1895. Weather conditions prevented a lot of the normal work being carried out and to ease poverty the council paid the unemployed a wage to build the path to the school and some of the other paths around the town. The path has been upgraded over the years from the earthen and gravel path but since the school closed in 1970 no further work has been done.
"It is used by many of the town's inhabitants such as school children heading to the new school, dog walkers, people going to the shops, community centre users or library users. The path provides a safer route for the children to walk to school and prevents them walking up a pavement next to the busy A98.
"Some of the problems with the existing path are raised drains, uneven surface and a barrier which prevents the larger mobility scooters from using it. All these issues will be resolved with the new path and in addition, new LED lighting will be provided to make it safer during the winter months.
"Without the generous aforementioned funders, projects like this would never happen.
"We are extremely grateful to the Paths for All Charity, in particular, the Ian Findlay Fund for both their Grant and the valuable advice they gave."
