Foundation announces first awards of 2025

AWARDS totalling more than £60,000 have been agreed by The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation in its first funding round of 2025.

Trustees approved contributions towards 12 projects, including awards to help with the purchase of sound equipment at Speyfest – a traditional music festival held annually in Fochabers - as well as for the St Magnus International Festival in Orkney.

A number of local community halls in Moray and Aberdeenshire will benefit from this round of grants, with awards going towards a new roof at one, a heating system upgrade at another, and new community event signage at a third.

Among sports facilities to benefit will be a climbing centre in Inverness, with new hand holds being funded to enable greater access for people of all abilities. And a trust that carries out research into salmon numbers on the Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers is also set to receive support towards equipment costs.

In 2024, 51 awards were agreed totalling £317,000 and the Foundation has now closed submissions for its second round of 2025.

Further submission deadlines this year will fall on July 25 and October 31. Applications can be made online and you should complete our eligibility quiz to see if your project could be a good fit.