The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, the charitable organisation behind the sound and light show held in Highland Perthshire has launched its 2023 Community Fund and is now accepting applications from registered charities.
The fund which was establish in 2015 redistributes the proceeds from the annual event back into the local community in Pitlochry and the wider area, with over £270,000 reinvested, benefiting more that 120 local community groups.
Nela Popovic, Executive Director of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “The Enchanted Forest would not continue to be the success that is it year on year without the support of the local Highland Perthshire community, who continue to believe in the event and the recognise the importance of it to the region.
“The Enchanted Forest Community Fund aims to be a force for good, creating a lasting positive impact within the community in which the event has called its home for the last twenty years. Essentially, it’s our way of saying a big thank you to those who have so graciously supported the event from day one.”
Registered charities in Highland Perthshire can apply for up to £10,000 from the fund to finance projects located within Highland Perthshire, with the trust especially welcoming applications for projects that are focused on helping people affected by the cost-of-living crisis. The deadline for charities to return their completed applications is the 31st of March 2023.
During the early stages on the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pitlochry Festival Theatre received £5,000 from the fund. Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, commented on how the fund helped them: “The Enchanted Forest Community Fund enabled Pitlochry Festival Theatre to reach even more people at the height of the pandemic, through the delivery of online and outdoor participation activities. It also provided us with the opportunity to offer even more work to freelance writers to pen new forest themed stories for families to entertain them at home.”
Another beneficiary of the fund during the pandemic was the Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy who also received £5,000. Speaking on the support from The Enchanted Forest Community Fund Fiona MacEwan, Programme and Community Development Manager at The Birks Cinema Trust, said: “The financial help received from The Enchanted Forest Community Fund, along with other funders, helped us to move many of our community activities online.
“We were also able to research, develop and deliver three very successful Drive-In cinema events and research, develop and stream three musical events. These activities were vital for our community at a time when we were locked down and the usual community gatherings were unable to happen.”
Application forms can be downloaded at https://www.enchantedforest.org.uk/community/. Successful applicants will be asked to provide a report to The Enchanted Forest Community Trust on how they have used the money in relation to their request.