Outdoor charity Outfit Moray boosted to the tune of £4350 by Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation
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A MORAY outdoor charity has received a 21st birthday present thanks to the legacy of a local business couple.
Outfit Moray will be able to double the number of watersports activity sessions it can offer to young people after the addition of a second canoe trailer, funded by a £4350 grant from The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation.
That will be evident this Easter, with the charity offering a packed programme of activities for the area’s youngsters.
Each year, around 3000 young people benefit from canoe, kayak and paddleboard activities run by Outfit Moray across the area’s wide range of natural watersports venues – from rivers and lochs to the sea.
The addition of a second trailer means that number can now double.
Chairman of The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation, George McIntyre, said: “Up until now, the charity has only been able to deliver one watersport session at a time, even though it has the equipment to run up to three simultaneously.
“The demand is there to run at least two sessions most days of the spring, summer and autumn months.
“So we are delighted, in its 21st year, to fund this piece of equipment which we know will make a huge difference to the young people and families that Outfit Moray supports.”
Watersports are one of the many adventure activities offered by Outfit Moray, which works with more than 6000 people each year via both one-to-one sessions and group programmes.
Its overarching aim is to make a positive difference to the lives of young people, families and communities in Moray through the provision of outdoor learning and respite breaks.
Outfit Moray’s CEO Tony Brown said: “The generous support we have received from The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation will make a real difference to the opportunities we can create for young people in Moray.
“The local area is well suited to paddlesports and a second canoe trailer will help us introduce more young people and families to the sport and help them to enjoy our breath-taking scenery.”
Projects that encourage young people to enjoy sports are among those supported by The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation, which was established by the late husband and wife team to give something back to the communities which helped lay the foundations of their successful family business, Baxters.
Since 2013, the Foundation has awarded more than £1.9 million to groups across Moray, the north east and the Highlands.
There are four funding rounds each year, when trustees consider applications for capital expenditure. The next deadline is April 26 and you can visit www.gebfoundation.com to find out more about the application process and the Foundation’s eligibility criteria.
