Eleven projects are boosted by Lang Toon trust

Cash from wind farm and large-scale building projects in the Auchterarder area have been handed over to several community groups throughout 2016.

Eleven projects were boosted by cash earmarked for good causes supporting or involving Auchterarder and District, including Aberuthven and Glendevon.

Thousands of pounds have been given in the course of the past 12 months.

Awards were made to the Auchterarder Community Sports Association, Auchterarder 50+ Group, the Community School of Auchterarder Parent Council, First Auchterarder Brownies and Auchterarder Flower Club.

Further awards were passed on to Auchterarder Friends of Guiding, Auchterarder Riding for the Disabled, Auchterarder in Bloom Association, Auchterarder Horticultural Society, Auchterarder Community Sports Association and Auchterarder Scottish Women’s Institute.

The Auchterarder and District Community Trust was set up in 2008 to award money from developments, including the Green Knowes and Burnfoot Hill wind farms and the GWest luxury resort, to groups which provide a benefit to local residents.

The group itself doesn’t need to be in this area, provided the people who use the group are Auchterarder and District residents.

And the registered charity is still looking for organisations to apply for funding, particularly from groups supporting Glendevon residents.

A spokesperson explained: “Applicants needn’t be registered charities, but the project they want help funding must be charitable in its nature.”

Since it started the trust has now made awards totalling almost £225k to 56 different projects and currently meets quarterly to consider grants, starting in January with the last meeting in September.

The spokesperson added: “The substantial funds held in trust mean there is no maximum or minimum donation, so please get thinking on projects that could benefit local residents.

“If you’d like to help the trust stay relevant to the community it supports, why not consider becoming a trustee?”

Interested individuals are invited to send an email to the trust administrator with brief details and what you believe you could bring to the trust.

The spokesperson continued: “The trustees are keen to ensure there is a regular succession of serving trustees and also to ensure that as many socio-economic, etc. groups are represented.”

Full details of the trust’s guidelines and a copy of the grant application form can be found at www. auchterardertrust. org or at www. facebook.com/auchterardertrust.

Alternatively, contact Mrs J Reid, 22 Bridgewater Avenue, Auchterarder, PH3 1DG, or email: mail@auchterardertrust.org