I have been chairman of the Cairngorms Trust since its inception in 2016 and the administration and distribution of LEADER funds has been the primary task until recently. However the decision to leave the European Union will result in the loss of the LEADER funding stream and so the Trust is now turning its attention to widening its fundraising activities so it can continue to support community-led local development within the Cairngorms National Park.
One of our fund raising initiatives is the recently launched Voluntary Giving Scheme and this is an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to support our aims and help conserve the nature and wildlife of the National Park as well as its heritage and culture. For many people the real joy of the Cairngorms is being out and enjoying the special scenery and landscapes; it was hill walking which opened my eyes to the beauty, diversity and sheer scale of the Park.
The benefits of LEADER can be found in many areas of the Park and the awarding of this funding to projects which offer real benefits to the communities within the Park has been at the centre of the work of the Trustees and we now want to ensure that this work continues even though the European funds cease. The Trust has already been able to offer grants to two community projects, one in Boat of Garten and the other in Kingussie and we hope to be able to support many more local initiatives.
Businesses which are already signed up to the Voluntary Giving Scheme realise that as well as helping the community there is a positive publicity spin off from their involvement. There are many ways businesses can take part e.g. fundraising in the workplace, sponsoring a product, inviting donations at the point of booking, corporate donations or a simple donation box.
All of us shop, some more often than others but if you are a Park resident or a visitor and want to help us please look for businesses who have joined the Voluntary Giving Scheme and if you shop online then using our Smile.amazon.co.uk charity page is another way to support our work.
The benefits of interacting with the natural world are becoming increasingly recognised but as more people venture into the outdoors both communities and landscape can come under pressure. We would appreciate your help to help us both protect and conserve the Cairngorms so that the area can be enjoyed as a place of beauty and leisure activity by both our generation and the generations to come.
Written by Roger Clegg, Chairman of the Cairngorms Local Action Group.
