THE Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation is celebrating after awarding more than £2 million to good causes.
The charity manages personal legacies left by Gordon and Ena Baxter of the world famous Baxters Food Group and supports community groups across Moray, the North and North-east.
Having transformed the business into a household name, the couple established the Foundation to give back to the communities which supported its growth. Now led by a board of trustees, the charity is on a high after surpassing the £2 million mark.
George McIntyre, chairman of The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation, said: “This is a fantastic milestone to have reached and we know that Gordon and Ena would have been thrilled that their generous endowment is making a lasting difference in the communities that they loved.
“As we enter our first funding round of 2025, we look forward to spreading the benefit of this legacy even further by supporting more great causes across Moray, the North and North-east.”
Since Gordon Baxter passed away in 2013, the Foundation has agreed 535 awards totalling £2.17 million and recipients have been spread across the charity’s area – from Fort William to Shetland, and from Caithness to Aberdeen.
Awards generally range from £100 to £25,000 and are aimed at groups who are working hard to make a lasting difference in their communities and need a little help to cross the finishing line.
Support has gone to a huge variety of projects, from coastal rowing skiffs to the creation of community pathways and from village hall upgrades to initiatives that champion heritage.
Sports equipment, art packs, community garden tools, polytunnels, accessible bikes, musical instruments and community trishaws are among the long list of items funded by the Foundation.
Larger organisations which support people from across the Foundation’s patch have also benefitted, with contributions going towards the creation of a STEM learning facility at The Highland Wildlife Centre at Kincraig; accessible outdoor play equipment at The Haven Centre for children and young adults with severe learning disabilities and complex needs in Inverness; and a contribution towards NSPCC Scotland’s Childline Base in Aberdeen.
The Foundation was proud to make a £8,000 award towards a new vehicle for CLAN Cancer Support’s Moray transport service, which sees trained volunteers taking local people to hospital appointments in Elgin, Inverness and Aberdeen.
Community sports facilities have been enhanced across the area with some large awards granted to Elgin Sports Community Trust, the all-weather pitch at Huntly, a Multi-Use Games Area in Methlick and smaller awards to groups such as Rothes Tennis Club, the Kemnay Bowlers and Fochabers Petanque Club.
In 2024, 51 awards were agreed totalling £317,000 and the Foundation is now accepting applications for the first of four rounds in 2025. The deadline for application is January 31, and you can visit our Applications Page to take an eligibility quiz and to access an application form.