Fochabers Institute takes a £60k step to full health

George McIntyre, Trustee of Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation presents cheque to Gordon Christie, Chairman Fochabers Village Association.
George McIntyre, Trustee of Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation presents cheque to Gordon Christie, Chairman Fochabers Village Association.

THE FOCHABERS VILLAGE ASSOCIATION was this week celebrating a major boost in their renovation of the landmark Institute Halls.

Previously owned by Moray Council, the Fochabers Institute was passed to public ownership in June last year following a campaign to save it from rapid deterioration.

Following successful community asset transfer, the Village Association set about raising the required funding to restore the building – and that has been boosted by a grant of £60,000 from the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation.

The award has been provided to fund the renovation of the internal building, in particular the kitchen area, to improve the facilities for greater public use for an important building in the heart of the Fochabers community.

Following a ceremony when the cheque was handed over Kay Jackson, manager of the Foundation, said: “We are delighted to award £60k for the Fochabers Institute renovation project to help ensure that this important building can play an even greater role in the heart of the community with improved facilities.

“Fochabers is obviously very close to the heart of the Foundation as the home of Gordon and Ena Baxter and their business, and we are delighted to support this project which will benefit the Fochabers community for years to come.”

Accepting the cheque was Gordon Christie who said: “This award is great news and key to helping us to move forward with ambitious restoration programme of a building which is very widely used in the community and will upscale its facilities for events and community activity.

“There are major works underway with the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation award focusing on a new kitchen installation as well as other works giving us the ability to host more events with onsite facilities, and we look forward to celebrating the opening in Easter 2017.”

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