Baxter Foundation passes £2m mark in awards across Moray and Highlands
The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation is celebrating after awarding more than £2 million to good causes.
The Moray-based charity manages personal legacies left by the couple who transformed Baxters from a small business in Fochabers into a household name across the UK and beyond.
George McIntyre, the foundation’s chairman, 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.
“During 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 from Fort William to Shetland, and from Caithness to Aberdeen.
Generally ranging from £100 to £25,000, the awards are aimed at groups working hard to make a lasting difference in their communities.
The Foundation was proud to make a £8000 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.
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.
Larger organisations have also benefited, 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.
Last year 51 awards were agreed totalling £317,000.
The foundation is now accepting applications for the first of four rounds in 2025. The deadline is January 31.
Visit baxterfamilycharity.org to take an eligibility quiz and to access an application form.