Life-changing Enchanted Forest Community Fund marks a decade with £84K charity support

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, the charitable organisation behind Scotland’s favourite sound and light show, The Enchanted Forest, is celebrating ten years of the Enchanted Forest Community Fund, with awards amounting to £84K being given to 27 charities operating across Highland Perthshire.   

Established to share the benefit of Scotland’s favourite sound and light show with the community it calls its home, the Trust has this year received its largest ever number of applications, responding with a meaningful wave of support for a variety of local causes battling some of Highland Perthshire’s most pressing needs.  

The Enchanted Forest Community Fund, launched in 2015, was created to reinvest proceeds from the Pitlochry based Enchanted Forest event into the local community. Over the past decade, including this year’s grant awards, the fund has delivered more than half a million pounds in support to over 185 organisations with this year’s funding award creating a legacy of over £522,000 reinvested back into Highland Perthshire.  

Charities operating in Highland Perthshire were invited to apply for up to £10,000 to fund projects tackling the cost-of-living crisis, child poverty, mental health and wellbeing and social inclusion. The Trust also prioritised initiatives that promote employment, volunteering, learning and sustainability, aiming to create lasting infrastructure and cultural benefits.  

One of the 27 charities to receive grant funding is Perth Autism Support, who has been awarded £6,432 to assist with the provision of tailored activities and support to help autistic children and young people feel more included in their community. This reduces isolation and fosters a sense of belonging.  

Ellie Donnan-Thomson, Service Manager for Children’s Services at Perth Autism Support, said: “Being awarded the Enchanted Forest Community Fund is fantastic news for us and will support our Children’s Services Outreach Programme. We are aware of some of the barriers for our rural based families in accessing support in Perth. Therefore, for our families living in the rural areas of Pitlochry and the surrounding areas of Dunkeld, our Outreach service enables us to bring our PAS groups directly to the local community. A small team of trained autism practitioners will lead sessions in the area meaning the young people and families are not missing out on specialised autism support.”  

Pitlochry & District Senior Citizens Good Neighbour Association, which exists to provide a community transport service for senior citizens to enable them access to activities and services no longer available to those without independent transport, received a grant of £10,000. This will assist with the purchase of a new replacement minibus which will cost £63,000, and will help the charity provide transport for shopping, to local coffee mornings and to church, to Day Care services provided by Alzheimer Scotland as well as trips to Fortingall Art Exhibition and The Birks Cinema.  

Linda Watt, Chair of the Pitlochry & District Senior Citizens Good Neighbour Association, said: “We are deeply grateful for the very generous donation from the Enchanted Forest towards the purchase of a new minibus. The minibus is run by volunteers and has been providing essential support in the neighbourhood since 1978. On behalf of our community, thank you!” 

Other charities operating in Highland Perthshire awarded grant funding include Vision PK, Pitlochry Repair Café, Pitlochry First Responders and Active Schools Highland Perthshire. This year the fund is also supporting a high number of charities operating in the performance arts sector, including Ad Lib Arts, Fèis Thatha, Pitlochry and District Choral Society, Strathearn Arts and Niel Gow Festival Society.  

Karen Bothwell, Chair of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “Thanks to the continued success of the 2024 Enchanted Forest event we’ve been able to give back over £84K to 27 registered charities operating in Highland Perthshire this year. This is a big part of what we do, and an opportunity to support our local community, which is what The Enchanted Forest is all about. We are proud to be helping local heroes and organisations making a difference to so many across the region.”  

Now in its 23rd year, The Enchanted Forest draws over 85,000 visitors annually to Faskally Wood, Pitlochry and generates over £10 million and over 90 seasonal jobs for the local economy every year. The Trust ensures all proceeds from the event are reinvested back into the community, creating community transformation and a lasting legacy in Highland Perthshire. All successful grant recipients are required to report on how the funding has helped deliver tangible benefits to their communities, ensuring accountability and measurable impact.  

To access the full list of the successful charities, please visit: The Community – The Enchanted Forest