Final round sees more than £20,000 awarded to organisations in Argyll, Angus, the Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Fife, Moray, North East and Ayrshire.

Organisations across Scotland are to benefit from the final round of funding from NFU Scotland’s Centenary Trust.

At the sixth and last meeting of the Trust, £23,200 of funding was approved for projects.  That leaves the Trust with £8,000 and this will be distributed equally to all NFU Scotland regions to be donated, subject to approval by the Trust, to local charities of their choice.

The final round of awards focussed on one of the Trust’s key objectives - supporting the promotion of health and safety on farms and in rural areas.

More than £207,000 in total has now been awarded to charities and organisations for projects in every corner of Scotland. The funds were raised mainly through the generosity of NFU Scotland members as well as a specially-bottled malt whisky organised by the Banffshire branch and a Centenary Book.

Established in the Union’s centenary year in 2013, the objectives of the Trust were to encourage as many children as possible to learn more about where their food and drink comes from and to visit a farm in 2013 and 2014; to educate farmers, their employees and their children on health and safety in the countryside, with a special emphasis on children’s safety; and to assist in bringing forward a meaningful apprentice programme that supports farmers and their employees.

In this round, projects have included £500 towards Lochgilphead Joint Campus, Argyll, for a visit to the Royal Highland Show; £1,700 towards NFU Scotland’s grid reference safety initiative in conjunction with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance; £1,200 towards Edzell Primary School’s ‘Health and Safety Gone Wild’ project; and £1,000 for Royal Highland Education Trust’s promotion of on farm safety, including hi-visibility wear for children.

The largest award was £5,000 to Banffshire Branch of NFU Scotland to fund educational activities this year. Banffshire Branch successfully collected £21,800 from the sale of the special Centenary Blend whisky, these proceeds helped to significantly bolster the Centenary Trust’s funds.

Centenary Trust Treasurer George Lawrie commented: “A further 13 projects were awarded funding in this sixth and final round, primarily helping to promote health and safety in the agricultural industry across Scotland.

“Over the life of the Centenary Trust we have supported dozens of project and fulfilled the aims of the Trust throughout the last two years. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support from all our members within our regions.”

Notes to Editors:

The following projects have received funding in the sixth and final round:

• Banffshire Branch of NFU Scotland - £5,000 to fund educational activities throughout this year
• Border Union Show, Kelso –£4,000 towards the general running of the show
• West Galdenoch Farm, Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway – £4,000 to improve teaching resources for students and children
• NFU Scotland’s health and safety grid reference initiative - £1,700 towards grid labels as part of a joint initiative with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.
• Keith County Show, Moray - £550 to provide matting and a model showing the danger spots on a farm
• Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET), Edinburgh - £1,000 to provide hi-visibility vests for helpers and children
• Tarbolton Primary School, Ayrshire - £1,000 for hi-visibility and waterproof clothing for visits
• Peeblesshire Agricultural Society - £1,200 for hand washing facilities and sinks
• Kilninver Primary School, Argyll - £1,000 towards building and equipping their own polytunnel
• Edzell Primary School, Angus - £1,200 for hi-visibility outdoor waterproof clothing for farm and estate visits
• Liff Primary School, Angus - £900 towards building and equipping their own polytunnel
• Lochgilphead Primary School, Argyll - £500 for pupils to visit the Royal Highland Show
• RHET Fife - £1,150 – hand washing facilities and sinks

Ends

Contact Ruth McClean on 0131 472 4108