Joy at Tomintoul with charity status finally earned
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The communities of Tomintoul and Glenlivet have been boosted by the confirmation that they could become a registered charity.
It came from the Office of Scottish Charity Registers (OSCR) yesterday (Thursday, July 9).
The good news of recognition for the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Development Trust comes after years of hard work by trust staff and volunteers and means that the trust will be able to apply for grants and maximise donations and income generated through the trust's economic and trading activity.
Trust chair Doug Nisbet said: “The award of charitable status is great news for TGDT and the communities of Tomintoul, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, Inveravon and Marypark.
"It will enable TGDT to maximise income earned at our Discovery Centre, hostel and events programme and apply for grants that were previously not available to us.
"It recognises the important role the trust plays in our community helping the most vulnerable, supporting regeneration and heritage and providing good employment opportunities."
At Wednesday's board meeting the trustees of the new charity agreed to use part of a Scottish Government Grant to purchase IT equipment for families in its area that have been disadvantaged by lack of access to internet and equipment.
Oliver Giles, the trust's development manager, said: “The COVID crisis has highlighted the digital divide in our community households with access to good broadband and IT equipment are able to cope better with lockdown than households where IT equipment is shared and there is limited internet access.
"Household IT and broadband is supporting homeworking, keeping in touch with family and friends, home schooling and accessing services such as healthcare.
"Thanks to a Scottish Government Grant we are able to provide this equipment on loan to the most vulnerable in our community.”
The Scottish Government Supporting Communities Grant also enables the trust to make small awards to volunteer and community groups to help them adapt to new ways of working.
Membership of the charity is free and open to all within the local postcode area. Associate membership is open to all.
More information on www.tgdt.org.uk or visit the Facebook page.
