Low-Carbon lifestyle group Transition Town Forres have been successful in obtaining a £10,000 lottery award to be used to equip their kitchen at the Healthy Living Centre in Forres.
The voluntary group, one of over a thousand local initiatives formed worldwide in recent years as a response to the global challenges of climate change, say that the new kitchen will be invaluable in creating a community kitchen and learning centre.
Founded in 2008 Transition Town Forres has been working closely with a large number of local and Moray-wide community organisations. It was initially set up using funding obtained from the Climate Challenge Fund with a remit to lower carbon emissions in and around Forres.
Volunteers working with the group are drawn from communities in and around Forres and from all ages and professions.
Local SNP councillor for Forres, Aaron McLean, was one of the first to welcome the latest success for the group. He said: “It is great to see local groups getting a fair share of lottery funding in Forres and this latest award reflects a huge amount of hard work involved.
“It sets the group up for the next phase of their development, so I am delighted to add my congratulations on their success in making the case to get the funding and good luck with the project.”
Richard Lochhead MSP, who as well as being Moray’s MSP is also the minister for food in the Scottish Government, added his congratulations to the group last night, saying: “I am delighted to see Transition Town Forres making fantastic progress with a community kitchen learning centre.
“Their promotion of locally sourced and locally grown food is an especially important part of the work they do and I look forward to seeing the project in action!”
Meanwhile Transition Town Forres have organised an open ‘Welcome Day’ tomorrow (Saturday) from 1pm until 4pm, providing a chance for people to see their new centre and learn more about their activities. The open day is being held at the group’s centre on Bogton Road.