YOUNG PEOPLE IN Keith and the surrounding areas will be enjoying the benefits from a newly transformed skate park with installation of four new ramps about to be completed.
The improvements being made by KeRBS (Keith Rollerblade, BMX and Skateboarders) in Cuthil Park has been made possible thanks to a £10,000 donation from the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation plus cash raised by KeRBS’ own efforts.
KeRBS was set up in 2002 by parents and young people in the community with the aim of improving the skate park for all to use in the local area.
In 2015 fundraising activities, including carrier-bag packing and coffee mornings, began to raise money to invest in new equipment for the park. The group managed to reach a target of £7,000, which was initially set by The Foundation before making their own contribution.
The Foundation – which manages personal legacies left by Gordon and Ena Baxter of Moray-based Baxters Food Group – awards funds twice each year to charities and organisations working in education, health, social welfare, sport, arts, heritage, conservation and the environment in the north of Scotland.
Kay Jackson, manager of The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation, said: “KeRBS is definitely one of the Foundation’s top projects supported in the past year and is a great example of the types of groups we are looking to hear from.
“The group of parents and young people are extremely passionate about and committed to the skate park, which was certainly demonstrated in their tremendous fundraising efforts. We look forward to seeing many local youngsters benefit from the new skate park.”
Kerry Maver, a member of KeRBS, added: “We’d like to thank The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation for all their support and significant contribution to the redevelopment of the skate park in Keith. It means a lot to the young people in the area, who have worked hard to fundraise, to have this new facility to practise biking and skating.”
Fundraising and planning by KeRBS for the next phase of the skate park is already well under way.