More than £8,000 has been granted to different organisations in the first round of funding through the ABZ Propeller Fund.
Previously known as the Aberdeen International Airport Community Fund, the ABZ Propeller Fund is open to groups, charities, and organisations with links to education, sustainability, and economic regeneration.
In 2022, 18 organisations shared in £25,000 of funding through the ABZ Propeller Fund.
Previously known as the Aberdeen International Airport Community Fund, the ABZ Propeller Fund is open to groups, charities, and organisations with links to education, sustainability, and economic regeneration.
Successful applicants following the first meeting of the ABZ Propeller fund in 2023 include:
- St Devenicks Playgroup for a new Wendy House replacing the old weathered version giving children more opportunity to experience outdoor learning.
- The Seed Box for a new polytunnel helping it grow vegetable and plants and continue its work with adults and children with additional support needs.
- Mastrick Community Centre to purchase a cash register and aprons for its community café.
- The Haven in Stonehaven to purchase induction hobs to offer free cookery classes in the community to improve skills and knowledge and reduce food waste.
- Bethany Christian Trust Service to purchase a beehive to help improve the well being and mental health of clients through beekeeping.
Bruce Watson, chair of ABZ Propeller Fund.
Bruce Watson, chairman of the ABZ Propeller Fund at Aberdeen International Airport, said: “The ABZ Propeller Fund is a great way for community groups, charities and organisations to get help with funding and get their project off the ground.
“We encourage groups with a focus on young people, sustainability or that make a tangible and real difference in their local communities to consider applying for funding.
“This latest round of funding was highly competitive and we are delighted we have been able to give some grants to worthy projects.”
Aberdeen Donside MSP Jackie Dunbar who is part of the ABZ Propeller Fund said: “I am absolutely delighted to be part of this team which gets to hear of some fantastic projects meaning we have to make some very difficult decisions.
“We try to make the ABZ Propeller Fund grants go as far as they can as we have seen how huge an impact it has on our communities.
“I would urge any charities, community groups and organisations to apply, it really can make the difference.”
Julie Gray from the Haven in Stonehaven said: “The Haven are delighted to have been granted funding to purchase induction hobs for our community cookery classes to reduce food waste.
“The classes will also give some participants an opportunity to gain confidence in cooking from scratch and make new social connections in the community.
“Thanks to funders like the ABZ Propellor fund we can make a difference in the community post Covid and during a cost of living crisis”.
Vickie Wood, Centre Coordinator at Mastrict Community Centre, said: “We would just like to thank everyone involved for enabling us to get our community café up and running again which allows us to give training opportunities to young people looking to join the workforce and gain skills and experience."
Guy Haslam, Chair of the Seed Box, said “The Seed Box provide horticultural training and therapy to adults and children with additional support needs. We are extremely grateful to the Propeller Fund for their donation which will allow us to buy a polytunnel at the new site which we are developing in Banchory.
"The polytunnel will provide additional covered growing space allowing us to grow more plants and to work with the plants over a longer period increasing the amount of training and therapy that we will be able to provide at our new site.”
Members of the ABZ Propeller Fund include airport staff, as well as representatives from the local authorities and government.
The search continues for applicants for 2023 with the committee meeting four times a year.
More information is available at Aberdeen Airport Propeller Fund | Aberdeen Airport