The Enchanted Forest, a sound and light event in Highland Perthshire, has awarded a record-breaking £134,044 in community funding for 2026, supporting 36 organisations and projects through its annual Community Fund programme. This marks the largest total distributed by the charity to date, coinciding with the event's 25th anniversary year.
Funding Distribution and Recipients
Over 50 applications were received from organisations spanning sport, youth services, arts, wellbeing, accessibility, climate action, community halls, and anti-poverty initiatives. Following assessment by Trustees, 36 groups were selected for support. Notable recipients include Pitlochry Baptist Church SCIO (£10,000), Moulin Kirk Trust (£10,000), Pitlochry Town Hall (£9,650), Mindspace Limited (£7,000), Social Flock (£7,000), and Pitlochry Community Action Trust (£7,000). Other funded projects range from youth groups and disability sport to village halls, environmental initiatives, cultural festivals, and mental health support programmes. Additionally, £9,700 was allocated from a discretionary fund, which remains open for applications throughout the year.
New Scoring Framework
For the first time, applications were assessed using a new scoring framework focused on quality, need, impact, feasibility, and local proximity. The introduction of a proximity score ensured that projects delivering direct benefit to Highland Perthshire communities, particularly those based in Pitlochry, were strongly represented in this year’s awards.
Impact and Future Plans
CEO Gordon Morrison said: “This year’s applications demonstrated the incredible breadth of work happening in our hometown of Pitlochry and across wider Highland Perthshire, and the level of need within our communities. As we celebrate 25 years of The Enchanted Forest, we’re incredibly proud that the event continues to be a genuine force for good locally - not only bringing significant economic impact to the region, but directly supporting the people, groups and projects that make Highland Perthshire such a special place.”
The Enchanted Forest Community Fund is supported through proceeds from ticket sales to the annual event, reinforcing the charity’s commitment to reinvesting in the local area. Since launching in 2015, The Enchanted Forest Community Trust has invested more than £650,000 into local organisations and projects across Highland Perthshire. The 2026 edition of The Enchanted Forest will launch ticket sales in June for an extra special anniversary show, with organisers keen to further connect the event experience with its charitable impact.
