Generous castle visitors supported two great causes

A Scottish castle has raised over £5000 for charity during its annual fundraising day this summer.

Blair Castle raised the magnificent sum, which will see Perthshire charity The Breathe Project will receive £4441, with the remaining £1000 donated to Scotland’s Garden Scheme.

Welcoming families and visitors from across Perthshire and beyond, the annual event offered members of the public the opportunity to engage in a number of fun-filled activities throughout the day against the backdrop of the historic site. From a bouncy castle, through to an inflatable assault course, a tombola, stalls and more, there was no shortage of events to keep the whole family entertained.

The main beneficiary of the event, which saw Blair Castle donate 100% of all admission charges to charity, the Breathe Project has become an instrumental part of community life in Highland Perthshire. Heavily relied upon across the region, particularly in Aberfeldy, Pitlochry and the surrounds, it is one of the key youth service providers in the area.

The Breathe Project supports over 150 young people annually, aged between 8 – 25 years, working with a number of youths coping with poor mental wellbeing, anxiety and depression.

With a focus on helping those at risk and who are underachieving, the charity aims to equip its members with the necessary tools needed to improve their self-image, self-esteem and resilience, and realise their potential.

The donation from Blair Castle will allow the project to enhance its existing calendar of events, which ranges from weekly drop-in sessions, through to employability and enterprise workshops, fitness programmes and youth clubs.

A long-standing beneficiary of the annual charity day, Scotland’s Garden Scheme was founded in 1931 and has since gone on to open some of the best gardens across the country.

Andrew Bruce Wooton, general manager at Atholl Estates, said: ‘A key calendar event, our charity day offers us the chance to give back to charitable organisations that are making a difference across Perthshire and beyond. After being introduced to The Breathe Project and hearing about the positive impact it has had on so many young people to date, we hope the money raised will help this essential support continue for years to come.’

Franny McGrath, youth coordinator at The Breathe Project, added: ‘The Breathe Project is absolutely delighted to be Blair Castle’s chosen charity this year, this fantastic contribution will go a long way in ensuring our vital services for young people in Highland Perthshire continue.

‘The Breathe Project works alongside over 150 young people each year, providing regular drop in and youth club activities, one-to-one mentoring, leadership training, and employability and enterprise skills.

‘The staff and many young people at Breathe are truly thankful to Blair Castle for their generosity and personal support in enabling this successful fundraising event to take place.’