Learn a new skill!

Interest continues to grow for our grants.  Recently we have awarded grants for snow sport and mountain navigation skills training. What is your dream?   We would particularly like to hear from you if you, or someone you know, are experiencing difficulties in your life.  It is well known that getting out and challenging yourself is good for you, both physically and mentally.

Are you excited by snow, or rock, or ice, or water – or indeed anything in the outdoors?  Over the last seven years we have helped people to learn new skills, from sailing to rock climbing and mountain biking to winter skills.  If you find the course, hopefully we will be able to help to make it happen for you!  Contact us by email or on the website, let us know what you would like to do, and we will send you an application form, if appropriate.  There is no deadline for our skills training or expedition grants.   Remember to let people know about us!  We might be able to help them, or they might be able to help us!

2024 Supporters Day – Please save the date!

Preparations are well under way for our second Supporters’ Day on 24^th August.  The day will be free to all supporters who have donated to the Trust this year.  If you have not already donated by then, we will ask for a minimum donation on the day. The idea is that it is an active day with the opportunity to meet and talk to other supporters and recipients, learn more about the Trust and put forward any thoughts and ideas you may have.

Morning: Activities, for example walking, cycling, bouldering, etc.

Late morning/lunchtime: Polish Stonoga (centipede) in School Woods, Farr. This is for children of all ages and we are hoping it will be led by the Polish scouts we supported last summer.  We do, of course, have our own Kircudbright centipede and she may also put in an appearance. Musicians, singers and dancers welcome!

Afternoon: Presentations and discussions followed by Barbeque.

There will be more details in the next newsletter, but we hope you will be able to join us.

We are planning to hold the event in/around Farr Hall.  However there will be a cost involved.  We will keep this to a minimum, but any donations towards it will be gratefully received, as we do not want to eat into the funds raised towards supporting our recipients.

Walk around the World

Thanks to everyone who has been involved so far.  We have had an amazing response to our Walk around the World with activities in 11+ countries, covering over 10,275 miles taking us over the Pacific by walking, running, swimming, cycling, etc.   We, Angus & Margaret, have walked over 550 miles, and are looking forward to our next 500 some of which will be in Europe! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tbNlMtqrYS0        We are ahead of schedule to walk 2024 miles in the year.  We have also added a few miles to the total by swimming, cycling and in the gym. 

So far we have raised over £500.  Can you help us cover more miles, in more different countries, and as the aim is to raise money, can you please donate if you can? https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-us-in-our-walk-around-the-world?qid=f7ce2015d4383ce3818927283a3a019e

If you would like to participate by adding your daily distances, join us on Strava (The Neil Mackenzie Trust Club) or download an activity log form from www.theneilmackenzietrust.com/fundraising.

Are you a past recipient? How did your grant benefit you? Funding something you really wanted to do? Mentally? Physically?  Without the generosity of our donors it would not have been possible.  If you haven’t already done so (or even if you have!) please consider donating to help the next round of applicants.  See Gofundme link above to donate.we

Are you a supporter?  Thank you for all your generous donations.  Without your help we would be unable to help others and keep Neil’s spirit alive in them.

Grant news

Skills training.  Last year Phil Amos reported on his  Winter Mountain leader course.  In February Phil completed and passed his assessment. Congratulations Phil!  We know it is a tough one!  His report can be found here.

Expedition Grants we have so far awarded grants for expeditions to Cambodia (June 2025) and USA, and have had an application for a trip to Switzerland.

Educational Expedition Grants, 2024.  This year we have received a record number of applications – 9 in all.  Applications include university group expeditions to Poland, Egypt, Albania, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada, and individual expeditions to Orkney, Tasmania, Borneo and Arizona.  It will be challenging to pick just one or two to assist, but as a small charity on a tight budget it is a challenge we will have to overcome.  Watch this space for the 2024 reports.

The Neil Mackenzie Adventure grant is awarded in conjunction with the Outdoor Club at University of British Columbia.

This year two awards have been made to each of two adventurers. One will be paddling  on the west coast of Canada and the other cycling through France.

We are thrilled to be attracting such exciting projects, for all our grants.  We wish all the participants well, and we look forward to reading their reports, later in the year.