The GlenWyvis Distillery has opened the first round of applications to The Goodwill Fund – a fund that is administered by the GlenWyvis Distillery Community Benefit Society, and made up from five per cent of all online sales of GlenWyvis whisky and gin. It will award grants to Ross-shire communities and organisations for initiatives with educational, cultural or entrepreneurial benefits with this being the first of three tranches of £10,000 awarded throughout 2023.
GlenWyvis Distillery was established in 2015, 90 years after Dingwall’s last distillery closed, with the idea to unite the community of Dingwall through the creation of a distillery principally owned by local people. In 2016, after an open share offer, more than 3,000 people invested in GlenWyvis to create the first ever 100% community-owned distillery.
Dr Jock Ramsey, Management Committee Member for The GoodWill Fund, said, “This is a significant step forward for the GlenWyvis Community Benefit Society as we are now able to start giving something back to the community through the GoodWill Fund – something we have been working towards since GlenWyvis Distillery was created.
“This first call for applications to the GoodWill Fund is just the start. Sales of GlenWyvis four-year-old Single Malt Whisky are going very well so we are now building up the GoodWill Fund for next year. I look forward to seeing how the GoodWill Fund will benefit educational, cultural and entrepreneurial initiatives in our community this year and well into the future.
Applications are now being accepted and include the educational fund that will be awarded to communities and organisations who aim to support the learning needs of disadvantaged children in Ross-shire. Awards of up to £400 can be given to educational initiatives.
The cultural funding, with grants of up to £2,500, is open to community groups for projects that provide engagement through education and information on the culture, history and society of Ross-shire.
Finally, the entrepreneurial awards of up to £2,500 will be provided to organisations that encourage economic activity in the IV postcode area and support the recovery or development of new or existing sustainable businesses which benefit the community. Grants will be awarded with the hope that these businesses will flourish in the future and will themselves contribute to the GoodWill Fund.
Any individuals, organisations or businesses interested in applying for the GoodWill Fund can fill in the application form here by 3rd March 2023 https://glenwyvis.com/goodwill-fund/