Christopher BarrettBelladrum Tartan Heart Festival’s operators have launched the Belladrum Festival Community Trust to channel funds into the local community.
Owned by Stuart Galbraith’s KMJ Entertainment and operated by a team led by festival producer Dougie Brown, the 24,500-capacity festival is the biggest in the Scottish Highlands.
The Belladrum Festival Community Trust has been launched with £20,000 already saved via a new traffic and parking management scheme set up following congestion issues at the 2023 event.
Organisers said that the scheme, that requires all drivers parking on site to purchase a pass, has not only provided improved forecasting for traffic management and encouraged more sustainable travel through car sharing but has generated enough funds to make a difference in the region. The money is to be distributed to community groups, grassroots projects, and charities across the local area.
The BFCT grants are in addition to the 200 tickets that the Belladrum Festival team donates to community groups and charities across Scotland, which has seen more than £120,000 raised this year alone.
Applications for the first round of funding opened today, 10 October, with the Trust aiming to support projects ranging from environmental initiatives to youth and community groups.
“Turning a challenge into a positive legacy was at the heart of this decision,” said Brown. “Our new parking strategy, first introduced in 2024, not only improved traffic flow but also created a tangible way for festivalgoers to give back to the communities. We’re thrilled to already have £20,000 ready to support local initiatives.”