Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust exists to support and bring benefits to the people of the town. We do this through the following Projects:
Lead: Lesley McDonald, Steve Johnson
Last Update: 16 June 2023
BRDT coordinates the activities of the Community Action Plan (CAP) – or as we refer to it, the Blairgowrie and Rattray Initiative (BaRI) - and is a resource to support and facilitate local groups to deliver the actions identified in the CAP.Lead: Steve Johnson
Last Update: 16 June 2023
One of the aspirations stated in the community action plan is for the development of a community hub in and for the town. The aim is to develop a facility that is available and accessible to as many groups and people as possible. A feasibility study is the first step in realising this and is underway (mid 2023). In the...Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 13 March 2023
There are currently 3 larders in the town in the following locations:Blairgowrie Bowling Club (Bowls of Help)Ashgrove Road (Bob's Barter Box)Rattray Community Connect (Fraser's Fare Share)They are filled usually on a Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings and checked the next morning by volunteers to ensure items are removed that need removing.They were refurbished in 2022 by Wisecraft who also installed...Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 16 March 2023
Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 13 March 2023
Saturday Lunch Club provides home made soup and cake every Saturday for around 70-80 people every week. Although it is aimed at the more vulnerable and those on their own, anyone can ask to receive the lunch. It is made by a local chef and delivered by a team of volunteers each week.Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 15 September 2023
The BaRI Food Subsidised Store is open to everyone and helps reduce food waste by offering food at subsidised prices so you get a bargain and help reduce food waste. It is currently located in the BaRI Building (53 to 55 High Street, Blairgowrie) and is open4 times a week.Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 16 June 2023
Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 13 March 2023
The Biodiversity Project aims to improve our local environment for all species.Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 12 October 2023
An integral part of the Trust, our popular Booklore shop is run entirely by a team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers. Open since 2011, this community bookshop is an Aladdin’s cave of second-hand books, both fact and fiction. There's something for everyone – and our volunteers are always on hand to help you out.Lead: Steve Johnson
Last Update: 13 March 2023
This project aims to promote the Riverside whilst at the same time highlighting one of our local historic figures. The plan is to install several figures leading from the Bridge to Cargills leap and tell the story of Donald Cargill. Local stone mason and sculptor David F Wilson has been commissioned to create the trail.Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 8 November 2023
Supporting and engaging with our community is a core activity to ensure our groups and locals are supported and feel part of the town, activities and how we see the town developing. Our Community Engagement Coordinator can be contacted at sam@discoverblairgowrie.co.ukLead: Lesley McDonald, Steve Johnson
Last Update: 8 November 2023
One of the actions from the CAP was to develop a community hub, this feasibility study is the first step to realise the action.Lead: Steve Johnson
Last Update: 13 March 2023
Residents had expressed a desire for some picnic benches in Davie Park in 2021. After discussions, Proactive Communities (now merged with Blairgowrie & Rattray Development Trust, BRDT) applied to the Community Investment Fund (CIF) for money to purchase benches to be installed by PKC. As a result PKC agreed to provide and install a disabled friendly picnic bench on the...Lead: Steve Johnson
Last Update: 16 June 2023
The Discover Blairgowrie website is the main element of our coordination, communication and promotion activities.Lead: Lesley McDonald, Steve Johnson
Last Update: 28 May 2024
3 Happy to Chat, Happy to Listen Bench Trails were created in 2022 in memory of Jordan Hart who died by suicide in 2020 just before his 17th birthday. Thanks to the courage of Jordan's parents Sue and Gavin and his sister Bethany, over £9k was raised in July 2021 from the 48 groups/businesses and individuals who showed support to...Lead: Martin Mathers
Last Update: 13 March 2023
The HEAT Project provides a free, professional energy advice service to households, private landlords and tenants to help them reduce their energy bills and meet Scottish Government Energy Efficiency Targets. Our project area (North and East Perthshire) covers Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie and Rattray, Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Birnam and Perth.Lead: Steve Johnson
Last Update: 13 March 2023
The quarterly Hub Magazine was created in 2013 to help promote what was going on in the town - it is paid for by adverts and is delivered free to almost every household in the town and some copies are delivered further afield. For more info email mag@brdt.org.uk.Lead: Clare McMicking
Last Update: 13 March 2023
Activity to promote BRDT activities.Lead: Lesley McDonald, Steve Johnson
Last Update: 8 November 2023
The development and creation of a Mental Health Hub helps to bring essential services to the town to support the most vulnerable in our community.Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 13 March 2023
Enhancing the Biodiversity of Blairgowrie & Rattray.As part of our work we became the first Biodiversity Town in Scotland in October 2021.Our first areas of focus are:Davie ParkLochy ParkGamsieElm Drive SudsRiversideConnect with the Dunkeld to Montrose B LineThe Open Spaces group formed in April 2021 to look at coordinating the use of all the public open spaces in...Lead: Lesley McDonald
Last Update: 28 August 2023
Rattray Community Garden is based in what used to be a walled garden for Mount Ericht House and has been home to award-winning environmental group Blairgowrie and Rattray in Bloom for a number of years. The purchase and redevelopment of the community garden was highlighted as something local people wanted as part of the community action plan consultation exercise carried...