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FACT Relaunches Befriending Service in Partnership with Highland Hospice

Heather Katz on 18 December 2025

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news about the relaunch of our volunteer befriending service, thanks to a new partnership with Highland Hospice. This collaboration ensures the continuation and growth of a vital service that has been reducing loneliness and isolation in our community since 2017.

Previously known as The Cameron Project, our befriending service connects volunteers with individuals seeking companionship through visits and phone calls. With the support of Highland Hospice, we now have access to shared training, guidance, and funding, as well as assistance with administrative tasks and volunteer mentoring.

Ruth Jeffries, our befriending coordinator, highlights the impact of this service: “Just a couple of hours a week can make a big difference to the requestors, and the volunteers get an enormous sense of satisfaction.”

However, we need your help! There’s currently a waiting list of people eager to make new friends. If you have a few spare hours, a friendly nature, and a hobby or interest to share, we’d love to hear from you. Volunteering involves checks, references, and training to ensure you’re well-prepared to support older adults in our community.

To learn more about this initiative and how you can get involved, visit Forres Town Hall, call 01309 674388, or email ruth@forresarea.org.

For more details, check out the full article on the Forres Gazette website: Read the article here.

Together, let’s continue to build a stronger, more connected community!

For more information, please contact us or

Apply to be a Volunteer

Forres Connected – Culture & Heritage

Euan Kershaw on 30 April 2024

FACT has joined up with Forres Heritage Trust and other interested organisations, groups, businesses and individuals to bring a package of heritage projects to Forres after securing £20K in funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared prosperity Fund.

The pilot initiative called Forres Connected-Culture and Heritage will bring a programme of activities including guided walks and tours, talks, traditional entertainment events, and tailor-made activity packages for day and longer stay visitors, to name but a few of the plans, from April to September 2024.

A new leaflet has also been produced which highlights just some of the exciting events taking place in Forres over the next few months and puts a spotlight on a map of the town’s many heritage landmarks.

The groups currently involved in the project are: Highland Youth Theatre, Leanchoil Trust, Findhorn Bay Arts, St John’s Church, Film Forres, Friends of the Falconer Museum, Forres Area Business Association, Forres Area Tourism Network, HA HA (Helen Avenell Heritage Associates) and individuals who are involved in local events such as the Forres Highland Games, Grant Park 100 and the British Pipe Band Championships and Forres Local.

The funding has also allowed us to create a Heritage Information Hub in Forres Town Hall. Opening times, Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm.

For further information on the various activities and developments or how to get involved please go to the Forres Connected-Culture and Heritage Facebook Page, alternatively email us at info@forresarea.org or pop in to speak to one of our lovely Volunteers at the Heritage Information Hub.

A First For Forres Area Community Trust

richardx on 13 February 2020

A bid to buy Forres Town Hall and turn it into a venue for community, business and training events has been successful in the latest round of grant applications to the Scottish Land Fund.

Forres Area Community Trust has been awarded £116,365 to purchase the hall, which has been a feature of the town’s High Street since 1829, in order to provide community facilities, meeting rooms, study and workshop areas, training facilities and co-working hot desks.

Debbie Herron, Development Manager Forres Area Community Trust, said:

“We are delighted at the news that Forres Area Community Trust has been awarded the SLF funding to buy Forres Town Hall on behalf of the community. This endorsement of our work means that we can continue to work to support the development and resilience of our community into the future.” 

Securing the Town Hall into community ownership and having the support of the Scottish Land Fund is the first step in redeveloping and refurbishing the building for the benefit of the community.

Fabio Villani Chair of Forres Area Community Trust said:

“The Scottish Land Fund’s generous support enables us to purchase Forres Town Hall as well as to further develop our plans for its future. It marks an important milestone in the history of Forres, as one more key element of the town’s heritage is fully returned to the direct care of the local community. It also marks an important milestone in the development of FACT as a key organisation in helping the people of Forres make the most of the Town’s many assets. ”

If anyone would like any further information, please do get in touch on 01309 674388, info@forresarea.org or pop into the office between 10am and 1pm through the week.