Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival this summer raised nearly £200,000 for Highland communities and the stage is set to do it all again in 2025
Belladrum’s roots in the community run deep, as the festival donates spaces, visibility, and tickets to help raise almost £200,000 of important funds.
A heartfelt connection to local causes was exemplified this year through the festival’s official partnership with the Elsie Normington Foundation, which works to improve the lives of children with complex needs.
The foundation, featured across the festival site, gained valuable support and exposure – and raised £6217.54.
Belladrum also donated a further 200 tickets to various charities and individuals, generating essential funds to support community-driven initiatives, as raffle prizes offered by the charities themselves.
Visitors to Belladrums ‘Charity Alley’ encountered an inspiring variety of organisations that took part in this year’s festivities, including MikeysLine, Trees for Life, Lymes Disease Awareness, James Support Group and local groups including Lovat Shinty Club, whom Belladrum Tartan Heart became an official kit sponsor for this year, and Beauly Brownies.
Festival-goers could also explore the offerings of the much-loved Kiltarlity Village Hall Tea Tent near the Garden Stage. This year alone their efforts raised over £7,000, which will go towards the maintenance and upkeep of their hall.
With the help of this years Kiltarlity Ticket Ballot, whereby local residents could enter to win Belladrum tickets, over £700 was raised and donated to the Kiltarlity Community Council Christmas Light Switch-On Fund.
Highland Hospice, another community staple, raised over £3,000 through its charity shop, thanks to festival-goers keen on second-hand clothes. In addition, the Hospice raised an incredible £39,650.00 amount through raffling and auctioning off their donated Belladrum weekend and campervan passes.
Dougie Brown, festival producer said: "The entire team at Belladrum is ecstatic to have supported local groups and charities to raise almost £200,000 this year.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a platform that not only allows us to support these amazing organisations via ticket donations, but also gives them the opportunity to raise vital awareness by being onsite during the event or through our marketing channels.
“Since its earliest days, Belladrum has always been rooted in community, and 20 years on, this focus remains at the very heart of what we do and is something we’re deeply proud of."
Next year’s charity of the year was recently named as Highland Action For Little Ones (HALO) a young local charity set up in 2023 who support some of the most vulnerable children and families in the Highlands. The small team work to uplift and empower disadvantaged children and low-income families by providing essential support and resources including shoes, nappies, baby equipment, school clothing, and essential toiletries.
Belladrum’s dedication to community support extends beyond the festival itself. This year, the festival is in the process of finalising the Belladrum Festival Community Trust, a new initiative funded by proceeds from the recently reintroduced car parking fees. The trust will allow and enable local groups and individuals to apply for funds to support projects and events, building a sustainable future for community-driven initiatives across the Highlands and local area.
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 2025 takes place Thursday 31 July – Saturday 2 August, on Belladrum Estate.
Tickets on sale now from: https://tartanheartfestival.gigantic.com/belladrum-tickets
