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Owners of Inverness windows business Cairngorm Group set up Jennifer’s Fund to support good causes in memory of group chairman's daughter


By Andrew Dixon

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From left: Scott, Chris and David Dowling with a photograph of Jennifer.
From left: Scott, Chris and David Dowling with a photograph of Jennifer.

The owners of Inverness windows manufacturer Cairngorm Group are to launch a fund to help deserving causes in memory of a relative who died last year.

Jennifer McBurnie, daughter of group chairman David Dowling and sister of joint managing directors Chris and Scott Dowling, died in Aberdeen last July, aged 42. She left a husband and three children.

Cairngorm is now setting up Jennifer’s Fund – and creating happy memories for children will be a key priority for assistance.

David Dowling said: “We wanted the company to do something to celebrate Jennifer’s life so, in discussion with my sons, this is what we’ve come up with.

“The plan is to set aside a minimum of £10,000 a year, with good causes able to apply for grants, usually around £500.

“We’re keen not to reinvent the wheel – Jennifer’s Fund will work through applications from existing charities and organisations rather than create duplication.”

It follows a similar positive move when the firm gifted £6000 to the Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI), with two £500 donations going to each of the its six areas – Inverness and Easter Ross, Lochaber, Badenoch and Strathspey, Caithness, Sutherland, and Skye and Wester Ross.

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Chris Dowling said: “In the run up to Christmas we donated £6000 in micro-grants to local initiatives throughout the Highlands and that proved extremely cost-effective in enabling groups to do new things.

“This fund in my sister’s memory aims to build on that. Jennifer put great store in her children enjoying experiences which would stay in their memories. That approach will be greatly encouraged by our fund, though we’ll have a flexible attitude when we finalise the criteria.”

Scott Dowling said they are delighted to cherish Jennifer’s memory in this positive way.

“Channelling our goodwill in a structured way through Jennifer’s Fund will enable us to give targeted assistance to smaller localised groups who do excellent work with limited resources. The outcomes from our Christmas initiative, for instance, were highly encouraging.”

Cairngorm, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, is in the fourth generation of Dowling family ownership and employs 100 people with a £10 million turnover.


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