A new £50,000 community fund set up by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is accepting applications from members of the Scottish red meat supply chain.
The Community Marketing Fund has been designed by QMS to support local projects and events that educate consumers and encourage the purchase of Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork.
Emma Heath, director of marketing at QMS, said: "This new Community Marketing Fund aims to make asking us for help simpler, with an easy application form and clear guidelines.
"At Quality Meat Scotland, we're committed to supporting initiatives that promote our red meat brands within the industry and communities across Scotland."
Heath said examples of the sort of grassroots applications the fund has been set up for include sponsorship of local farming events or providing a speaker for a talk.
She said: "Whether you're aiming to enhance awareness, education or engagement, we welcome applications across a diverse mix of activities and locations. It might simply be giving some aprons for a charity cook off, or providing burgers for a fundraising barbeque or a prize for a local sheep show.
“It’s open to anyone and everyone aiming to enhance awareness, education or engagement with the red meat industry in Scotland.
“People put a lot of time and effort into organising some fantastic events across the length and breadth of Scotland and it is really important to us all here at QMS that we make it as easy as possible to access this new pot of money and support. Our emphasis will very much be on local and community-based events that in turn promote Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork.”
Heath said that while QMS can't guarantee to support every initiative, the team will review and acknowledge all submissions and respond as quickly as possible.
