Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival has officially announced that it will partner with Cantraybridge as its Official Charity Partner for the 2026 festival. The collaboration links the popular Highland music event with a pioneering local charity dedicated to supporting young people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent conditions, aiming to champion opportunities for inclusive education and independent living.
This new partnership continues Belladrum’s annual tradition of selecting a local charity to spotlight, fundraise for, and collaborate with throughout the entire festival cycle. Following successful previous partnerships with organisations such as Highland Action For Little Ones (HALO), the Elsie Normington Foundation, and Mikeysline, the choice of Cantraybridge reinforces the festival’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the Highlands and driving meaningful community impact.
Supporters of the festival will have several immediate opportunities to contribute to the cause. Ticket buyers can now choose to make a donation to Cantraybridge when purchasing their festival tickets. Furthermore, the annual “Big Bella Christmas Prize Draw” is scheduled to return this December. This festive raffle offers audiences the chance to win a substantial hamper filled with local Highland goods, including Belladrum 2026 tickets, exclusive merchandise, and products from festival partners like Tomatin Distillery, Co-op, Black Isle Brewery, and Miele’s Gelato.
Founded in 1994 on the outskirts of Inverness, Cantraybridge has grown from a small family-led initiative into a vibrant rural community and social enterprise. The organisation is rooted in the belief that every young person has unique gifts which can flourish with the right support and environment. Today, it provides a comprehensive range of services, including a Learning Centre that offers training in animal care, horticulture, wood skills, creative arts, digital skills, and hospitality.
Beyond vocational training, Cantraybridge provides an Independent Living Service that helps students build confidence and develop essential daily living skills within supported accommodation. As a working social enterprise, the charity also opens its doors to the public through its café and the sale of seasonal produce and handcrafted goods. These commercial activities directly support the charity’s mission while providing meaningful, practical work experience for students.
Dougie Brown, Festival Producer for Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, welcomed the new partnership, stating that the charity embodies the festival’s core values. “Cantraybridge represents everything we love to champion at Belladrum… community, creativity, and lots of heart,” Brown said. “Their work changes lives every single day, and we’re all very excited to help bring their story to thousands of festival-goers between now and Belladrum 2026.”
The partnership will utilise the festival’s significant platform to raise the profile of the charity. Cairan Macleod of Belladrum Marketing noted that the team is eager to “shine a light” on the work done by Cantraybridge. “Through our marketing campaigns and platform – both online and offline, we hope to raise real awareness of their mission and celebrate the young people and workers at the heart of it all,” Macleod explained.
When the festival takes place in 2026, attendees will be able to connect directly with the charity on the ground. Fiona Morrison, Admin & Operations at Cantraybridge, expressed her team’s excitement at the opportunity. “This partnership offers a powerful platform to raise awareness of the remarkable talents, resilience and contribution of the young people at Cantraybridge,” she said. Morrison added that festival-goers can expect to engage with the team on-site, participate in hands-on activities linked to the social enterprise, and learn more about the community they have built.
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Paul Campbell Photography
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