The Findhorn Village Conservation Company invests £5000 Rural and Island Communities Ideas into Action funding in free sessions in the Watershed Sauna
A local project has been awarded £5000 by a Scottish Government-funded scheme to help improve health and wellbeing.
The Findhorn Village Conservation Company (FVCC) has invested the support from the Rural and Island Communities Ideas into Action (RICIA) fund in new social enterprise, the Watershed Sauna.
FVCC secretary, Cathy Low, confirmed the aim is to provide around 200 sauna sessions for residents of the Findhorn and Kinloss Community Council area between January and March this year.
She said: “FVCC is delighted to have received £5000 from Inspiring Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Ideas into Action fund.
“It comes at the most socially isolating time of year, and allows us to offer an innovative programme of low-cost weekly communal winter sauna sessions for locals.
“Whilst Scotland doesn’t have an existing sauna culture like our neighbours in the Nordic regions, we hope this initiative will help to familiarise the concept.
“Also, make the well-documented health, wellbeing, and social benefits of sauna bathing as accessible as possible for our community.”
The Watershed Sauna is built in a mobile vintage horse box.
It was designed and hand crafted by owners Rupert Hutchinson and Elle Adams last summer, with support from their friend Andrew Floyd.
Sessions are currently offered near the Findhorn East Beach car park.
However, it is also available for pop-up events and bookings throughout Moray.
The stated aims of the Winter Wellbeing Sauna programme are: increased health and wellbeing, boosted immune systems, keeping participants warm and well; fostering social connection; and ensuring affordability.
“During the winter period as we continue to recover from the pandemic and see an increase in the cost of heating bills, we want to make the sauna available to everyone,” said Cathy.
“We hope that offering regular weekly opportunities to gather with neighbours and friends for a nurturing activity during the coldest and darkest time of year will help to mitigate social isolation.
“We want to ensure the sauna is accessible to those who might not otherwise be able to enjoy it.”
Free sauna sessions for Findhorn residents are available weekly in the village, and started on Friday, January 13.
For more details or to book visit: https://watershedsauna.com/community
The RICIA fund supports not-for-profit community groups with innovative approaches to community-led local development, including work towards net zero and just transition goals, tackling rural poverty and supporting rural communities through the cost of living crisis.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “We are working to ensure local communities are empowered to tackle local challenges.
“I wish all the successful community groups well as they now look to take forward these projects and make a positive difference to their local areas.”
Inspiring Scotland CEO Celia Tennant added: “Grassroots groups are best placed to respond to the needs and opportunities most important to their communities. We look forward to working alongside successful applicants and will support them to make meaningful change in their local area.”
