Autumn 2026
Moray Reach Out helps adults with disabilities gain a real sense of purpose and pride
MRO News!
As we welcome the Autumn months, we’re reflecting on what has been an incredibly busy, exciting, and event-packed Summer at Moray Reach Out! From fundraising events and community celebrations to connecting with our wonderful supporters, the past few months have been full of activity, achievements, and unforgettable moments.
Our 2026 anniversary year continues to be a special one, marking 25 years since Moray Reach Out became an incorporated Scottish charity. To celebrate this milestone, we launched our year-long fundraising campaign, The MRO Journey – The Circle of Giving, with an ambitious goal of raising £25,000 to help secure and grow our future.
And what a journey it has been so far! We are absolutely delighted to share that, thanks to the incredible generosity of our community and the fantastic support of our Summer fundraising events, we have now raised an amazing £14,250 towards our £25,000 target
That means we have already raised over half of our goal, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of everyone who has donated, attended an event, volunteered their time, or helped spread the word. Every single contribution has helped bring us closer to our target, and we are so grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey.
But the journey isn’t over yet! As we head into Autumn, we have even more exciting events, activities, and fundraising opportunities planned as we continue working towards our £25,000 goal. We can’t wait to see what the coming months bring and hope you’ll join us along the way.
As we look ahead to the final months of our anniversary year, we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together so far. Thank you for being part of the MRO Journey and helping us continue making a positive difference in our community.
Read on to discover our Summer highlights, celebrate our achievements, and find out what’s coming up this Autumn – there are still plenty of ways to get involved!
Upcoming Events
MRO Coffee Morning
Saturday 26th 2026
Join us for our MRO Coffee Morning on Saturday 26th September, from 9.30am to 11.30am, at North Church Hall, Buckie.
Come along, enjoy a cuppa and some delicious treats, catch up with friends, and help us raise vital funds to support the work of Moray Reach Out. We’d love to see you there!
Autumn Trainee BBQ Fundraiser
Our trainees will be enjoying their very own Autumn BBQ Fundraiser on Friday 2nd October, from 4.30pm to 7pm!
The event will give our trainees the opportunity to come together, enjoy some delicious BBQ food, have fun, and take part in some Autumn fundraising as part of our MRO Journey – Join the Circle of Giving campaign.
The BBQ will be weather permitting, so trainees are encouraged to bring a jacket or something warm to wear, just in case the Autumn chill makes an appearance!
We’re looking forward to a fun-filled evening with plenty of food, laughter and time spent together.
More information will be shared with our trainees soon!
Scottish Ceilidh Night
Get ready for a fantastic night of Scottish music, dancing and delicious food at our Scottish Ceilidh Night!
Join us for a lively evening of ceilidh dancing, with music to get everyone up on their feet. Whether you’re an experienced dancer or trying it for the first time, come along and join in the fun!
Enjoy a hearty serving of traditional stovies, with a macaroni cheese vegetarian option available.
This event is for ages 18+
Tickets are £22.50 per person and are now available to purchase online!
Tickets are also available from our MRO shops.
🔗 Book your tickets online here: https://morayreachout.org.uk/product/scottish-ceilidh-night/
⚠️ Places are limited, so don’t miss out!
Bring your friends and join us for a brilliant night of Scottish music, dancing, food and fun!
Lucky Squares!
Feeling lucky? We have two fantastic Lucky Squares opportunities running at Moray Reach Out, giving you the chance to win some brilliant prizes while supporting our work and helping us create opportunities for adults with disabilities across Moray.
Win Teeth Whitening Worth £360!
Fancy a brighter smile? Thanks to the incredibly generous team at 8-8 Dental, one lucky winner could win teeth whitening worth an amazing £360! 😍
With 200 squares available at just £2.50 each, you could be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize while supporting Moray Reach Out. Winner announced Monday 30th November 2026, or when all squares are sold
Ready to try your luck? Choose your lucky number and enter online:
👉 https://morayreachout.org.uk/product/lucky-squares-teeth-whitening/
Win a Jellycat Monkey Baby Comforter!
We also have a lovely prize up for grabs at our Moray Reach Out Thrift Shop in Buckie!
One lucky winner will take home a gorgeous Jellycat Monkey Baby Comforter, perfect for a little one to snuggle up with. Just £2 per square and sold exclusively at our Thrift Shop in Buckie.
Whether you fancy winning a brighter smile or a cuddly Jellycat companion, every square helps support the work of Moray Reach Out.
Good luck to everyone taking part! 🍀
What a Summer!
The past few months have been packed full of events, activities, celebrations, community connections and fundraising, and we’ve loved every minute of it.
From representing MRO at the King’s Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, to welcoming Police Scotland’s North East Preventions Team for an informative and fun visit with our trainees, it has been a Summer full of fantastic opportunities and memorable experiences.
We enjoyed getting out and about in the community at Lossiefest, where visitors stopped by our stall to play quoits, enter our raffle and try their luck at our Lucky Squares. We also celebrated some wonderful milestones within our own team, including Karen Vernon’s incredible 10 years of service with MRO.
We were delighted to welcome Andrew Simpson, Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, back to MRO for an informal visit, giving us the opportunity to catch up, share updates and showcase the fantastic work being carried out by our trainees, staff and volunteers.
We also had the opportunity to get involved with the Moray Inclusion Games and the launch of the Moray Disability Sports Hub, celebrating inclusive sport and helping to highlight opportunities for people with disabilities across Moray.
And then came one of our biggest fundraising weekends of the year! 🎉
Our Buckpool Golf Club Texas Scramble, Portsoy Wool Festival and Buckie Classic Car Show all took place over the same weekend, alongside a huge amount of work behind the scenes from our staff, trainees, Board Members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters.
Together, the weekend raised an incredible £8,429, making it one of our busiest and most successful fundraising weekends yet! The Texas Scramble alone brought together golfers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters for a fantastic day, while our team at Portsoy Wool Festival raised an amazing £600. We also had a brilliant weekend at the Buckie Classic Car Show.
A huge thank you goes to everyone who helped make these events possible. From our generous sponsors and businesses who donated prizes, to our volunteers, organisers, trainees, staff, Board Members and everyone who came along, donated, bought raffle tickets or simply showed their support.
The Summer didn’t stop there! We rounded off an incredibly busy season with our Nostalgia Night, enjoying an evening of music from the 70s through to the Noughties, and continued our work within the wider disability community at the People First Highland Annual Conference, celebrating the voices, rights and experiences of people with learning disabilities.
We’ve also been busy showcasing the fantastic work of our MRO Woodwork and MRO Embroidery teams at the Love & Co Weddings event. Alongside showcasing our beautiful handmade wedding products, the team were also promoting our embroidery service, including the option to have personalised tablecloths embroidered for your top table or bespoke table runners for your special day.
From major fundraising events and community festivals to conferences, sporting opportunities, special visitors and celebrations within our own MRO family, this Summer has truly had it all!
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way. Your enthusiasm, generosity, time and encouragement have made this one of our busiest Summers yet, and there’s still plenty more to come as we continue our MRO Journey – Join the Circle of Giving and work towards our £25,000 fundraising goal.
Thank you for being part of our journey! 💙
MRO Art Yarn
We’re delighted to showcase the MRO Art & Yarn team’s latest commission!
Our talented trainees were recently asked to create a bespoke yarn yoga mat, and we think the finished result is absolutely fantastic! 🧘♀️🌈
This project was a brilliant opportunity for our trainees to put their creativity, skills and teamwork into practice and they should be incredibly proud of what they have created.
A huge well done to all of the trainees involved! You’ve done a fabulous job, and we love seeing your creativity come to life.
MRO Woodwork
Our talented MRO Woodwork team have been busy creating a fantastic range of handmade accessible games, designed and made right here by our trainees.
These games are not only great fun, but also provide opportunities for people of all abilities to get involved, play together and enjoy some friendly competition.
Our current handmade games include:
🪵 Jenga – £25
A classic favourite, handmade by our Woodwork team and designed with accessibility in mind.
⭕ Quoits – £25
A fun and engaging throwing game that’s perfect for groups, activities and events.
🎲 Dominoes – £30
A handmade set that brings a familiar favourite to life while making it more accessible for everyone.
Every item is made with care and attention by our talented trainees, giving them the opportunity to develop practical skills, creativity, teamwork and confidence.
Interested in finding out more or placing an order?
Get in touch with the MRO Woodwork team!
MRO Yarns & Crafts
Say hello to Cloudlike, our gorgeous new yarn!
Cloudlike is super chunky but wonderfully lightweight, making it perfect for creating that cosy, oversized look that’s so popular at the moment. It’s available in a fantastic range of beautiful colours, so there’s something to suit every project.
But that’s not all! Our team have also put together a lovely display of handmade items created by our talented trainees, showcasing their creativity and skills.
If you’re popping into MRO Yarns & Crafts for your wool, yarn or crafting supplies, be sure to have a look at the display. You are sure to find something you will love for yourself or for a meaningful gift for others amongst our trainees’ handcrafted items.
Every purchase helps support the opportunities we provide at Moray Reach Out.
Christmas is coming to MRO
We know it might feel a little early to be talking about Christmas… but it will be here before we know it! So, we’re getting ahead of the festive season and sharing a few ways you can support Moray Reach Out this Christmas.
Give a Gift to MRO Instead of Christmas Cards
This year, why not consider making a donation to Moray Reach Out in lieu of sending Christmas cards?
A small donation can make a big difference and will help us continue creating meaningful opportunities and supporting adults with disabilities across Moray. Every contribution will also help us towards our £25,000 MRO Journey fundraising goal.
Handmade Christmas Trees
Our talented MRO Woodwork team will also be creating their fantastic handmade wooden Christmas trees again this year!
These have been incredibly popular, so if you’d like one for your home this Christmas, make sure you pre-order yours early to avoid missing out.
Buying one of our handmade trees is a wonderful way to support our trainees while adding something special and unique to your Christmas decorations.
Personalised Christmas Gifts
Looking for something a little more personal?
Our MRO Embroidery service is perfect for creating thoughtful, personalised gifts for family and friends. Whether you’re looking for a special present or something unique, our embroidery team can help bring your ideas to life.
And, of course, by choosing MRO, you’re supporting the fantastic work and skills of our trainees.
Find Us at the Buckie Kracker
We’ll also be open at MRO during the Buckie Kracker on Saturday 21st November, from 11am–4pm!
So, if you’re out enjoying the festivities, make sure you pop in and see us. You might even find some of your Christmas shopping while you’re there!
There are lots of ways to support MRO this Christmas – whether you donate, shop, order a handmade Christmas tree, choose a personalised gift or simply pop in to say hello. Thank you for helping us make a difference! 💙
Health & Wellbeing Project
Healthier Lives is an initiative designed to improve the health and wellbeing of adults with disabilities, particularly those with learning disabilities, mental health challenges, or at risk of social isolation. The project will provide accessible information and training on key wellbeing topics, including:
Mental and physical health
Evidence-based nutrition
Inclusive access to sport and recreation
Online safety
Healthy relationships
Challenging stigma
Ensuring Meaningful Inclusion
Our second newsletter edition was all about Online Safety: from spotting common scams to protecting yourself online.
Read it here: https://morayreachout.org.uk/healthier-lives-edition-2
📩 Sign up to our newsletter and stay connected with everything happening through Healthier Lives. https://morayreachout.org.uk/healthier-lives-sign-up/
Together, we can continue supporting healthier, more connected lives across Moray!
Join the Moray Reach Out Family
Ready to make a positive impact? Volunteer with us or become an Ambassador!
We’re looking for Volunteers and Ambassadors to help spread the word about what Moray Reach Out does and assist us at various events throughout the year. Explore our diverse projects – Buckie Recycling, Elgin Recycling, Woodwork, Embroidery, Thrift Shop, Art Yarn, and Yarns & Crafts.
We tailor roles to your skills, interests, and availability!
Click here for more information
We sincerely hope you will consider joining us on this journey of empowerment and support.
Email info@morayreachout.org.uk to express your interest
Support us by shopping with us, volunteering or donating/fundraising.
For more info on how you can do this, contact us now on info@morayreachout.org.uk or like our Facebook page to stay updated @MorayReachOut
Click below to be re-directed to our MRO sites for more information!
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