Friday, 01 March 2024

FIVE THINGS FOR THREE YEARS

It’s been three years since I became Trust Manager, so a moment of reflection.

We are the first Trust in the Highlands to submit our Place Plan, after extensive consultation with the community for that and the Community Action Plan.  This helps guide our resources for the things you want to see happen and can help with additional external funding provided by Scottish Government and other funders.

The Board has become less operational, strengthening their governance of the organisation but allowing them the time to muck in on projects if they have the time to do so.  We also have a number of people leading on projects with oversight from the Board, making sure the work they put in will be funded.  Some of these groups work well, some need a little bit of TLC.  We try and communicate well (I would like to see any other community website with almost 800 stories on it!) but we also admit to falling short sometimes.

It struck me that many projects were in the doldrums three years ago.  It’s all very well getting funds in from windfarms but it is quite hard to spend/manage it while also making sure the background work is done that justifies that spend or can ensure a project will have a good chance to be successful.  I believe we have planning for all identified projects now and 14 members of staff who have supported community members to make that happen.  It is 14 staff members (three of them funded externally) but they equate to just 6 full time equivalents (and we are supporting the funding of another full time equivalent in two other organisations too).  This helps us punch above our weight as a community.

I think we also got used to having money but our aspirations as a community far exceeded the funds we have available to us.  It has been great to see more funds coming in to the community, making the funds we have work better for us and for the benefit of other groups too.  This is not easy to do and we have as many disappointments as successes but it can be the catalyst for land ownership, better communications, volunteer support, housing, transport, health and wellbeing, supporting you during Covid and the cost of living crisis, heritage, bio diversity and environmental projects.  When it happens it gives you a real buzz after filling out pages and pages of funding applications.

All this would not be possible if it wasn’t for those community members on the Board of the Trust.  The Board are not the same people as when I arrived and some of the work we do now was defined by members of the Board as way back as 2013 (and probably before) and everyone has played their part during that time.  It’s not an easy role to balance with home and work life.  That is the same for everyone who stick their head abover the parapet and does active work on behalf of the community.  So give them a wee pat on the back and say thanks if you see them.  If only for putting up with me for the last three years!

PS - if you are attending the Polycrub Sunday Social this weekend have a good time.  I hope it goes well and you find it useful.

2026

February (2 stories)

3 February 📚 Mobile Library Visiting Tomorrow! 🚐✨

The Mobile Library is rolling into the area tomorrow, Wednesday 4th February, so pop along and say hello to Mark! Stop & time: • The Wildside Centre &ndash...

3 February RSABI Fundraising Event

Don't miss out on an incredible evening of music and laughter with the talented Farmers Choir performing in Aviemore late February in aid of RSABI and SAYFC.  ...

January (12 stories)

28 January Six Nations: Scotland 🆚 England LIVE at The Wildside

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27 January 🌳 Development of Inverfarigaig Forest School 🌳

A community member has been in touch about the possibility of setting up a Forest School within our community. With the support of the Community Trust, a short survey has...

26 January 📚 Mobile Library Visiting Tomorrow! 🚐✨

The Mobile Library will be in the area tomorrow, Wednesday 27th January, so pop along and say hello to Mark!   📍 Stopping points & times: • Errogi...

22 January 🔥 Free Firewood Available – Whitebridge Area 🔥

A member of our local community, has been in touch with Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (SFCT) to let us know that he has a significant amount of larch firewood...

21 January Large grant application from BCC for Foyers Stores Acquisition - Update

A Board meeting is taking place this evening in order for Directors of SFCT to consider the application and agree their recommendation. As the Chair of SFCT explained at ...

20 January Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who came along to the public meeting at the Wildside last night. We had a fantastic turnout, with 110 people attending in person and 26 joining u...

19 January Agenda for Public Meeting - Regarding the Foyers Stores Acquisition

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14 January Apply for our Project Coordinator role

👋 Friendly reminder!   There’s still time to apply for our Project Coordinator role at Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust ...

8 January Notice to the Community: Change of Date for Public Meeting on Foyers Stores

Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust (SFCT) would like to update the community regarding the previously announced public meeting relating to the proposed purchase of F...

7 January 🌟 New Year, New Opportunities! 🌟

Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust is here to support your projects with our grants! 💡✨ 📅 Next application deadline: 21st March 2026 Learn more about ...

6 January 🎉 Calling all community organisers! 🎉

Do you run a class, group or one-off activity in one of the local buildings? We’d love to help spread the word! 💛 Our SFCT Community Calendar is looking a ...

6 January Mobile Library Visit Cancelled – Wednesday 7th January 2026

👋 Hello and welcome to 2026 from SFCT! 🎉 We bring news from the Mobile Library as our first update of the year. 📚 Mobile Library Visit Cancelled – Wednesday ...