Friday, 14 January 2022

Happy New Year – we are looking forward to an exciting 2022.  We hope you are too!  

HAPPY NEW YEAR – HAPPY NEW JOB

The deadline has been extended until 27th January 2022 for the role of Stratherrick and Foyers Fundraising Officer - a new full time employment role for the area.

The role of the Fundraising Officer is to raise funds to ensure the financial stability of the Trust and other organisation in the Stratherrick and Foyers area whose work aligns with outcomes in the Community Action Plan. It is a new and very exciting role and we have a goal to match fund into the area of Stratherrick and Foyers the £4 million we will receive from renewable projects in the next five years. The role is full time but we would consider job share. Details here https://www.stratherrickcommunity.org.uk/contracts-for-work/

COMMUNITY SKILLS AUDIT

Before Christmas we launched the Community Action Plan.  Many of you will have a copy.  You may even have thought ‘I can help with that’.  Well, you can.  We have launched a Skills and Volunteers Survey.  It is an audit to see what skills we have within the Stratherrick and Foyers area – and we know many of you have amazing knowledge and skill who can help.  If you are happy for us or other relevant group to contact you for help, even for just a couple of hours, then let us know via this survey.  We will be in touch if your skills align with help with the Community Action Plan actions and outcomes.  We cannot achieve everything without your help so give it a go and tell us what your skills are here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SFCSkillsSurvey

RIVERSIDE FIELD PLANNING, FOYERS BAY SLIPWAY AND FOYERS TOILETS

Once again Sports and Recreational Facilities came high on your list of wants in the Community Action Plan (as they did in 2013).  We are close to making that a reality.  The Masterplan for Riverside Field was due to go to planning in December but has been delayed until February / March. Once agreed we can commit funds and seek further funding and engagement to ensure the needs of the community are met.

The Foyers Bay Slipway Steering Group also met before Christmas with costed re-designs and it is expected that will go to planning shortly too.

The Foyers Toilets Steering Group, being led by the Community Council with support from the Trust, is progressing on a project over a decade in the making!  A redesign of the toilets, in response to initial comments of the original design and rising costs of materials, has been completed and agreed and work is progressing on the new facility.

ERROGIE CHURCH AND THE WILDSIDE CENTRE

Further consultation on Errogie Church is taking place in February as we move closer to initial usage of the build and progress to design and build phase.  The hope is to have the build wind and watertight by the end of the year. 

The Wildside Centre is having a new pathway built around it, to ensure it is steady underfoot and accessible via wheelchairs.  This is in response to feedback from the Spring Fair in 2021.  We are also pleased to say our new Buildings and Facilities Officer Steve Marshall has started and is now up and running in the Wildside.  Finally for Wildside thanks from me to everyone who contributed their time, energy and attended Winter Wonderland just before Christmas and New Year.  Feedback was fabulous and you are all stars!

BOARD MEETINGS AND BROADBAND

The Board met this week for another mammoth three-hour meeting and Directors new and old signed up for new responsibilities for 2022.  We were able to update on our recent Broadband discussions with Cromarty Firth Wireless Network to ensure continuation and expansion of the service, in the context of keeping the community informed of their options during the R100 rollout. Full details of your options can be found in the last magazine that was delivered to your door for the first time (if we have your address) It is clear the Board and members of the community would not have been able to communicate effectively, conduct work or had a lifeline during Covid without this Broadband network, set up by the Trust and CFWN.  Another project by the community for the community.  We hope with the Community Action Plan roll out and your help we can continue to improve the lives of people who live and work in the area.  If you can hell let us know and fill out the Skills survey here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SFCSkillsSurvey

Tony Foster

Trust Manager

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

💘 This Valentine’s Day, find someone who loves you as much as you love rugby 🏉   We’re streaming Six Nations: Scotland 🆚 England LIVE at The Wil...

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

Please find the agenda for tonight’s public meeting at the Wildside Centre regarding the proposed community acquisition of Foyers Stores.   1. Welcome &n...

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 ...