THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE - FIVE THINGS FOR A FRIDAY

Friday, 20 January 2023

FIVE THINGS FOR A FRIDAY

Snow has been the focus of this week and for many it stopped play. Hopefully you all stayed safe and well.

PLACE PLAN

We met Nick Wright to discuss how we are going to share the Place Plan over the coming months and you can read more about that in the forthcoming newsletter. Meantime an interim report is here Local Place Plan Interim Report | 11 January 2023 | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (stratherrickcommunity.org.uk)

HOUSING PLOTS FOR SALE

The Housing Group met this week. The agenda had caused a wee bit of a stir, referring to a planning application near Boleskine, but that was only for information to the group. However it did open the opportunity for people to engage with the Place Plan work Nick is doing, which was a positive outcome. The Housing Group itself were ready to charge ahead with next steps but after discussion it was decided to see what the demand will be for housing being developed at Inverfarigaig by Communities Housing Trust. As this scheme involved building plots, houses to rent and houses to buy it will give us some idea what people are looking for. Details of the building plots have been released here **APPLY NOW!** 2 self-build plots available in Inverfarigaig | 18 January 2023 | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (stratherrickcommunity.org.uk)

You can also get funds towards self build in the Highlands – details here Funding for self-build homes | 22 November 2022 | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (stratherrickcommunity.org.uk)

COMMUNICATIONS

Work on the first newsletter of the year started this months for a late January / early February release and work on the magazine too.

SCOTLANDS REGENERATION FORUM

This week Gareth (Chair of the Trust) and I met Euan Leach, Chair of Scotland’s Regeneration Forum. We had a healthy hour long discussion on twenty minutes neighbourhoods, policy v reality on the ground and community regeneration in a rural setting which has led us to do a talk to the group in March. Stratherrick and Foyers are one of the very few examples in Scotland taking this forward. It’s also good to stop from the day to day work, step back and go what is this all for and how will it look in five, ten or twenty years time? How can we build these hubs with very specific purposes and use the funds we have to sustain them, create employment, training, enhance volunteering and social cohesion whilst trying to meet the needs of people now and in the future.

Talking of help now…

HELP DURING WINTER

Details are available now about a local grant from Highland Council to help you with energy efficiency measures for your own home. To register your interest email: EES-ABS@highland.gov.uk Please quote: EES:ABS 2022/23 – SFCT

Take a look at their website too with more advice here. This is a local grant and although there is set criteria it would be useful to apply if eligible Energy Efficient Scotland | Energy and sustainability | The Highland Council

TONY FOSTER

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 ...

News Archive

Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust,
The Wildside Centre, Whitebridge,
Inverness IV2 6UN
admin@sfctrust.org.uk
07300 562443

Mission statement: To act to enhance the quality of lives of people by engaging with the issues that matter to the community and by supporting people, at a sustainable level, to help people make things happen.

Thanks: Many thanks to our funders for making this site possible - SSE Renewables, Greencoat UK Wind, Green Highland Allt Luaidhe (228) Limited, Easter Aberchalder Partnership. Also the Trust extends its heartfelt thanks to all the community volunteers who have contributed ideas and content to the site.

Fair Work First Statement - Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust (SFCT) is committed to advancing the Scottish Government Fair Work First Policy and the criteria as set out within the Fair Work First guidance document. We confirm that we pay our staff the Real Living Wage. We make every effort to ensure that our suppliers/contractors are offered the same Real Living Wage rate when procuring goods or services. We also confirm that we offer our staff and/or volunteers an Effective Workers Voice channel within the workplace. Our full policy can be found in ‘Our Documents’, then click on ‘Good Governance’.