Friday, 20 May 2022

GOOD GOVERNANCE

This week I’ve been reminded about the need for good governance for your organisation.  As we prepare our new budget year this could be financial and we are working tirelessly to get a replacement for Carlene, our current Finance Officer  We already have a few candidates interested in the role, which closes on Monday.  Apply here Jobs | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (stratherrickcommunity.org.uk)

GOVERNANCE REPORT

The Trust has faced some challenging times in the past and subsequent Boards have also worked hard to ensure we have a robust future.  Of course the Trust is a vehicle in which the community works and we take ideas from the community, ensure there is a need and develop them.  We appreciate some members of the community may not like those ideas and we try and balance that as best we can without losing sight of the final goal.  Our Board has had difficult discussions as part of this jounrey and people have chosen to leave because it isn’t for them or life gets in the way, but it is always underpinned by our governance.  That said we respect and always listen to what people have to say, even if we don’t agree with it,  and test it sometimes.  As part of this we asked an external body, Community Enterprise, to review our organisation an dour governance.  We asked them to be completely honest with us.  We challenged them to make recommendations to not just make us better but world class.  In summary the report said overall this is a well-run focussed organisation and any pointers for improvement are enhancements of an already strong organisation.  We will work on those over the next year.

GETTING INVOLVED

I mentioned earlier some members of the Board left as ensuring good governance and the way we work is not for them.  However following the Community Action Plan we have called on some members of the community and, indeed, previous Board Members to come and work with us without the pressure of being a Board Member to help move some of the Community Action Plan projects forward.  That is not to say we don’t need Board Members – we do – but we have developed a staff team that eases the pressure, keeps us right and moves projects forward too. This was a recommendation of the Community Action Plan.  All the time our focus is on community engagement, ideas, being inclusive as we can be and embracing the skills and abilities of pro active people who want to make a positive difference locally.  This has been extremely enlightening and a healthy way to do business and hopefully it will bring positive results to the community.

BUDGETING

We are reviewing our budgets for 2022-23 and it is a challenge.  Our commitments to the community far exceed the funds we get given on an annual basis from wind farm and hydro companies.  We have to ensure cash flow throughout the year, have enough to ensure we can support local groups through the grants system, maintain our current assets, pay staff, communicate effectively what is going on, have funds to take projects forward identified by you in the Community Action Plan and generally have some funds left over for a rainy day!  We want to do everything now but in reality we can’t and we are currently having to forecast not only what we can offer in the short term but how we can progress projects over the next 5 to 7 years.  That is why a Finance Officer is important.  It is why our Fundraisers are important.  Within two months our Fundraisers have helped people in the local community. They have set up projects and they have been successful getting funds to help support not only our work but easing the pressure on our budgets for projects and events.  As we get closer to developing Errogie they are hoping to raise funds for that, the Slipway, ways to support the community on cost of living and future projects like Riverside Field, PlayParks, Housing, Pathways, local organisations and more.  The money they raise eases the pressure on our budgets and means we can utilise our funds to more effectively, with our Project Officer and staff team ensuring we solve problems on time and on budget.

LEARNING AND FIREFIGHTING

We have learnt where we are up to this point by extremely talented Board Members past and present, staff members like Steven and Laura who have been with us for over five years, listening to the community, ensuring an outside perspective helps us benchmark what is going on across Scotland and the UK and, dare I say it, being dynamic in our approach.  We don’t get it right all the time but at least we can say we tried our best.  We firefight as we go along, with the odd curve ball thrown our way, and we adapt if we can.  Some things you won’t like, some things you will.  In the end our governance is at the heart of all we do and whilst it is probably the most unsexy bit of the organisation it keeps us right and we protect that at all costs.

AND FINALLY

Good luck to everyone taking part in the Loch Ness Challenge which comes to the Wildside Centre this weekend - have a great time!  More details here  Cycling and Running Events in Scotland 2020 | Loch Ness 360

FIVE THINGS FOR A FRIDAY WILL BE BACK IN TWO WEEKS TIME

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 ...