Friday, 24 November 2023

6.6 - PULSE SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN

The Pulse Survey results are in.  Thank you so much to those members of the community who took the time to do the survey.  We saw some signs of improvement, some things we still need to work on and a slightly better score out of 10 than in 2022.  We went from 6.5 to 6.6.  The full results will be made available soon.  This survey was put together in association with Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) and the aim is to take a sample of the community to review how we are doing as an organisation.

6 - COMMUNITY FIREWORKS SURVEY

Please help the community groups and Trust to improve the fireworks year on year.  If you attended the community run fireworks at Foyers what did you think about it?  Please fill out our feedback survey here by the 7^th December https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/firew2023

5 – WILDSIDE CENTRE CHRISTMAS TAKE OVER

This week I was in the Wildside Centre and Christmas is starting to take over.  Lights were being installed around the building.  The Christmas Tree was up.  The Board Room was full of elves packing presents.  Deliveries for Winter Wonderland means there was not a seat available in the house! 

4 – AGM CHRISTMAS CHEER

It looks like the Trust Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 29^th November will have some Christmas Cheer!  You can see the exhibition on current projects over a cuppa or soft drink before the meeting starts at 7.30pm. After the business has been conducted enjoy a drink of wine and corner the new Directors, volunteers or staff if you have a question or two! There will be some special announcements, which I will also report on after the event if you can’t make it.  Read what happened in the financial year 2022/23 in the AGM Newsletter here 

3 – FOOD AND FUEL GRANTS

Well done to the community volunteers at the Kockie Charitable Trust for reviewing the Food and Fuel Grant Applications for a second year.  This is the final year SSE will let us use funds for this purpose.  The grants will provide some much needed Christmas Cheer for 60 households in the area as the cost of living continues to impact on everyone.  This year we moved from ‘first come first served’ to a grant deadline so the group could review all applications together. I believe everyone who applied was supported. Payments will come from the Trust early December.  For a second year the Trust will also be providing firewood.  Hopefully the 40 tonnes of wood supplied last year will have seasoned for use this year.  More news soon. 

2 – IT’S A POLICY DECISION

Behind the scenes we have completed updating our policies this week.  This is one of the many ‘not very sexy jobs’ the Board of Directors have to do.  Thanks to our new Administrator Kirsty Campbell for tying up the work Laura and Steven did before her over the last year.  We aim to put these policies all on the website.  We have also been looking at moving to becoming a Company Limited by Guarantee with Charitable Status and taking advice from (externally funded) consultants on everything from governance to business plans.  This work also helps improve the transparancy of the Trust.

1 – ONE LAST THING… (or maybe a 0.4 thing!)

Alongside all this we and other stakeholders in the community have been pro-actively working on many of the ‘smaller’ projects in the Community Action Plan and Place Plan.  There is a volunteer army behind most projects who give as much or little time they have free to make things happen. They would also love your help and support.  It’s been nice to see some of these projects coming slowly to life as we head into the Christmas and New Year period.  We have had some little wins which is great for the groups, volunteers, community members, Directors and staff involved and will be of great benefit to the community over the next year.

I’m not sure if it will take us from 6.6 to a 7 on the Pulse Survey next year, but we will try!

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 ...