Friday, 25 August 2023

5 THINGS FOR A FRIDAY

GET TO THE DOCTORS

A few years ago I went to the Doctor with an infected pinky.  Having hardly been to the Doctors in my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s they nabbed me and ever since then I’ve been given an annual check up.  Men are apparently notorious for not going to the Doctors for the benefit of their health.  This altercation now makes it easier to get checked out if I have any concerns, aches or pains (a few lately!).   Having lost an old colleague who was the same age as me this week I would advise if you are over 50 make sure you get checked out regularly too.  I have my Doctors orders and I am all the better for it.

FIREFIGHTING

I came into this week with an idea of what I want to achieve and, if I am brutally honest, haven’t achieved any of them!  There is always next week!  Instead I have found myself firefighting on all fronts, some fires of my own making. There was also a wee reminder that COVID is still around too! It is a painful reminder that sometimes in communities you think you have all the bases covered but miss how people think and feel about things. The good news is many people are solution driven, rather than having a moan, which makes life a little easier.  It's not how you start – it’s how you finish.

AGM

The countdown to the November AGM has started and we have already started preparing now.  It’s not going to be easy having changed our finance staff and Laura leaving with a replacement hopefully being recruited soon.  Laura is our mover and shaker who keeps the preparation for the AGM on track.  Coupled with the need to recruit new Board Members as some leave and new ones are required.  Are you interested? Contact me at tony.ceo@sfctrust.org.uk and I will match you with a current Board Member so you can have a chat about what to expect.  I say its not going to be easy but maybe it’s the beginning of a new chapter.

STAFF MEETING

This week we had our staff diary meeting.  This is so the team can hear what each person is doing.  They can utilise their skills and match up or advise each other on how to move things forward.  As the staff are often ships that pass in the night they can get to know each other better and know they have one point in the week to pass on any info they may have.  It had a wonderful dynamic, solution driven feel to it.  Despite only being an hour long there were a few suggestions which have helped produce clarity moving forward. 

SOUP TO GO…VIDEO

It was also good to see the first of Calum’s videos getting an airing on social media about ‘Soup To Go’.  Calum is funded by ‘Strengthening Communities’ funding and is job sharing his role with Jillian.  His specific task is to add a visual element to our communications and the groups we work with.  These short videos are for people who perhaps don’t like to read long pieces of text and are subtitled for the hard of hearing. The videos will also show how many volunteers are behind the activities that go on in the community and what they get up to.  it may even pursuade you to give it a go (as a consumer or to help behind the scenes).  Soup to Go is in the Wildside Centre every Monday.  Check it out!

Hey team, perhaps we could do a video version of Five Things On A Friday?

Team?  Team...?

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 ...