Friday, 25 March 2022

We got asked a few questions so I thought we'd hand Five Things For A Friday over to those this week.  Welcome to Questions and Answers! 

The Trust Board are made up of community members from Stratherrick and Foyers.  They meet monthly and come to a consensus on the direction of the Trust.  You may or may not agree with that direction but your opinion has probably been heard around the table when they come to a final view.

Although we do report to our funders and have an annual AGM we now have a monthly Q&A session, usually based around a theme but questions can be asked.  This takes place on the last Friday of the month, currently online, at 10am for an hour.  Watch out for the link.  We also have some regularly asked questions on our website here

Next week back to our regular Five Things For A Friday.... but I may answer any questions you have here each week as part of that.

What is the design, print and distribution cost of the magazine? 

On average we pay £30 an hour for design (approx. £1500), £900 to print and £600 to post.  There are cheaper options for print outwith the local area but the Communications and Events Team decided to support two local businesses with this project.

Can you get just a digital copy of the magazine rather than a print copy?

Yes you can email pc@sfctrust.org.uk to be removed from the mailing list.

What was the cost of the Wildside Path. How many organisations tendered for the work? 

£17, 700 and two companies tendered.  The Wildside Steering Group acted on your feedback from the Summer Fair to improve the pathway underfoot and provide easier access out of fire exits from the building.

Why did the Trust not provide a person spec for the fundraiser job and advertise it more widely? 

We provided a full job description and advertised it on our website, magazine, social media, SCVO website and TSI Highland website.  This has been the same for all previous jobs and we have recruited successfully.

What will be the cost of the Errogie Church project and what are the performance expectations?

We have wind and watertight budget for £175,000 which should be complete by November 2022.  We are consulting on the build and what will be in it – keep following the project page on the website for updates of all our legacy projects.  We expect the final build to be in the region of £1.5 million, based on other similar community builds across Scotland. The public toilets at Foyers is expected to be approx. £220,000 (joint project with Community Council).  Wildside refurbishment cost was £127,000.

What will the Fundraisers do?

Raise funds for the legacy projects (so we don’t use all our funds from wind farm/hydro), raise funds for other groups whose outcomes meet the Community Action Plan, organise Four Food and Crofter Fairs a year to support local business, take advertising in the magazine and apply for funds that we cannot grant as they don’t meet the criteria set our by our funders.

Were free logs advertised on facebook?

The Brolly Group, supported by the Trust, gave out free 1 tonne bags of logs during Covid. This was funded by HIE and took some persuading but had been asked for by a handful of people on social media. Along with other support services this was advertised on websites, social media, newsletters, posters and leaflets.  Of all the opportunities on offer this was the least popular, being taken up by approx. 5 people.  Food bags were far more popular.

What is the present salary total for Trust employees?

The budget for staff for this financial year is currently £110,114.

Why are the Trust pursuing Riverside Field Sports and Recreation Facilities?

Sports and Recreation Facilities have rated highly in both the 2013 Community Survey and the 2021 Community Action Plan.  The land at Riverside Field was purchased by the Trust on behalf of the community by using a grant from Scottish Governments Scottish Land Fund.  It was always going to be developed by someone and the community chose this route.  The community would have had to evidence at the time what the intended purpose would be to get the grant.  

Subsequent Trust Boards have pursued that purpose on behalf of the community and run several consultations to adapt the proposed plan.  Planning in principle has been granted, with the local authority taking on board all views expressed by the community as part of the planning process.  The outcome of that allows us to develop the project with specific guidance about the locality. The full story will be in the next Trust Newsletter, which will also be posted out to nearby residents for information. 

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 ...