Friday, 26 March 2021
Hi all
My name is Tony Foster. I am the new Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust Manager. I’ve been ‘virtually’ here for nearly a month getting up to speed on the area, documents, introductions, projects, various meetings and advising here and there. Everyone has been very welcome and kind. I am asking LOTS of questions – “Why doesn’t the Trust do this?” being one of them. I know a few of you sometimes ask the same question. So, as I learn about the organisation, the area and the work of other groups I thought I’d share what I find out as well as other news, developments, advice and maybe even some gossip about great things happening. This is Five Things For A Friday and I will attempt to share as much as I can every week!
1. It's good to talk
I’m fortunate to be able to do this on a brand spanking new website! When Trust Directors Jillian Barclay and Gareth Jones told me they had turned this website around in less than six months my jaw had to be picked up off the floor. Of course, with less competing priorities due to the pandemic that can focus the mind on such projects. Saying that in my Zoom meeting I saw Jillian multitask children, events, more website development and content to direct people to help and support all in a one hour meeting! Communicating to the community is a priority of the new Directors, building on a recognition of that from Directors that have gone before them. When I was doing my research for the job I thought the Trust’s information (and the Community Council’s website) was well above the average I’d seen elsewhere. The Directors of the Trust want to make it even better so you feel more informed. Hopefully this website will help. It is a two-way conversation and again, while I was researching the job, I found this Questions and Answer section of the website brilliant. You can also ask a question there too.
2. Huge response to Community Survey
Talking of multi-tasking I saw one member of the Knockie Trust come from a meeting giving out support to local people and jump, via their kitchen Zoom link, into the Community Action Plan Steering Group meeting on Thursday night. That is dedication for you. A whopping 32% of people responded to the community survey. That is an amazing response (one of the biggest in Scotland) and statistically gives a robust picture of what you like, what you don’t like and what can be done better in the area. Don’t worry if you haven’t participated yet. This is just the start. There is a Community Assembly on 15th April that will start to delve deeper into the findings and you can help develop solutions. The Trust Directors are champing at the bit to move on several projects but are holding off as this work will evidence continued need not only for the Trust but other groups to consider in the area. As many of these may require match funding from other sources being able to evidence need will be key. Find out more about the process here.
3. What would life be like without community volunteers?
One of the reasons for living here that you gave in the Community Action Plan was ‘community spirit’. I can tell that is very high and people are passionate about the area. I’m sure the rural setting, whilst stunningly beautiful, can for some lead to isolation. It is clear that for years volunteers have been trying to make the area a great place to live and work with resources that were available. It takes a pandemic to highlight that even more. If you took away all the work put together by volunteers during this time like Soup To Go, the Larders, financial support and many of other things listed in the news section of the website and the Brolly Group newsletter, what would there be? So a big thank you to every one of you.
4. Walk on the Wildside
A bunch of volunteers, spearheaded by Trust Chair Kirsty Balfour, met this week to talk about preparing temporary outdoor space outside Wildside for when restrictions slowly start to lift. We hope to tidy up some areas, turf a small space and provide some seating before June/July so people can meet in the great outdoors. There is a recognition that we may have to develop Wildside in stages. There is an opportunity to use the upgraded facility inside when things slowly go back to normal and enjoy where the building is based. Imaginations did go slightly wild – but that is a good thing! As an aside the subject of potholes came up in a throw away comment at this meeting. They have done in a few meetings I have attended this week. Of course ‘adopted’ roads are the responsibility of the local authority. This is a useful online tool to report potholes you see - it's FIXMYSTREET – I’m not sure how responsive Highland Council is but in my current local authority area they can respond to temporary fixes in matter of weeks. Let me know how it goes!
5. Creating Employment
I was pleased to be able to advertise our first new job with me in post, bringing employment to the area. The caretaker / janitor will help keep the buildings and area we own in good condition and will use local contractors when possible to do other tasks that need to be done. It’s an eight-hour contract to start but may increase as we develop whatever outcomes there are from the current Community Action Plan. There is still time to apply for the job here.
That’s all for this week. See you same time, same place next Friday!
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Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust,The Wildside Centre, Whitebridge,
Inverness IV2 6UN
admin@sfctrust.org.uk
07300 562443