Friday, 28 July 2023

FIVE THINGS FOR A FRIDAY

We are still in the grip of the summer holidays but things are ticking over.

STAFF

I hope to announce our new Marketing and PR Officer (who joins Jillian with a job share) and Community Action Plan Project Officer very soon.  These roles are externally funded for three years.  The process takes time.  There was the application for the funding, which started mid 2022. We were given an indication we had the funding in November 2022. The official sign off in Spring 2023 once we had agreed outputs and outcomes for the next three years using the CAP as evidence.  We began the recruitment once we had our first payment.  We have to report to Scottish Government / Funder every quarter before funds are released.  They are even coming to see us.  These roles will support Trust activities but largely are there to support the volunteer groups in making short audio visual presentations about their work and to support volunteers in making things happen a little quicker and to gather information for Fundraisers to make robust applications for further funding.

ERROGIE

We met and had a very productive meeting about our Errogie Church Planning Application.  It filled me with great confidence, particularly as this has been hours of consultation and discussion from the community which took time but was worth it.  Also the endless discussions about the look of the building externally provided the evidence why some decisions had been made over others.  The community should be proud of the design presented thanks to their input.  Many empty churches are being developed by community groups on a weekly basis.  Empty and neglected buildings do not inspire communities and can be an eyesore for those growing up here.  Both the Wildside Centre, Foyers Toilets and Errogie are coming back to life thanks to you.  That is amazing!  I took SSE, our funders, around all the sites so they can see for themselves what we have been up to and can picture what the future may look like.  All every exciting.

PLAYPARK

Talking of Wildside we got the planning agreement for the playpark at the Centre.  We also have half the funding for the PlayPark from an external source, which is also brilliant.  Thanks to all the volunteers who have worked on this and to all the parents/carers and children who have had their say on what they want to see in the playpark.  BTW the next Bring and Buy Sale at Wildside is on 12th August.  Check the news site for more News | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (stratherrickcommunity.org.uk)

BOARD MEETING

The Board Meeting is on Wednesday after the summer break last month.  Our Board is made up of individual community members. It struck me that half weren’t on the Board when I started two years ago and some were relatively new members then.  They do, as you would expect, reflect community opinion and have differing views during their collective discussions. As a Board they all come to a consensus based on listening, engagement, consultation, advice and all relevant information to hand. Put together by the community for the community it is an ever changing construct but bound by policies that glue it all together.  We may make mistakes along the way but we learn from them and do it better the next time.  To do that we have also asked the Accelerate Programme (through Scottish Government) to give advice to the Board as they become more strategic, look at our Errogie Business Plan to strengthen it and review our current status to see if other options may be beneficial or not to the community.  Watch this space!

WHAT NEXT?

The Community Council and the Community Trust will be meeting soon to see how we can take forward the Place Plans which were submitted on behalf of the community by the Community Council before the summer.  The plan is based on the community consultations that have take place over the last year.

The Trust Board and Staff Team have been working tirelessly over the last two years and we have gone from ‘why is nothing happening’ to ‘why is so much happening?’  We are trying to balance the aspirations of the community while maintaining local grants for study, sport, activities and more. The community, with the support of the Trust, has a track record of success.  The community has provided COVID and cost of living support (and are likely to do again this winter), broadband which kept business running and individuals in contact with each other during the pandemic, working with the Community Council on the toilet project, help to maintain Stratherrick Hall, bringing neglected buildings back into community ownership, getting planning for the slipway and planning in principle for recreation and sport facilities, providing a rent free building to a local charity and community members working on projects from housing to pathways and after school clubs to support families.  Not to mention all those groups who attended the recent Success Night and told their stories about what they have achieved over the last year.  It is truly inspiring and being active is great for your mental health and well being.

So with that in mind breathe, relax and if you can take a walk, run, cycle or horse ride and enjoy the fabulous countryside with one of the Pathway Groups Walks that have appeared on our website over the summer.  It will do you the world of good.  Check it out here Walk our Walks | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (stratherrickcommunity.org.uk)

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 ...