Wednesday, 30 November 2022

THE PULSE SURVEY

The Pulse Survey is conducted every 12 months and is to assess the temperature and impact work volunteers do across the area on behalf of the community.

The 45 people who filled out the Pulse Survey in 2022 were roughly in the same age range as last year, same male/female gender split (40%/60%) and based in similar locations as last year (33.33% Foyers, 26.67% Gorthleck, 11.11% Whitebridge, 17.78% Errogie and 11.11% from Inverfarigaig). 

This survey was promoted over 17 days via email, website, social media and word of mouth.  With 338 occupied households in the area over 10% of households are represented, and therefore this gives us a high degree of accuracy that these results reflect the thoughts of the community as a whole.  Four people chose not to give their names and, as last year, we have kept those responses in the results.

Developed in association with SCDC (Scottish Community Development Centre) we were advised not to expect too much of a change from last year.  However, in some areas we did and, on the whole, we saw an improvement across the board. Thank you to those who filled in the survey. We know we can always do better, and will aim to do so, but the results are below.

                                                                        2022                   2022                         2022                       2021                            2021

                                                                      AGREE        AGREE/DISAGREE         DISAGREE                AGREE                        DISAGREE

Communication from the Trust                 81%                      17%                           2%                         59%                              21.5%   

22% increase.  Only 2% disagree compared to 21.5% last year.  This is very encouraging.  Communication can be quite labour intensive.  In September we received a grant to employ a staff member to help maintain and improve Communication for one year.

Decision making transparent                     42%                      30.5%                        27.5%                  35.5%                            39%      

Feedback suggests minutes of meetings could do with more detail.  We are producing an annual report and distributing it around the area which will hopefully help this.

Good idea what Trust Supports                66.5%                   25%                         8.5%                       62%                              31.5%      

Up slightly but a big drop from those up disagree/strongly disagree from last year.  This may have been from the CAP brochure being distributed to every household and our general communications.  Great to see 23% of you went from strongly disagree/disagree.  It would have been nice to get over 75% ‘Agree’ here but little steps!

Know how to get involved with Trust        82%                      14%                         4%                        77%                              12.5%   

Slight increase with more community members involved at the grass roots on Community Action Groups.  This helps advise the Board on the decisions they make.

Trust is accountable on decisions             57.5%                   22.5%                   20%                          52%                              25%      

This year we started empowering groups to make decisions to help advise the Board on their projects.  We also attended Community Council and reported on all projects and where they were in planning etc.  This year we also had an external governance review to see if we were suitable for purpose and the results were very complimentary.

Working to make a better place for all     64.5%                   20%                      15.5%                     57%                              24%

A slight improvement on last year, reflective of everyone having had the opportunity to have had their say via the Community Action Plan and the Trust basing decisions on that.

Family has Benefitted                                  51%                      22.5%                   26.5%                       53%                              34%

Slightly down on last year.

Community has Benefitted                         63.5%                   28%                      8.5%                         62%                              17.5%

Slightly up.  Both these are likely to change once the projects identified by you in the CAP are live and running for a few years.  

Supports Voluntary Sector                         73.5%                   22%                      4.5%                          67%                              7.5%

Broadly the same, despite adding conditions to those groups applying for funding.  We are supporting groups via our Fundraisers so we can achieve more with the funds we have.

Empowered people                                      57.5%                   29%                      13.5%                      50.5%                            29%

The change here may be our approach to Community Action Groups and Steering Groups for each project, getting more people involved in actioning projects and decision making.  Again we’d like to see this improve over time.

Conserving the Environment                     40%                      46.5%                   13.5%                         30%                             24%

A strong theme in the CAP and one that underlines everything we do.  We can do better.

Land Management & Land Use                 29%                      46.5%                   24.5%                         34%                              29%                     

Slightly down, but not something we do much of at present.

Maintain Rural ID                                          46.5%                   36%                      17.5%                        35.5%                          30.5%

One of the pillars in the CAP, along with conserving the environment, and reflected in our approach here.  Once again we can do better here.      

Creating Jobs                                                  49%                      38%                      13%                             43%                              20%

This year we have 10 employed people, support 4 other jobs & employed local people for contracts where we can.  We obviously need to promote this better.

Retain Young People                                    31%                      44.5%                   24.5%                          18%                              29%

Broadly the same and not much work done in this area.

Attract Work Fam                                         24.5%                   53.5%                   22%                             15%                              37%

A slight difference, possibly due to some work being done in creating facilities, promoting tourism, preparing for affordable housing and childcare.

Create Sustainable Tourism                       31%                      49%                      20%                               20%                              33%      

A slight difference as we create facilities, hope to sustain pathways and encourage and promote local businesses when we can, this helping support local employment.  There is a balance to be achieved here whilst conserving the environment and maintaining our rural identity whilst having an infrastructure and facilities other communities enjoy. 

Creating Opportunities For All                   33.5%                   42%                      24.5%                          31.5%                          33.5%

Slightly up, but less people in the disagree/strongly disagree area.

Those In Need                                                62%                      29.5%                   8.5%                            54.5%                         16.5%

Some improvement here, possibly from raising capacity of other groups, support from grass roots groups to help people and work we are currently doing during the cost of living crisis.  We can do better here.

Health & Well Being                                     55.5%                   31%                      13.5%                            48%                           20.5%

Again, some improvement here, with groups and projects at Wildside, Errogie and Riverside all contributing to improvement in this area.

Collaboration externally                              49%                      42.5%                    8.5%                             44%                              15%

Broadly similar and something we need to promote more as we work with other stakeholders and agencies on CAP outcomes.

Aware I can get actively involved             86.5%                   9.5%                        4%                               82%                              4%

Broadly similar, but shows an inclusive community.

Score out of 10                                               6.5                                                      We didn’t do a score out of 10 last year                             

The full report can be found HERE.

2026

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