Friday, 31 May 2024

As we enter the final month of our financial year it has been a week of endings and new beginnings, at home and at work.

Today my son finally finishes High School with his Prom tonight.  He has his Duke of Edinburgh Gold award in his back pocket and after completing the Edinburgh Half Marathon in the pouring rain his next goals are the Euros Germany tour and his degree in politics.  My daughter completes her Masters at Edinburgh Uni with just a dissertation to submit before her new adventures.  And after falling during a run my wife continued to work despite the bruises at a Uni in the North of England.  Occasionally we all do meet but as we move onto another life stage those moments become very rare!

This is my home life.  But I get paid to be here!  All of our volunteers have to juggle home life, work and helping the community become better in whatever way suits their lifestyle.

As in life at ‘work’ sometimes through tough moments (and the minor grumble) we see much greater things happening. 

WILDSIDE

The grass is growing at the new PlayPark at Wildside so hopefully it will be ready for the summer holidays.  We have wifi available outside the building as well as inside.  The Polycrub has several users.  There are even plans to make the pétanque court usable and accessible to book at the new online booking system.  Next year new toilets, windows and improving electrical boards into the building (all very exciting!)

HIGHLAND GATHERING

A little way down the road the Highland Gathering will be up and running late July but all the preparation for that has been going on over the last six months (yes, it doesn’t simply ‘happen’) and despite the stress, strain and hoping that it doesn’t rain the sense of achievement is always worth seeing on staff, volunteers and participants faces before well earned summer holidays.

ERROGIE

Errogie Steering Group is growing and working towards Stage 2 of the development but we are concentrating on events that can happen now from the school workshops designing a stained glass window to a wedding to a birthday party to a film showing and new initiatives to improve our carbon footprint. 

SLIPWAY AND RIVERSIDE FIELD

At the slipway interim arrangements are being put into place for the area as grass roots activity from the ground up can lead to bigger and better activity on the Loch later on.  The Riverside Field Sports and Recreation Project has seen positive discussions with planning regarding the pre planning condition trackers.

LAND AND HOUSING

The residents at Inverfarigaig have been taking advantage of the land that was purchased by the Trust on their behalf.  Again a really grass roots initiative with community members rolling up their sleeves and getting on with it.  Good on them.  And BIG NEWS we agreed the funding and started working on building two homes for affordable rent that will be owned by the community for the community.  This will mean there will be four homes in Inverfarigaig for rent, all managed by Communities Housing Trust on our behalf.  This is an amazing achievement!

GRANTS

Alongside all this the Board ensures we can continue to support groups from the Community Council to Boleskine Community Care to Gorthleck Hall to school programmes to those studying and we try and ensure we make financial provision for all that too.  As you can imagine this is not easy (if you read my post about the joint challenges we face at the Community Council / Trust meeting) but as a community we are all hitting it out of the ballpark!

AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED

I will end this week by mentioning an opportunity with the James Hutton Institute.  They offer world-leading scientific solutions for the sustainable management of land, crop and natural resources that support thriving communities.  They respond to the challenges posed by the climate and nature crises through applying their scientific expertise to developing interventions, tools, products and land management practices to improve the resilience of crops, land, natural resources and communities.  They have chosen the  Startherrick and Foyers Community to work with over the next two years on the strength of your Community Action Plan and Place Plan.  This is an opportunity not to be missed.  If you are a student, working or retired you will kick yourself if you do not take part.  More details and how to participate here

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 ...