FIVE THINGS FOR A FRIDAY | 05 November 2021 | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust

FIVE THINGS FOR A FRIDAY

Friday, 05 November 2021

FIVE THINGS FOR A FRIDAY

MSP VISIT

Last week we met with Kate Forbes MSP to explain the background to and the Community Action Plan. We took the opportunity to discuss community investment in renewable energy projects, providing core and match funding for communities and challenges the community has with planning and how we hope to overcome that. Kate was keen to see the Wildside, developed by the community for the community, and Riverside Field that was purchased with Scottish Land Fund money. We also took her on a tour that ended at Errogie Church, which is developing quite nicely as a community project.

IT’S 5^TH NOVEMBER – NO FIREWORKS

There is no organised firework display this year but details are starting to come out about Winter Wonderland and bookings to meet the big red fella with a white beard! There were no real fireworks at our Board meeting this week. A full report of the ratified minutes will be in the next newsletter. There is also no rest for the wicked as Board Members meet with Community Council members mid week to continue to maintain our working relationship.

SFCT BOARD MEMBERS - DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS

Many of you should have had an invite to the Trust AGM on 24^th November. The deadline for standing as a Board Member is 10^th November – get your nomination in now! We spent some time this week discussing final arrangements for the night and also plans for the Community Action Plan launch on the 19th. It’s exciting times and you will be able to participate in making Stratherrick and Foyers an even better place to live and work. Watch out for the final Community Action Plan document delivered to your door in the coming month.

REMEMBER, REMEMBER TO TAKE THE PULSE SURVEY

From today until the 15th November we are taking the pulse of the community via our first 'Taking The Pulse' survey and will benchmark the results every year. This is to assess impact of the Trust and work done by the community for the community. The Trust is a vehicle which can assess the need and direction of where funds coming into the community go. It maintains our sense of financial and legal obligations. The work it does along with other volunteers and groups is a reflection of our own community. From time to time it’s good for us all to reflect on that and see where we can improve or, in some areas, keep doing what we are doing . This helps us direct all our resources in a more meaningful way. The survey takes about 4/5 minutes of your time but will be invaluable to those volunteer Board Members on the Trust alongside the outcomes you’ve determined through the Community Action Plan consultations.

Take the Pulse survey here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SFCTpulse

I am also hoping to do an independent external review of the Trust to make sure we are fit for purpose and to once again learn how we can improve as an organisation. The work done by the current and previous Boards makes me confident our Community Trust will come out with flying colours. It is good practice to do and gives confidence to our funders we are all fit for purpose.

LEST WE FORGET

The enormity of the work we are and about to do was, at one point, overwhelming this week and it felt we like we were flying by the seat of our pants. Then a dose of reality stepped in, knowing things could be far worse.

Please do take a moment to reflect on the 11^th November and at the Remembrance Service on the 14^th November. To celebrate 100 years of the Poppy I believe the war memorial will glow red. A nice touch.

Tony Foster

Trust Manager

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Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust,
The Wildside Centre, Whitebridge,
Inverness IV2 6UN
admin@sfctrust.org.uk
07300 562443

Mission statement: To act to enhance the quality of lives of people by engaging with the issues that matter to the community and by supporting people, at a sustainable level, to help people make things happen.

Thanks: Many thanks to our funders for making this site possible - SSE Renewables, Greencoat UK Wind, Green Highland Allt Luaidhe (228) Limited, Easter Aberchalder Partnership. Also the Trust extends its heartfelt thanks to all the community volunteers who have contributed ideas and content to the site.

Fair Work First Statement - Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust (SFCT) is committed to advancing the Scottish Government Fair Work First Policy and the criteria as set out within the Fair Work First guidance document. We confirm that we pay our staff the Real Living Wage. We make every effort to ensure that our suppliers/contractors are offered the same Real Living Wage rate when procuring goods or services. We also confirm that we offer our staff and/or volunteers an Effective Workers Voice channel within the workplace. Our full policy can be found in ‘Our Documents’, then click on ‘Good Governance’.