5 THINGS FOR A FRIDAY! | 09 April 2021 | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust

5 THINGS FOR A FRIDAY!

Friday, 09 April 2021

It's a new Five things for a Friday

EASTER SNOW!

Just what you need after a long lockdown – warm, beautiful Easter weather mixed with artic winds and inches of snow on the ground! On top of that I had my first vaccination. Things can only get better. I would imagine many of you are keen to spend time with family and loved ones you have not seen for a while. Some will be keen to see others close to home, perhaps as part of an activity or group. If you are able to step out of a virtual world you may even consider local meeting places as restrictions begin to lift. A few places for your consideration and how to book are on the website here.

VIRTUAL RIVERSIDE FIELD TEA BREAK

Covid has obviously had an impact on progressing with many projects instigated by community members and taken forward by the Directors of the Trust. This week we hope to bring people up to speed on Riverside Field as part of two virtual tea breaks on Wednesday 14th April. One at 11am and one at 7.30pm. Put your feet up, grab a cuppa and log on to the Zoom call and have an informal chat with myself and lead directors Kirsty and Catriona. Help inform some initial thoughts on the next steps for the project and some interim ideas on using the field as an outdoor space when all that pesky snow finally melts away. Details of how to log on to the Virtual Tea Break here.

UTILISING OUTDOOR SPACES

As I mentioned above we are looking at ways to use outdoor spaces available to us. A proposal went to the Directors at the mammoth Board meeting on 7th April (it finished at 10.45pm and we were nowhere near completing the whole agenda!) to turf and provide benches at the side of Wildside for people to enjoy the outdoors. There is an intention to enhance the natural surroundings long term but short term we must act now so it can have a chance to be ready in time. The proposal went ahead, including providing broadband to the outside area. Once we have the new janitor/caretaker role in place and complete the tender for gardening services to maintain the area once developed we should be good to go!

THE DIRECTORS MEETING

Did I mention the Directors meeting was a stunning 3 ¾ hours? More details to follow on the website over the coming weeks, from discussions on Broadband to Project Planning. What is clear is our current aspirations exceed the funding we have and evidence of need and match funding will be needed to progress projects by the community for the community. With the outcomes of the current Community Action Plan still unknown and the enormity of projects currently on the table do not be surprised if a Director gives a wry smile if you ask them to purchase something new or an unexpected business opportunity arises. A 3 ¾ hour long meeting will do that to you!

COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN

I have far more than five things to tell you but that will have to wait until next week! I did mention last week how annoying it can be if you don’t see the results of the survey. They were published this week here. A good read if you want to know what most of the local community are thinking. Meantime I encourage you all to check out the recent results of the survey, sign up to the Community Assembly, share your ideas in the ideas bank and find out more about the Action Plans. Still time to get involved. Follow the link here.

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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.

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