Friday, 15 December 2023

12 Christmas Wishes for a Friday

What a week.  Elves running around at various locations, cute Highland Dancers, large teddy bears driving cars and people going slightly mad.  It must be the festive season! 

Right, deep breath, this is long one…

Before I begin apologies if any projects are left out below.  I’m not ignoring you and your project is important to everyone.  We just have a lot to get through!

Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone who came to Winter Wonderland and all your kind words about the event. It makes all the effort put in by volunteers, the Trust Board, local contractors and staff over the last year worthwhile.  I’d also like to thank those former members of the Trust who purchased the Wildside Centre on behalf of the community.  Without you we wouldn’t have a venue to host this wonderful annual event.  Don’t miss the Highland Gathering and Fireworks in 2024.

Also a big thanks to Kirsty Balfour, who stepped down from the Trust this year, and Gareth Jones who retired as Chair.  Kirsty and Gareth established and took forward the vision from the previous Board, backing it up with extensive community consultation through the Community Action Plan and Place Plan.  Catriona Fraser, along with the current Trust Board, will take the community to the next stage.  You can read more about Catriona here New Chair ready to lead Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust. | 12 December 2023 | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (stratherrickcommunity.org.uk)

I was thinking the other day if the Trust had not had individuals who put the time and effort in a positive and proactive way how would we have survived Covid (and now cost of living) without their help?  Initiatives such as Soup To Go and the tenacity to support Cromarty Firth Wireless Network to install broadband across the area are amazing achievements.  Without the technology being in place our community projects wouldn’t be as far ahead as they are now. Neither would local businesses and people who needed to engage and communicate with their customers and families far and wide during a difficult time.

In 2023 we have seen more people come forward to help, engage and work together for the benefit of our community as we creep ever slowly back to pre-pandemic levels of activity.  I hope you get back what you put in and I applaud you for that.

With that in mind, for my final message this year, I am going to crack on with 12 Christmas Wishes for a Friday and our hopes for 2024.

1. 12 drummers drumming!  First off we have distributed £18,300 to 61 households in the area for food and fuel. Thanks to the volunteers of the Knockie Trust for their time on this.  Their work ensured families got the funds before the Christmas season. Some of you will now be using the free firewood distributed last year to warm your homes. We will be distributing more firewood in late January/Early February.  Look out for updates in the new year.  This is the final year these two initiatives will run. Thanks to our funders SSE who recognised the impact the cost of living would have on everyone.  
2. 11 pipers piping. If we get all our ducks in a line before the Christmas holidays (and just after) the Trust will be in ownership of land and will build two homes for affordable rent at Inverfarigiag by the end of 2024.  This will join the other two homes owned by Community Housing Trust for affordable rent there. 
3. 10 lords a leaping.  We also bought land at Whitebridge for expansion of the Wildside and the area is also designated for housing.  We have no immediate plans to do either but we have done an independent risk assessment and sent that to local residents and written to them to clear any high risk items they own from the site.  This will help improve the local environment.  In March we also hope to start work on the children’s playpark inside the grounds of the Wildside Centre.  We have match funding in place thanks to the Trust fundraisers.  You helped chose the final design and I hope it will provide pleasure for young ones for many years to come.
4. 9 ladies dancing. Talking of funding we have had another successful funding application for community transport.  Don’t get too excited yet as it can take up to a year to get the vehicle (although we are working on that!).  Further details can be found online here and we hope to work in tandem with BCC’s Transport Programme and work with them on other initiatives in 2024 Community Transport Grant Success!! | 14 December 2023 | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (stratherrickcommunity.org.uk)
5. 8 maids a milking.  In other news our fundraisers have been successful in getting a Nature Restoration Grant of nearly £20,000 to support biodiversity projects at Whitebridge, Errogie and primarily Inverfarigaig, where we worked with local residents on the purchase of land there.  Check out their polycrub – and the polycrub at Whitebridge is also ready for you to use in 2024.
6. 7 swans a swimming. The second phase of the clear up at Foyers Bay has taken place and you can read about it here Further site works completed at Foyers Bay | 14 December 2023 | Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (stratherrickcommunity.org.uk)  This is in preparation for building the slipway into the Loch which should take place in May/June/July 2024.   A massive thank you to Bob Main for volunteering his time with his excavator and dump trailer clearing the road down to the Foyers footbridge. Bob has managed to clear 5 trailer loads of soil and leaf mould which he says has now made access from the medical centre side easy.
7. 6 geese a laying. Our fundraisers will start the process of raising major funds for Errogie Church Phase 2 and the Riverside Sports and Recreation project.  For Errogie a Business Case has been put together using all consultation documents which led to the final design and successful planning application. We have been working with an external consultant for advice on similar projects across Scotland and information unique to the Highlands to strengthen that business case. 
8. 5 gold rings. At Riverside the Liaison Group has been working towards meeting all preconditions and they should be submitted early into 2024.  You will be able to see the landscaping design discussed between local residents and the architect/landscaper any day now online for your input.
9. 4 calling birds.  My fingers are crossed that we can make after school provision at Stratherrick Primary School a reality with CALA for the next academic session.  This will support young families in the area, add another provision to make a stronger school.
10. 3 french hens. In terms of skills and education we also hope the community asset transfer of the Forest School near Inverfarigaig will be successful for purchase in the next financial year.  This will give young people and people of all ages the venue and area to help understand further our natural surroundings.
11. 2 turtle doves. You will hopefully be receiving the newsletter we gave out at the recent AGM to your door.  Thank you for your questions to the annual public meeting and to all those who took the time to attend.  Thanks also to the local councillor and SSE, who also attended.  We aim to repeat the Community Catch Up during 2024, the Success Evening again where you can tell us and everyone else what you are up to and more open forums at which we will discuss ongoing projects such as the great work the Pathways Group are doing.  As explained at the AGM our accounts are likely to more detailed in future as the Trust expands from a ‘micro entity’.  After Community Enterprise gave our governance a great bill of health we did push them to make us much better. They recommended a few more policies and updating of our current policies which had to be more specific to our organisation (rather than sharing ‘off the shelf’ policies).  That work has been done over the last year. The Board also recognised although minutes were circulated to members for review they were, at times, vague and we have invested to improve that as the Board move to six times a year.  This morning I received an additional governance paper for our Board from a consultant we have been working with over the last year in preparation for that change.   Also our website will be having a few (more) tweaks as the amount of information is making it creak at the edges and some important pages simply disappeared into cyber space!  The new features include online booking for our venues (and possibly others if they wish it).  That update will be done in January/February 2024.  I am not aware of any of the 300+ Trusts in Scotland with such an active website.  It is hard to manage and maintain its current quality and in part that is thanks to the three year funding for staff from the Scottish Government Strengthening Communities Programme, meaning our own cash resources can go into other projects.
12. And a Partridge in a Pear Tree!  As also mentioned at the AGM we intend to become a Company Limited by guarantee and a registered Scottish Charity in 2024.  Most Community Trusts are charities.  Nothing will change other than we must provide more information to the public domain and we can apply for more funding for the area.  We have run this past an external consultant and our accountants and the Board have been debating this change for a while.  The members will decide, of course.

I had hoped to give some guidance on potential investment in future wind turbines but SSE have pushed back our meeting to February.  It happens. Things take time.  I’m sure all the projects above will experience some unknown curve balls. 

That’s enough wishes to be going on with don’t you think?   All this is leading to 2030 when we want the work we do and the assets we have be self-sufficient, as explained at the AGM and presented in the exhibition that ran in the Wildside on the night.

For now, many of our staff they are finishing early to take time off in lieu and to make sure they also take their holidays.  They have been working tirelessly on your behalf and deserve time with their families and friends.  The staff also appreciate the support they have from the Board and willing volunteers.  I wish them and all of you a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years. 

We will see you in 2024 for more fun and games!

Tony Foster

Trust Manager

2025

February (12 stories)

22 February 📣 ** TODAY ** 📣 - Forest School Meeting

Interested in the future of the Forest School building? From 2pm   Come and speak to us about your thoughts for the Forest School and wider opportunities fo...

21 February Congratulations to Whitebridge Hotel

Whitebridge Hotel are finalists in the National Hotels of the Year - Scotland awards!   The ceremony takes place in Glasgow on the 26th February at The Cr...

19 February 📣 Youth Club returns this Thursday 📣

Youth club is for anyone in P7 to S6 ✅ After a bit of a break, we are delighted to say that Youth Club is back!! ⭐ Important info ⭐ Date - Thursday 20th Februa...

19 February Communications 2025!

We are making a some improvements in the way we share important information with the community in 2025. The SFCT Board and communications team have made the dec...

13 February Mailing List Update

We hope you received your copy of the February newsletter and enjoyed reading through it. The team are busy updating our mailing list and we understand that there may ...

12 February Next Sat 22nd February

Next Sat 22nd February   Inverfarigaig Forest School, Farigaig Forestry Carpark IV2 6XR - From 2pm   Come and speak to us about your thoughts fo...

11 February ⚠️ Update regarding the upcoming works taking place at The Wildside Centre ⚠️

We can now confirm that the scheduled works on upgrading the toilet facilities in the Wildside Centre is starting this Thursday – 13th February.   The Wi...

11 February 🙌 JOIN OUR TEAM 🙌

We are currently recruiting a part-time (30 hours per week) Community Action Plan Project Officer to join our small team, based in the Wildside Centre in Whitebridge, on ...

8 February 📢 THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE 📢

Later today the Pathways Group are hosting their Community Engagement event at the Wildside Centre from 13.30pm.   For the past year, the Pathways Group has be...

6 February Errogie Church Statement

As you will be aware, an announcement was made by the Trust in mid December 2024 that we were unfortunately unable to host three events that were due to take place at Err...

6 February Wildside Wednesday Success!

🙌THANK YOU 🙌 We want to say a big thank you to those of you who popped along to our first Wildside Wednesday event yesterday! It was great to see you all 😃  ...

5 February !! WILDSIDE WEDNESDAY - TODAY !!

Join us TODAY at the Wildside Centre, between 9.30am – 12.30pm where the first Wildside Wednesday of 2025 will take place.  You can shop local, with local p...

January (22 stories)

31 January !! Next Saturday !!

On the 8th Feb The Pathways Group host their Community Engagement Day at the Wildside Centre from 13.30pm.   The group have setup a dedicated Facebook event pa...

30 January Refurbishments to toilets in The Wildside Centre

Following many months of work behind the scenes we are pleased to be able to share with you that work on upgrading the ladies toilets and creating a larger disabled toile...

30 January Fancy a sing song with Monadhliath?

The Monadhliath Choir invites all singers to a charity singing event on the 27.04.2025 at Stratherrick Public Hall. If you would be interested in join...

29 January February Newsletter

We are pleased to share that our Feb newsletter should be making its way through your door next week! 🙌   Please look out for the white envelope addressed to ...

25 January Do you use Instagram?

Did you know that Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust are on Instagram? If you too have an account, why not give our page a follow. We’re keen to build up ...

24 January Foyers Community Fire Station

🚒 Foyers Community Fire Station 🚒   Foyers Community Fire station has a competent crew of 7 personnel, but we are in real need of new recruits, to keep the s...

23 January Wildside Wednesday is returning!

Join us on the 5th February at the Wildside Centre, between 9.30am – 12.30pm.   Here is your chance to shop local, with local produce from Lyne Mhor Crof...

22 January Loch Ness Luvvies - Traditional Burns Supper

This Friday, 24th Jan the Loch Ness Luvvies are hosting their very own Traditional Burns Supper at Stratherrick Hall, Gorthleck at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 per he...

22 January Timings have been announced!

As you may have recently seen, The Pathways Group are running a Community Engagement event on the 8th February from 1pm at The Wildside Centre. In our previous post, t...

21 January ** Mobile Library Update **

Mark, our local librarian has kindly sent over a full list of dates when he will be stopping in the area. You can find the full list here: https://www.stratherrickcommuni...

20 January Invitation to tender - Health & Safety Consultant required

We are looking for an experienced Health & Safety professional to carry out a comprehensive survey on Errogie Church to ensure that the building is fully compliant fo...

19 January Send in your dates for the Community Calendar!

Did you know we have an online Community Calendar? If not, you can find it here: https://www.stratherrickcommunity.org.uk/calendar/   We would love to inclu...

18 January What's the next step?

For the past year, the Pathways Group has been working hard to promote the local path network, paths that lead through rich landscapes, historical sites, and biodiversity...

15 January Community Engagement Day - 8th Feb

Over the last month you may have noticed that the Pathways Group are holding a Community Engagement Day on the 8th February. You can find out all about the event by follo...

14 January Mobile Library Update

Below you will find a list of updated Dates/Times where you can visit the Mobile Library at The Wildside Centre.   We will add these dates to the Online Commu...

14 January Indoor Carpet Bowls makes it return as of today!

** TODAY ** Indoor Carpet Bowls makes it return as of today! The group return to their weekly session after the Xmas break. Please note: The group will now ...

10 January Community Engagement Event - 8th Feb

The Pathways Group invites you to a community event that explores the potential development of a pathways based app. This is your opportunity to help shape an app which w...

9 January Deadline for Jan/Feb Newsletter Content!

The deadline to send in any content for the Jan/Feb Newsletter is Friday the 17th of January 2025. Please email marketingofficer@sfctrust.org.uk with your articles inclu...

9 January Send us in your photos from the Winter Festival

A HUGE thank you to those of you who have already uploaded photos to our shared community photo gallery during the festival.   If you have any wintery snaps th...

8 January Reverse Advent Calendar Success!

Santa's little helpers would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way to the overwhelming success of this project. The generosity shown by our community was ...

8 January ** MOBILE LIBRARY VISIT TODAY CANCELLED **

Sadly, due to the current road conditions, Mark who drives the local ‘Mobile Library’ will NOT be stopping at Wildside today. All books will be renewed, and h...

7 January Welcome Back

Hello, we hope you had a relaxing time during the festivities. As it’s now time to get back to work, we thought it would be a good idea to update our online communi...