Dores and Essich Community

News

Have your Say about the Future of Dores and Essich Area

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Have your say about the future of Dores and Essich area!

Dores and Essich Community Council (DECC) has commissioned Impact Hub Inverness to help prepare a Local Place Plan (LPP) for the Dores and Essich area, with funding from the Dores Community Trust.

DECC commissioned Impact Hub Inverness to prepare a Community Action Plan for the next ten years which sets out the priorities for the local community. The results of the Plan will be used to inform a Local Place Plan. The issues you highlighted as key to the area were as follows:

– Elderly Care

– Car parking and traffic management

– Housing

– Public transport

– The beach area

– Public toilets, litter and anti-social behaviour

– The need to look after the beautiful surroundings, the Hall and the sense of community

The Local Place Plan is an opportunity for you to put a pin on a map for places and buildings that you would like to see protected and looked after, and also to identify areas that you think could be developed for different uses.

Impact Hub Inverness is holding 2 drop-in public meetings at Dores Village Hall on:

📅 Tuesday 25th June (2-5pm)

📅Thursday 27th June (4:30-7:30pm)

Latest Messages

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I have attempted to put round the latest messages via email but a number of them are bouncing back as they are being reported as spam. If you read this can you add the [email protected] to the safe senders list please

Dear friends and supporters of Aldourie PS!

Many thanks to those who were able to attend our Tipsy Afternoon Tea party at Dores Hall in May. It was a lovely afternoon, and we were delighted to see so many friends old and new. We raised over £800 which is an amazing amount of money, and we are very, very grateful for this. 

Our next event is well underway. We are holding a community celebration to mark Aldourie PS 150th birthday party on Friday June 21st from 1.30pm. Due to the changeable Scottish weather we have hired a marquee for the school playground where the children will be performing ‘Aldourie PS through the decades.’ We will also have a museum in the school hall sharing photographs, documents, examples of work and teaching materials. The children have also asked for a time capsule to be buried so we will be doing that below the Big Tree (if the ground is soft enough!)  We will also have the unveiling of our new mural in the school hall, designed by the children alongside Jacqueline Briggs, a local artist. Scrumptious food will be available from Bubble and Goose for everyone to enjoy. This event has been very kindly supported by Dores Community Development Trust, Wildlands (Aldourie Castle), Envoy and Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust. We are hugely grateful to these sponsors as it means there will be no charge for this event. We will however take the opportunity to sell some raffle tickets with prizes very kindly donated by local businesses and have a few tabletop games to enjoy.

Our school motto is certainly living up to its name : Little by little, a little becomes a lot!! Without everyone doing their little bit we can invite everyone to this BIG celebration. We do hope you will be able to join us!! 

Kind regards

Louise 

Mrs Louise Robertson

Headteacher Aldourie       

Aldourie PS           

Aldourie                                        

IV2 6DP                                           

Tel: 01463 751272                     

Mob: 07734469367     

Little by Little, a little becomes a lot!

Hi,

 As you may know the Dores and Boleskine congregation of the Church of Scotland recently united with St Columba Church of Scotland.  For a long time our church has planned to erect a building on our site at Dores road. As part of that process we are seeking the views of stakeholders which includes the various community councils  in the area our church seeks to serve.

A link to a survey is below and we’d be grateful if you would take a few minutes to complete it.  We’d also be very happy if you were able to include this in any regular newsletter or on any social media/ website  you have so that those living in our area can share their views.

If as a community council  you want to respond to the survey together or individually that is fine. 

If it would be helpful we would be happy to meet with you, coming to your next meeting.  We hope to have the survey complete during June though, which might not fit with the pattern of your meetings. 

It is our hope that we can build something that can serve our community well.  Your views will shape how we serve the community, and we value what you folks have to say highly. 

https://forms.gle/7obbuWoYvq3LLMGS9

Thanks for your help with this.

Murray 

R Murray McCheyne

Session Clerk

St Columba, Church of Scotland, Inverness 

07872 622532

Community Briefing 31-05-24

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Community Briefing – 31 May 2024

Dear Community Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

Welcome to The Highland Council’s fortnightly briefing containing information about support, resources, and events for local communities.

If you have anything you wish to be included in a future briefing, please contact [email protected]

To join the mailing list for this briefing please complete this short survey: https://forms.office.com/e/rSS3hXbGTa

Funding 

  • May Funding Finder – Highlands & Islands Climate Hub have compiled a list of funds suitable for climate action projects.
  • Scottish Building Society – Up to £5,000 is available for community groups with a focus on creating a sustainable future for vulnerable individuals, including vulnerable youngsters and the elderly. Deadline 12/07/24.

Community Training, Events, & News

  • Whin Park Survey – Highland Council has two possible designs for the upgrade to the popular Whin Park in Inverness and is asking the public to help influence the choice of the final design by choosing their favourite.

The expected timeline for the Whin Park redevelopment is:

  • May 24 – Shortlisting of two suppliers. 
  • June 24 – Public consultation to choose the winning design.   
  • July 24 – Contract awarded.
  • Oct 24 – Works to begin on site.
  • Highland Council Community Wealth Building Strategy Consultation – This survey seeks to learn what the community think of this draft strategy. The views will inform the further development of the strategy and shape the supporting action plan.
  • Highland Mental Wellbeing Resources – This page has been created as a single place to visit which will keep resources designed to support people with their mental health and wellbeing in one place for easy access. 
  • The Highlands and Islands Climate Festival – offers community groups and voluntary organisations £150 to host a climate action event as part of the festival which takes place from 1st – 30th September. In addition, the festival team invite groups to submit proposals with ideas for larger scale events. The fund is open until the 28th June.
  • Your Place Highland – the Highland Place Standard survey  was launched at the end of March 2024. The responses received so far are already being considered to help shape future plans, including the Council’s next Local Development Plan. The deadline to have your say on Your Place has now been extended to Friday 16 August 2024.
  • Wick Roadshow – Scottish Women’s Convention – This ‘roadshow’ event takes the form of informal roundtable discussions, where women can talk freely about issues that are important to them, in their local area. While the SWC asks broad questions, discussions are led by the women. A report is produced, which is sent to women who attended and to local and national politicians. It is hoped that the women will use the document to press for the change that they want to see within their communities. Information gathered then goes on to be included in Scottish and UK Parliament and Government consultations and calls for evidence, so that real women’s voices are heard as part of the decision-making process.

The Scottish Women’s Convention is coming to Wick to hold our ‘roadshow ‘event, this is a free event with refreshments and snacks provided. As sensitive issues are likely to be discussed, we aim to provide a safe, confident, and comfortable space to allow these experiences to be shared. These events are, therefore, only open to women to attend and from the age of 16years up.

Saturday 8th June 2024

11.30am-1.30pm

Community Room,

Tesco Superstore

North Rd,

Wick

KW1 4QS

The Scottish Women’s Convention would love to invite all women within your organisation from that area and we would appreciate it if you could circulate this flyer through out your organisation, to colleagues, friends, family – any women whom you think may be interested in coming along. We want to meet with and hear from as many women in the area and surrounding areas as possible.

To register please click here.

  • Planet Youth May Newsletter – Topics include Planet Youth Update, Mikeysline launching in Caithness, webinars for a variety of topics, and information about sleeping habits.
  • BBC1 is looking for stories in the Highland community – Do you have a cherished local landmark, a personal family heirloom, or a historical artefact with a connection to the Highlands that’s undergoing or in need of restoration? Are you seeking support to preserve your local community’s heritage?

The Repair Shop wants to help! We’re looking to restore historical treasures, revive personal items, and honour crafting heroes in the Highlands. Whether you have a special item yourself, or want to nominate a project or individual, we want to hear from you.

Apply now on the BBC website – https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/take-part/the-repair-shop

  • Highland Whole Family Wellbeing Programme – This platform is intended to share information about anything relating to holistic family wellbeing and support.
  • Cost of living support – Highland Council webpages on support and information to help with the cost of living.
  • Help during the cost-of-living crisis – Scottish Government advice and information.
  • CAB Energy Advice – Citizens Advice Bureau offer free, impartial energy advice to householders. They provide advice to help reduce household energy use, save money, and understand energy bills and support householders to manage energy debt. This can be done in person, over the phone or by video call. 0800 028 1456 will bring you to an interactive service which will connect you to the relevant service or you can enter your postcode here to find your local Citizen Advice bureau.
  • Armed Forces & Veterans: Education, Health & Housing – Information to support and signpost Highland’s Armed Forces Community:

Mental Health & Wellbeing

  • NHS Highland Mental Wellbeing – a collection of resources and signposts to help people of all ages to look after their own mental wellbeing. Register for the event by following the link.
  • Cost of living crisis and your mental health
    Many people are feeling the strain as the cost of living continues to increase.  This resource provides information on how you can maintain your mental wellbeing at this time, alongside information on how to manage your money as bills rise.

Community Safety and Resilience

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

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