Aird Community Trust (ACT)

Category: Articles

  • Pitch Project Update

    The aim of the Pitch Project is to refurbish the waterlogged, rutted and unplayable Community Centre Pitch to make it usable again for everyone in the community.

    We have been fund-raising locally for the last couple of years with the 100+ Club (contact christinerebeg@hotmail.co.uk if you’d like to join) and some Community Quiz Nights.

    We’ve held an Open Meeting to find out people’s views and are developing a working partnership with Inverness City Football Club (Junior Scottish League).

    If we can raise the substantial funds needed via grant applications to refurbish the pitch we can give them a permanent home in Kirkhill. Their expertise and rent for the use of the Pitch for training and matches will ensure we can keep the Pitch in good condition, once it is repaired.

    Please contact the Kirkhill Community Group (names and numbers available on Community Centre Notice Board) if you can help or wish to make a donation.

    Thanks.

  • Beauly Cares

    Most elderly people want to live at home for as long as they possibly can. For many of us that should be perfectly feasible – with a little bit of support.

    We believe statutory services are important – particularly for addressing practical issues such as adaptations to your home or help with cleaning and cooking. But we also feel communities can take the initiative and help themselves and their neighbours and friends.

    One of the single biggest issues for older people is social isolation and our aim is to find ways to develop social networks which help people live happily at home for as long as they wish.

    The project encompasses Beauly, Kiltarlity, Kilmorack and Kirkhill.

    What we’ve achieved so far

    • a weekly Lunch Club with entertainment on Mondays in The Royal British Legion, Beauly,  attracting around 35 people each week
    • monthly Teas in Kilmorack, Kirkhill, and Kiltarlity  for 12 to 25 people
    • a transport scheme for those who have difficulty attending events

    What we aim to do next

    • continue to explore opportunities for the establishment of a Day Centre
    • expand the travel scheme, when we take delivery of a mini-bus with wheelchair access which has been gifted by the Highland Cross
    • develop a walking group which will help keep people mobile
    • create a Men’s Shed in the village – a community version of a space for men.

    We are also working with other organisations to provide support and events for carers and people with dementia who face particular challenges.

    We are committed to doing what we can to help people stay where they want to be – in their local community.

    Membership

    If you would like to become a member, either to register support for the project or to get involved, please contact Zane Wright (Co-ordinator) as follows

    Tel. 07747 312396 – I am not always able to answer phone so please leave a message and I will contact you as soon as possible

    or email bdcareproject@yahoo.com

  • Autumn Volunteering Day

    The weather treated us kindly on Saturday and we had a good turn out to help trim the willows. Many thanks to Rob Kinghorn, Tom Paterson, Mark Forbes and Lindsey Stout. By 2pm the 3 willow structures had all the new growth since the spring trim weaved into the structure and the top growth turned over to form roofs. All the cuttings were chopped up and laid inside the structures as mulch. They now look very neat and future growth should reinforce the structure. It was remarked how dry this end of the park was, considering how it used to be a bit of a bog when the Trust took over the care of the park. This is a testament to the original design and work by Les Bates and the on-going maintenance by Trust members. It was also noted that the trees and willows provide both a visual and sound break to the play equipment in the park from the surrounding houses, apart from the cottages on the east boundary of course. They also provide a welcome area of greenery in the centre of the village.

     

    You may know that we have been looking for someone to keep an eye on the park, now that the fence repairs have been completed and the willows trimmed. I am delighted that Mark Forbes has agreed to take on this task. He lives next to the park and walks his dog Toby past it each day. He will let the Trust Board know if there are any issues that require attention and a suitable work party can be organised.

     

    I took a break from the willows to look after the Litter Pick at noon that met in the community centre car park. Many thanks to all who helped collet the several bags of litter plus concrete blocks, bricks, lengths of metal, several balls and a 10p piece! This should help keep the village tidy over the winter until our next pick in the spring but don’t let it stop you picking up any litter you pass in the meantime!

     

    Erik Lundberg

  • Up Helly Aa – Kirkhill Style

    To mark the Viking Festival of Up Helly Aa, Kirkhill Beavers and Cubs put on their own version of the famous celebration held in Shetland at the end of January each year. A replica longship, built by the Cub leaders, David Hendry and Dave Knox, was carried into the playing field behind the Community Centre and placed on a firepit where it was burnt. This was followed by a firework display and then hot chocolate and marshmallows toasted over the embers.

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  • Kirkhill and Bunchrew Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Programme

    Who will forget in a hurry the cold snaps we experienced over the last 2 winters. The prolonged periods of cold weather meant many of us will have faced higher energy bills. And anyone trying to buy heating oil in December last year would have found that not only was it hard to get an accurate delivery date, but that prices fluctuated dramatically from week to week.

    Energy prices are increasing as demand for the likes of oil increases in other parts of the world. Add to this the costs of creating all the renewable energy capacity the Government wants to establish and one thing is certain – we will pay more for our energy supplies in the future. These increasing prices are giving rise to concern about an issue known as fuel poverty. Fuel poverty can loosely be defined as a situation in which a household is not able to heat a home to an acceptable standard at an acceptable cost, in relation to its income. Put another way, a household is in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income on all household fuel use.

    Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust have been awarded Scottish Government funding to run a year-long community programme to raise awareness of energy efficiency and low carbon energy (or renewable energy). The programme will help residents understand how they can make their homes more energy efficient and how micro generation equipment like solar panels or heat pumps can help provide alternative sources of energy.

    The programme has three objectives,

    1. Increase awareness of energy use and energy efficiency. How would you like to be an energy efficiency volunteer, using a free energy monitor to help understand how you make your home more energy efficient. We will provide a free energy monitor for 2 months and a list of actions you can take to make your home more energy efficient. All we ask is for some feedback on your experience and the savings you’ve made. We will have regular prizes for the best feedback and savings.  
    2. Maximise uptake of subsidised and funded energy efficiency improvements and insulation deals. There is a range of assistance available to help make our homes more energy efficient. Depending on individual circumstances you may qualify for free or subsidised energy efficiency assistance or support. We will be reminding people throughout the year to check if they qualify for this support. 
    3. Increase awareness of renewable energy/low carbon energy solutions. We are planning to run a renewable energy fair in the late October where there will be different micro generation equipment on display and experts available to talk about the different domestic systems.

    We would like to hear from residents who are interested in taking part in the energy efficiency challenge or are keen to find out more about the support and assistance they can receive. We have established a short survey  to collect contact information which we will pass onto the regional Energy Saving Scotland advice centre. Alternatively, you can contact the centre direct on the freephone number 0800 512 012.

    Over the coming 12 months there will be regular updates and information on how the Programme develops and how you can get engaged. With there being a certainty energy prices will get more expensive in the future, now is the time to make sure your home is an energy efficient one.

  • Crannog Deadline

    We are now planning for the next edition which MUST be ready for circulation about a week before the Gala. The first day of Gala Week is 29 May and distribution of Crannog must have been done by then. In which case as you may noitice in the current edition our closing date for advertising, 22 May, is clearly too late.
     
    SO WE’RE NOW ASKING YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR ADVERTS BY 15 MAY AT THE LATEST.
     
    The following advertisers have already purchased a series of adverts including the Gala edition and therefore do not need to get in touch unless any changes are required to text or formatting:
     
    Dan Fraser Trees
    ABC Plant Hire
    Drainage Doctors
    Stewarts Carpets
    Hugh Brown Trees
    First Choice Decorations
    Rowanhill Natural Crafts
    Beauly Gallery
    John Russell Gardening
    Rob Kinghorn Tree Surgeon
    Blooming Marvellous
    Heather MacKenzie Holiday Club
    Canine Styles
     
    All other advertisers must submit their requirements by 15 May for inclusion.