What’s Been Going On?

We are pleased to share the news of our exciting community projects! For latest on the completed community solar panels & battery storage project, announcements regarding the shop & café, and information about upcoming community events and more, read on!

Community Affordable Housing

Following planning status, we are now in the process of preparing the Building Warrant application and a tender pack. We will advise when this is ready to be progressed.

Electric Vehicle Upgraded Charges

We are all good to go once we have the sign off on the terms of the lease from our funders. This has been much longer than we anticipated. However, we have been advised that they are working through it. Once we have the correct permissions, we will advise a date when the work to install the new superfast chargers will start.

Hazelbank Woods

Work continues engaging with the landowners involved to progress the purchase and conveyancing work. We hopefully can provide a full update shortly.

Dalarossie

The opportunity to purchase Dalarossie is still progressing. A draft feasibility study and business plan has been prepared. We are currently working with the landowner to establish a workable access and parking lease which will form part of the information required for SCD to bring it back to the community for a final decision on whether to proceed with the purchase or not.

Renewables Project

We have completed the solar panels and battery storage installation on the Hub Shop & Café which is generating much needed self-power. We are already seeing the benefits financially, as well as environmentally.

Tracking the solar gain from 23/3/2024 to 17/5/24 q combined generation of both buildings provided an approximate generation of 11,030 kWh which equates to an approximate saving of £4,960 in 8 weeks.

Update on Shop/Cafe

To ensure continuity of service, WRT opened a pop-up shop in The Strathdearn shortly after 3 Bridges closed. It has since transferred back into the shop. We will continue to expand and adapt our range of goods over the coming weeks.

The new Operations Manager, Jen Farquhar, is starting on the 3rd June 2024 with the rest of the team joining throughout June. Our cook starts at the end of June, and we hope the café will reopen early July, albeit with a limited menu at the start.

The shop will be open from 9am to 4pm first week of June. Once Jen is in post, and everyone is up and running, we will look to provide a longer and more flexible service offer. Please bear with us, we will keep you updated on any changes.

The WRT board are considering names for the shop and café. To ensure customers out with the community know who, where and what we are. We must ensure the name is distinctive and memorable. We will announce the name once it has been agreed.

It’s important for our local customers to know that we are a new business and that we are working hard to make it the best it can be. We appreciate everyone’s patience and ongoing support over the next few months. While we welcome suggestions and ideas, we cannot guarantee that every idea will be implemented. The café and shop must be profitable so that we can invest in the needs of the local community and the area as part of the Strathdearn Community’s mission.

There is a lot of work and effort which goes on behind the scenes. Thanks go to the WRT team who have and are working tirelessly to get the shop and café fully operational as soon as possible.

Youth, Health & Wellbeing

SCD Gym & Health Club Subsidy

SCD continues to subsidise both High Life Highland andBannatyne health club memberships for residents with IV13 postcodes, giving the opportunity to stay healthy and well.

We are delighted that we are able to support community health & wellbeing by subsidising 108 memberships in Strathdearn.

That is in the region of 231 residents benefitting from this scheme (assuming highlife family membership is 2 adults and 2 children).

High Life Highland Membership over 50% discount for families and individuals

A highlife membership offers you and your family access to a range of health and fitness opportunities in leisure centres throughout the Highlands. In addition to swimming pools and gyms, your membership allows access to court activities, swimming lessons and a huge range of group exercise classes for people of all abilities and interests. Your membership also secures access to a great range of local benefits as well as accessing libraries and other facilities.

Looking for activities for the kids this summer?

Included in the highlife membership there are so many activities to choose from!

Go swimming, trampolining, play badminton, athletics or spend the morning at the soft play circuit with a bouncy castle! For information / to book visit: https://booking.highlifehighland.com/ (have your highlife membership cards at the ready!)

If you are interested in a highlife membership or would like further information, please contact info@strathdearn.org

Please note all membership addresses will need to be verified as IV13 postcodes (i.e with driving licence, recent mail with name and address) to benefit from SCD subsidy

High Life Highland classes available at The Strathdearn Hub

Every Wednesday:

18:30 – 19.15 Zumba

Dance your worries away with instructor led dance programmes! These classes will have upbeat music with dance moves to match.

19:20 – 20.00 Stretch and Flex

Stretching and mobility-based session to help improve functional capacity, better recovery and injury prevention.

High Life Highland have also offered a FREE class so you can ‘try before you buy’. The more residents that join the scheme the more activities we will be able to bring to The Strathdearn! It’s an incredible offer as there is so much included in the highlife membership.

Bannatyne Health Club membership

IV13 residents can enjoy over 50% off for Bannatyne Health Club all-inclusive membership! SCD are now subsiding 48 individual Strathdearn subscriptions

An all-inclusive membership with Bannatyne provides the opportunity for you to take advantage of their extensive health club facilities including swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. There are several personalised services, including access to expert personal trainers and complimentary fitness evaluations when you join.

Price: £20 / month (discounted from £46.99 / month + no joining fee)

For more information on all that Bannatyne can offer visit the website: https://www.bannatyne.co.uk/health-club/inverness


To sign up or for more information email: info@strathdearn.org

Please note all membership addresses will need to be verified as IV13 postcodes (i.e with driving licence, recent mail with name and address) to benefit from SCD subsidy

Strathdearn Community Kids Club

SCD have provided a new badminton net for the kids to play with which has proved to be a great hit! If anyone has spare badminton racquets at home that could be used / donated for the club, please get in touch: info@strathdearn.org or pop into the office.
Do you have a skill that you would like to pass onto the next generation of our community e.g. gardening, chess, knitting, painting, playing an instrument? If so, please email info@strathdearn.org to arrange a chat. The young folk would be grateful for your help.

Details:

Every Wednesday (Term time)


3.15pm walking transport provided from school to The Strathdearn Hub
3.30pm – 6pm games, sports, crafts & more!
6pm – 7pm community football

Please note:

  • Places are limited due to Highland Council health and safety ratios
  • Children may be collected at any time (please contact matthew.allan@highlifehighland.com)
  • Packed lunches can be dropped off at The Strathdearn Hub 8am – 9am (please label and keep nut free)
  • Indoor and outdoor shoes compulsory

Community E-Bikes – FREE E BIKE HIRE FOR RESIDENTS OF IV13 FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS

Through our colleagues at The Strathdearn, we continue to fund this offer, why don’t you ‘get on you bike’ (now the warmer weather is setting in) Don’t miss out on exploring the many local trails around the village (pick up a Strathdearn Access map at the Hub for routes – we’ve heard up the Clune road is particularly beautiful!).

With increasing costs of running a car they have also been great for a more economical way to get to work locally.

To book:

email: enquiries@strathdearn.org

or complete online form https://thestrathdearn.org/hire-an-e-bike/

or call 01808 511700

Summer Holiday Activities at The Strathdearn

We are delighted to confirm there will be summer holiday activities at The Strathdearn this year! See poster for details.

SCD will also subsidise 50% of the cost for IV13 families.

The SCD Snug hosted at The Strathdearn Hub

We will continue to provide free tea, coffee and biscuits and the day’s newspapers. Pop in to relax and chat with the locals!


Tuesdays and Fridays: 10am – 4pm

If you, or someone you know would like to come along to The Snug but struggle with transport please email enquiries@strathdearn.org and we will do our best to assist.

Badenoch & Strathspey Community ConneXions

SCD team have collaborated with Badenoch & Strathspey Community ConneXions (BSCX) to help support this important service which extends to the people of Strathdearn. Local volunteers are required for BSCX to be able to accept referrals within our area. If you think you could spare an hour or two to help your community who may need just a chat or a call to say hello, please contact the BSCX office on 01479 810004.

If you have any queries about anything mentioned in this update, please get in touch by emailing info@strathdearn.org or by phoning 07703 328333.

SCD COMMUNITY EVENTS UPDATE

STRATHDEARN COMMUNITY FUN RUN

£2279 was raised for Maggie’s Highlands – thank you to everyone who donated to this amazing local charity.

All the runners did well, and we would like to make a special shout out to the fastest runners: –

  • Jason MacDonald
  • Andrea Fitter
  • Riley Davidson
  • Isla Bigham
  • Ethan McDonell
  • Kieran Edward

Thanks so much to all the volunteers who gave up their time on the day.

We are hoping this is going to be an annual event for the community. Watch this space….

FOOTBALL EUROS PUB NIGHT (Scotland vs Germany) – Friday 14th June 2024:

The Strathdearn, Tomatin – Free entry

We are on the hunt for any Scotland themed props we can borrow to decorate the hall for the event. Please email events@strathdearn.org

Doors and bar open at 4pm

Family entertainment 4pm – 7pm including inflatables and face painting

Licenced bar and burger van

END OF SUMMER PARTY – Saturday 31st August 2024:

The Strathdearn, Tomatin 2pm – 10:30pm

FREE ENTRY for IV13 residents

Family entertainment (2pm – 5pm)

Inflatables, facepainting, circus skills workshop, reptile handling, Mieles Ice Cream and street food.

Live music entertainment (6pm – 10:30pm)

We are so excited to bring back The Shire for our live music act, licenced bar by Bars2U and street food.

There will also be a bus available for pick up and returning from/to the following points: –

Lynnebeg, Moy, Ruthven, Tomatin Distillery, Balvraid, Clune, Soilsean and Dalarossie

If you are interested in using the transport, please get in touch with events@strathdearn.org

STRATHDEARN FLOWER SHOW – Saturday 7th September 2024

Entries from local IV13 residents only

All entries are free

MORE EVENTS COMING – SAVE THE DATES!

Saturday 2nd November – Bonfire Night

Saturday 23rd November – Winter Food, Drink & Craft Market

Keep an eye out on our socials for further information.

If you have any queries about any of the events, please email: events@strathdearn.org

If you have any queries about anything mentioned in this update, please get in touch by emailing info@strathdearn.org or by phoning 07703 328333.

To visit the SCD website follow the link: https://ourscd.org/

The Strathdearn Community Developments Team