New Findochty and Buckie Development Trust launch recruitment drive
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PEOPLE from all walks of life are being invited to lend their time and skills to the bold new Buckie and Findochty Development Trust (FAB DT) project.
The FAB DT Steering Group are currently on a recruitment drive for volunteer members, from which a group of up to nine trustees will be drawn.
Development trusts are community organisations which are owned and managed by local people who develop projects focussed on economic, environmental and social regeneration. These can range from small quick fixes like repairing a path, to more complex goals like creating a multi-purpose community centre.
The story so far is the culmination of a year or so hard work for the steering group, who are determined that the Buckie and Findochty area make the most of the funding opportunities available.
Steering group chairwoman Susan Chalmers said: "We set about forming the trust basically because we were tired of seeing money bypass Buckie and Findochty.
"Other neighbouring communities were successfully attracting funding, but we weren't doing so to the same extent. What we needed here was an organisation that could attract and hold funding.
"We started about a year ago to gather ideas of which interests we had and what we were trying to achieve, put this into a framework and then apply for charitable status. This took took some time but we were finally awarded our charitable status on January 10.
"The next stage is now a recruitment drive to get a committee and trustees. If you have your finger on the pulse of what’s going on locally, or you are already active in the community, or you simply want help make things better, we’d love to have you as a member.
"As one of our aims is to generate income to support local projects, people with business or financial experience would be particularly welcome, but there are opportunities for everyone to contribute.
"Anyone aged 16 plus who lives in the Findochty and Buckie area (Moray Council Ward 3) is eligible to apply. Membership is also open to anyone who has an interest in, or connection to, the area. This could cover people who work in the area, volunteer here or have family here, for example."
The steering group have already held a drop-in information session in Findochty Town Hall and are set to hold a further one this Wednesday at Buckie Community Hub at 17, East Church Street, Buckie between 7pm and 8pm. People are invited to drop by and have an informal chat to steering group members over a cuppa.
This will be followed by a general meeting in Buckie Thistle's Victoria Park function hall on Wednesday, March 15.
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about FAB DT but is not able to attend any of the meetings can collect a leaflet and membership application form from the Hub.
Although it is still very early days for the fledgling trust, there is certainly no shortage of ideas for the future buzzing around.
Ms Chalmers said: "One of the big ideas we have is continuing the Hub in a bigger sense.
"We've known for a while that there's a need for it in Buckie, especially with the closure of the Phoenix Centre an the Access Point. There aren't suitable premises for agencies to to come and meet clients and deliver services.
"There's also nowhere for young people to have the likes of a youth café.
"We know from the Buckie Locality Plans surveys that there are gaps in provision in the area – for example, there's interest in allotments for Buckie – while some other groups might want to come under the trust's umbrella.
"However, the direction the trust takes is up to the committee and members to decide.
"There're plenty ideas and possibilities, we just need the right trustees and members in place to roll up their sleeves."
