Care in Strathnairn is a local charity, providing a range of services to vulnerable members of the Strathnairn Community. Our work is organised by a co-ordinator and delivered by a small team of 19 local volunteers. We operate a handyperson scheme, where gardening and other household works are carried out along with a be-friending service for those who want someone to talk to or wish to have company. We also hold a monthly friendship group either at Farr Community hall or visits to local museums, heritage centres etc.
We are now in our third year of operations, and our plans for 2009 include expanding the handyperson scheme further as well as the role we adopt in representing our clients. We have recently set up a new storage shed at Farr Hall to house our equipment, along with equipment from SCW and SCATA. Our work has recently been recognised by the Third Sector, coming ‘runners’ up’ in this years Scottish Charity Awards 2009, in the category of Community Action. Volunteer, Graeme Steel and Trustee Dr. Arthur Bennet represented CiS at a glittering ceremony at Edinburgh in June.
In 2008 we assisted 34 people, with 125 requests being completed. We are also developing our ideas to publish a Heritage of Strathnairn book/dvd - recording and sharing peoples' experiences of growing up in Strathnairn. More information on our work is found in the linked documents: General Leaflet and our Annual Report for 2007 and 2008.
Our work is funded by Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund and recently monies from Housing and Social Work departments of The Highland Council along with donations from clients.
All our work is carried out by volunteers and due to the increasing numbers of requests for gardening assistance we would be keen to hear from anyone who would like to help by giving a few hours or more a month.
For further information on our work, contact Paul Davies on tel. 01808 521446 / 0793 6738930, email - careinstrathnairn@btinternet.com
Information Documents
Seniors Lunch Club
This meets on the second Friday of the month at Farr Hall at 12.30pm. Outings are also arranged from time to time thanks to the Lunch Club team of Liz, Ria, Sue, Kate and Paddy.
SCATA (Strathnairn Community Access & Transport Association
The SCATA minibus has been busy over the summer with trips for hospital and dental appointments, regular runs to the SNAP club (Special Needs Activity Programme) in Smithton, transportation of chickens and chicken houses, motorscooters, electric bikes etc etc as well as the regular weekly Tuesday run to the shops, banks and chemists in Inverness and the lunch club. Regular users come from Loch Ruthven at one end of the Strath to Daviot East
SCATA drivers are all volunteers and are not paid for their time. Volunteer drivers are atways welcomed -drive as much, or as little as suits you. Training will be given; an ordinary (clean) driving licence is needed for insurance purposes. Out-of-pocket expenses are paid.
A copy of the minutes of the 2006 AGM has been posted on the usual notice boards or is available on application from the SCATA HQ/registered office at Wester Lairgs, Farr lV12 6HX. These have been submitted, together with the annual accounts and a report of the year’s activities, to the Office of the Charity Regulator.
SCATA is an INDEPENDENT Scottish charity, funded by the Scottish Executive Rural Transport Initiative and Highland Council. Mdittonal startup funding was provided by Lloyds TSB, Scothsh
Community Foundation, Highland Council, Partnership for Rural Inverness & Naim, Lifescan Scotland and Strathnairn Community Council.
Use of the minibus is open to all in the area covered by the community council; a small charge per mile is made to help cover the cost of diesel.
Sadly one of our stalwarts, Mary, has moved away from the strath. We wish her all the best in her new home and are sad to see her go.
Does anyone fancy an afternoon out at the ‘Silver Cinema’ in Merkinch the second Monday of the month, from 2pm? Classic old-time films are shown, followed by a cup of tea. The SCAlA bus will take you to the door and back. The cost is £2.50 for the ticket, plus the bus fare. The next showings are on 12 March and 16 April (‘Star is born’, ‘The Day the Balloon Went Up’ and ‘Of Human Bondage’).
The Scottish Executive’s Rural Transport Initiative which has largely funded SCATA, is to close. An enhanced demand—reponsive budget is to be introduced in April 2008, which includes community transport. This new budget will be managed by Regional Transport Partnerships. This has meant that an application has been made for SCATA to the executive for the next funding round in March but will last only for six months from June. The lengthy application process will then need to be gone through again with the new Regional Transport Partnership. Hopefully the transitions will be seamless and users will not notice any difference...
The minibus has been used by a core of people for the usual round of hospital, doctors and chiropodist appointments etc, as well as the regular Tuesday shopping run, lunch club and bank. The highlight of the past few months has been a couple of bus runs from the hail after a 21st birthday party at 0200, with some very good community singing from the gamekeepers!
It has been very useful in the sad task of helping to clear the homes of two strath residents - Mary, who went into residential care and Jenny Wrenn, who died before Christmas. Jenny was delighted to be able to use the minibus on Tuesdays when she could choose items herself, for the first time for many years, using the mobility scooter. The minibus certainly helped these elderly people to maintain their independence in their own homes.
The minibus can be hired by private groups/clubs etc at a competitive rate for Strathnairn residents- please contact me for rates and availability. SCATA also has available a folding wheelchair, a night stick and a bath lift. If they could be of use to you, please just ask. Please give as much notice as you can of journeys to enable us to find a volunteer driver.
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