Our Projects
The Helping Hands Fund
The Helping Hands Fund provides one off financial assistance for people living in Ardgay & District and Creich Community Council areas who are facing financial hardship. Grant Payments of up to £250 will be paid to households who require support with heating costs and purchase of energy efficient white goods. (One grant per household.)
So, if you are worried about heating your home, and if you are on any kind of benefit please get in touch to find out if you are eligible. Click here for further information.
Email beth@kyleofsutherland.co.uk or call: 01863 766190
Please note that funds are limited – and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Superfast Broadband
In 2018 a grant from the SSE Beatrice Fund allowed Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust make an investment in equipment that is allowing local company Highland Wireless to roll out superfast broadband in the area. Over 100 properties in the local community have signed up to receive this transformational service.
KoSDT Green Health and Natural Assets
KoSDT are excited to announce that we have been successful in our bid to the Robertson Trust to develop a new three-year strategic project that will deliver support for residents in financial hardship alongside enhancing health and wellbeing outcomes through increased community engagement with the outstanding natural assets that are found in the Kyle of Sutherland such as our forests, woods, lochs and rivers.
Over the next three years the project, led by Project Manager Beth Simco, will develop and deliver outdoor focused activities in partnership with relevant local groups and regional partners, linking nature and the environment with positive wellbeing and educational outcomes. The Sutherland Girls on Boards initiative, which will be a key part of the project, is a great example of the type of initiative that will be developed.
This new strand will be delivered alongside enhanced delivery of our established financial hardship support schemes, such as the Helping Hands Home Energy project, with new strands developed specifically to support those under 25.
The project will also link with the new Kyle FEEDS project (Food, Environment & Exercise; delivering sustainability).
Kids (P1 – P7) Outdoor Adventure Club in Gearrchoille Community Wood
As part of the above project, KoSDT in partnership with Gearrchoille Community Woods and Tain Active Schools, Highlife Highland are working together to create a Kids Outdoor Adventure Club in Gearrchoille Woods and we are looking for volunteers to kick- start it.
To kick-start the club, we are collectively looking for three or four volunteers that will support and help run the club – with the thinking that the time committed is not too much (as it will be shared between volunteers). All volunteers will be cared for by Highlife Highland and KoSDT, no experience is necessary, and training will be given if appropriate.
No time/day has been set for the club, as we wanted to remain flexible as possible with volunteers – we can work around you.
If you have any thoughts or are interested, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Beth on beth@kyleofsutherland.co.uk, call 01863 766190 (Option 1) or drop us a message on Facebook.
Sutherland Girls on Boards
Sutherland Girls on Boards is launching sessions throughout the week, next week on Lochs Migdale, Brora and Shin. The first session is on Monday (29th May 2023), followed by sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (AM/PM).
Sutherland Girls on Boards aims to reduce some of the barriers to accessing the outdoors therefore all Under 18s programming is free, thanks to our funders. The adults programming uses a tiered pricing system. All equipment is provided too! Booking is essential: linktr.ee/sutherlandgirlsonboards.
A wee reminder that they are not a lesson provider, but instead a safe space to immerse yourself in the local community/environment, improving mental and physical wellbeing via paddle power!
For more information or any worries/questions drop them a message on their socials or email hey@sutherlandgirlsonboards.com.
KOSDT and The Sutherland Community Partnership
KoSDT is an active participant in the Sutherland Community Partnership. The Partnership brings together the core partners (see diagram) and the community to tackle inequalities across Sutherland.
KoSDT also employ the SACC Project team. The SACC Project supports the delivery of any actions that are decided by the Partnership.
If you would like to be more involved in the Sutherland Community Partnership or attend a Partnership meeting please contact sutherlandcommunitypartnership@gmail.com
The Sutherland Adaptive and Collaborative Communities (SACC) Project.
The SACC Project work closely with the Sutherland Community Planning Partnership (SCP) to support its aims and priorities with a particular focus around addressing inequalities in specific communities and Sutherland wide. The team of three help to increase community resilience, enable and support community empowerment and participation, and ensure communities have a strong voice in local decision making.
Current Projects include:
Seedlings for Sutherland
Current Transport Services across Sutherland
We also manage the Sutherland Wellbeing website – sutherlandwellbeing.com which signposts to all the local and regional wellbeing services and has a current Events Calendar which contains many of the local, community events going on across Sutherland.
This is also published weekly on the Sutherland Community Partnership facebook page Sutherland Community Partnership | Facebook Sutherland Community Partnership | Facebook alongside our Friday update which contains funding information available for groups, local jobs and training, and other Sutherland information and opportunities.
KYLE FEEDS PROJECT
Funded by the Scottish Government ICF, this Project will be delivered from April 2023 until March 2026. The Project is overseen by Project Manager, Beverley Hill, with the support of 4 part-time Project staff and numerous volunteers.
The project aims to create an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable community by taking a holistic approach to health inequalities and their drivers such as poverty, isolation and lack of physical activity. Through working with partners and statutory agencies we will target the most vulnerable and those with limited access to services.
Services include:
Weekly Community Café
Offering affordable and nutritious three course meals with payment by donation. The café is shaped and delivered by volunteers with direct lived experience of poverty/social isolation. The service adheres to the Scottish Government Dignity principles and everyone is welcome to along and enjoy a bite to eat in the company of others. Other food sharing events are also delivered throughout the year, eg Big Brunch and Big Lunch.
Café operates every Monday in Bonar Bridge Community Hall from 12 noon until 2pm.
The Larder
Supporting over 200 individuals per week. A wide variety of fresh, frozen and ambient food along with cleaning products and toiletries are available. We also deliver Christmas support, providing families with a three course Christmas dinner.
Everyone is welcome at the Larder regardless of financial circumstances.
The Larder, Drovers Square (at side of KoSDT offices), Ardgay
Every Tuesday 10am until 2pm
Every Friday 10am until 2pm AND 4pm until 6pm
Community Polytunnel
Sited in Drovers Square, Ardgay supplies fresh fruit/vegetables to our Larder and Community Cafes. We are also developing an adjacent site to be used as a designated outdoor learning space allowing us to offer more in-depth educational programmes and workshops on sustainability.
Community Garden
Work is currently being undertaken to develop vacant land, owned by KoSDT, for the purpose of a Community Garden, which will be situated in the centre of Bonar Bridge. All members of the community will benefit as it will provide a safe and accessible meeting space. The site is immediately adjacent to the village bus stop and will be designed to support those with disabilities e.g. access, provision of higher raised beds. The development will provide further opportunity to grow produce for distribution through the larder and use in the café, reducing costs, increasing choice, increasing health, reducing waste, and making the project more sustainable.
Family Home Growing Project
We are looking for 20 families who would like to receive a home growing gardening pack to grow their own fruit and vegetables at home. As part of the pack you will receive a bespoke raised bed which will be constructed in line with the amount of spare ground you have in your garden to accommodate it. Don’t worry If you have no available space in your garden…we can build you a window box/boxes to get you started. You will also receive compost for your raised bed along with small pieces of gardening equipment, fruit/veg plants and seeds.
This Project is available to families resident in Ardgay and Creich with children aged 18 years and under living at home.
For more information or to register for the Project, please see contact details on the attached flier.
