Summary of the Skirling Community Development Trust Meeting on 1st April 2025

This was the second meeting of the Trustees. 

The Trustees are keen to appoint a part-time Community Co-ordinator to support the work of the Trust. We agreed a job description; in advance of securing funding, we opted to put out a note inviting expressions of interest from people who might apply for the post when it is advertised. There have been good discussions with one of the wind farm companies who offer funding for such ventures, and we are optimistic that an application could be successful later in the spring. 

Trustees are keen to discuss with the Community Council and other local groups the projects we might first take on, drawing from the Skirling Community Action Plan. The Community Council have sent round an update report about the how the Plan is getting on, and that will be useful for the next stage of action. The Trust is open to lots of conversations on this matter. 

There are small plots of land around the village, mainly next to the road ‘upstream’ from the green, that the Carmichael Trust land owns; they are not attached to other tracts of land – so-called ‘Orphaned land’ – and that Trust wants to speak with representatives of local people to see what we can do about handing over responsibility for them – this is where the new Community Development Trust can help. A group of Skirling Community Development Trustees are currently finalising a map of the land that is accurate, with Bob Hunter’s help, and then we’ll assess what we can do about the land to benefit the village.

The new Trust is also in talks with holders of Community Funds – voluntary contributions and funds that benefit people in the village – with a view to bringing them into the Trust and overseeing the funds more efficiently. The Trust would ensure they are still used for their intended purpose. 

First things first – There is still quite a lot of work going on the get the Trust up and running smoothly; thanks to all the people who have worked to make that happen. We are planning a meeting in the village Hall to tell people about our progress in early summer, and listen to views about early plans. That will probably happen when we have a Community Coordinator.