Category: Community News

• Job Title: Activities Assistant
• Employer: Forres Area Community Trust
• Pay Scale: £9,984 plus pension
• Hours of Work: 16 hours per week
• Responsible to: Facilities Co-ordinator
• Contract Length: until 30th September 2022 – extension subject to funding.

Project Description and Aim

Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) has secured funding through the Beatrice Fund, Peoples Postcode Lottery Fund and the Strengthening Communities Recovery Fund to provide activities and resources to address social isolation and increase connectivity (both digitally and socially) across the Forres area

The project contributes to the following outcomes:

• To improve the quality of life and resilience of the community
• To improve the skills of volunteers through training and engagement
• That people in the Forres area are less isolated and make connections

FACT will manage a programme to provide activities, responsive digital help and services to the Forres community. The programme includes free drop-in sessions, outreach sessions, evening classes, talks and community events and activities.

Person Specification

Essential

• Excellent IT skills (including proficiency with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS)
• Excellent communication skills and an approachable manner
• An organised approach to work and excellent time management skills
• Experience of working with and supporting people
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Cooperative attitude
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Ability to undertake marketing and promotion of the project

Desirable

• Familiarity with 3rd sector organisations
• Knowledge of local Forres community and organisations in the area
• The ability to travel to various locations in our catchment area
• An understanding of event management

Key Tasks

• Supporting the Project Coordinators to deliver key project objectives
• Supporting the development and delivery of activities and events
• Supporting the marketing of the programme through social media and printed matter
• Maintaining records of attendance and recording other key information as required
• Updating and maintaining project equipment
• Attending outreach sessions to deliver activities in the Forres area
• Attending evening programme sessions when necessary
• Supporting volunteers to learn new skills
• Undertake reception duties in Forres Town Hall
• And any other relevant duties that may arise as the work of the project evolves

This job description reflects the major tasks to be carried out by the post holder and identifies the level of responsibility at which they will be required to work. In the interests of effective working, the major tasks may be reviewed from time to time to reflect changing project needs and circumstances. Such reviews and any consequential changes will be carried out in consultation with the post holder.

Applications

For more information please contact on info@forresarea.org or 01309 674 388.

• Closing Date Wednesday 13^th October 2021 at 12 noon.
• Interviews on the 18^th October 2021

An activity day where people can try their hand at drumming, listen to children’s storytelling sessions and enjoy a spot of Highland dancing and piping is taking place this month.

Forres Area Community Trust is staging a ‘Find Out the FACTs’ event in Grant Park on 21st of August.

The event is to showcase what the Trust does and how the Forres Town Hall is used.

Kirsty Williams, who is the Old Persons’ Project Co-ordinator with FACT and who is organising the day explained: “We are really looking forward to Find Out the FACTs which is really an opportunity for people to come along, have some fun and find out more about what we do.

“FACT works with so many different partners and we have a very busy schedule with loads of activities that support many different groups in the community. All we want to do at our Grant Park event is spread awareness of what’s available to do in the area, not just by ourselves but those organisations and groups we work in partnership with to make the area a better place to live, work and visit.”

“Through the pandemic, FACT really came to the fore and we worked with a range of partners to support those who were vulnerable or struggling during the lockdowns, but now things are getting better and restrictions are easing, we are working on promoting our classes and workshops and just want to showcase what we and our partners have to offer the people of the area.”

In March, it was announced that FACT had taken ownership of Forres Town Hall after a successful community asset transfer process. The Trust had been managing the building since 2018.

It is now pushing forward with a fundraising strategy to raise the £3.4 million for a regeneration project to redevelop the building as a thriving venue and facility fit for the 21^st century and to provide services and resources for the area into the future.

Kirsty said: “FACT is delighted to be the custodian of the Town Hall on behalf of the community, and our event will also allow us to talk to the public about the hall and what the plans are for its future. We can also share with attendees about all the great activities that take place in the hall.”

Find Out the FACTs will take place between midday and 4pm on 21st of August.

FACT secured funding from the Scottish Government, via Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), from the Communities Recovery Fund.

Kirsty said: “HIE is co-ordinating the Communities Recovery Fund in the Highlands and Islands, on behalf of the Scottish Government, for all eligible community organisations, who are implementing changes to reintroduce the delivery of existing services and activities that have been suspended or severely reduced because of COVID-19 and/or deliver new services identified as a priority by the community as a result of COVID-19.”

“We are delighted that our event is able to go ahead after securing this funding. There will something for everyone. We have some great entertainment lined up and there is something for all age groups. We have drumming with Active Minds Moray, Forres Online will be there to explain how they can help people improve their digital knowledge, we will have storytelling from Margot Henderson, Scottish country dancers and pipers from the Forres and District Pipe Band.

“We invite people to come along and bring a picnic and spend the afternoon with us. It’s a real community event. Wave Radio are supporting us by handling the announcing and the organisers of the Forres Highland Games which have been hit hard by the pandemic are lending us tables and chairs.

“If a picnic is not your thing, we will be situated near Mather’s so there will be an opportunity to grab something from there as well, and for kids to not only enjoy what we have on offer but have fun at the playpark and in Grant Park too.”