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Community Asset Transfer and lockdown

richardx on 8 October 2020

When Moray Council took the decision to close Forres Town Hall completely in 2017, Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) stepped in to lease and manage the building on behalf of the community. This has been very successful as FACT have worked with user groups to increase occupancy and use of the building which doubled in the first 12 months of taking on the building. 

Until lockdown earlier this year a wide range of user groups including Forres & District Pipe Band, the Varis Players, Film Forres and the Forres branch of the Royal Scottish County Dance Society have been able to continue using this space. 

FACT has also been able to offer various activities in the Town Hall such as the popular Forres Online drop in sessions, and Older Persons Project activities such as gentle seated exercise and welcomed new groups to use the building including Turning Point Church, Zumba and Pound exercise classes, Guide Dog Training and community meals with Moray Food Plus. 

During lockdown it has been possible for Forres Town Hall to serve as a hub for the Forres & Kinloss community food project which has allocated over 1,000 meals since May of this year. It has also been open at limited times for donations to be made to the Scrubs project, food donations, masks, and blankets for the Cameron Project in a Covid-safe way. It has even been possible during lockdown to have the help of volunteers to refresh some of the current décor in the North Room on a socially distanced basis. 

Following the successful lease period, FACT is now in the final stages of concluding a Community Asset Transfer for Forres Town Hall, with support from the Scottish Land Fund. The final sale has not yet gone through as it has been delayed by the pandemic, however this is expected to complete before the end of the year. The building will then be owned by the Forres Area Community Trust on behalf of the community.

Building your digital skills

richardx on 9 August 2020

Online Centres Network logo

Want some free help to start building your digital skills?

Learn my Way & Make It Click are developed by the team at Good Things Foundation who have a network of UK Online Centres.

Did you know Forres Online is part of the UK Online Centre Network and can offer advice & support about what you want to learn and the help you may need!

Get in touch now by calling 01309 674388 or email janice@forresarea.org

Learn my Way

About #connectingscotland

richardx on 9 August 2020

Connecting Scotland is a Scottish Government  programme set up in response to Coronavirus. It is a partnership with the Scottish Government, Local Councils, and SCVO.  It is also supported by a range of  other organisations from around Scotland and the UK.

Getting online will help people access the support and services they need. As well as helping them to keep in touch with friends & family. In order to help get people online they are supplying Ipads, Chromebooks and Internet Dongles along with help and support people to develop digital skills. They are mainly targeting those that are:

  • Digitally excluded – Those that do not have the appropriate device/connectivity at home.
  • On low incomes – Those that cannot afford to purchase a device and or pay for internet access at home.
  • At risk of isolation due to coronavirus – Those that are vulnerable (shielding) or higher risk of severe illness.

Forres Online via Moray Council  has been allocated a number of devices/connectivity and will be providing ongoing support.  If you know of someone who falls into the category above and would benefit from this programme, then please get in touch with  Janice Cooper Forres Online Project Coordinator 01309 674388 or email janice@forresarea.org

Forres Rotary’s Citizen of the Year

richardx on 3 July 2020

Debbie Herron

Congratulations to Debbie Herron on being chosen as Forres Rotary’s Citizen of the Year.

Debbie is the lead development officer with Forres Area Community Trust (FACT). Among other ventures they have taken over the responsibility for running the Town Hall.

We are sure you will agree that Debbie is a very worthy winner as she has done so much for Forres in a very unassuming way.

Big Donation to Moray Food Plus

richardx on 25 June 2020

A big thank you to Kathleen McGookin and her colleagues from Johnston’s of Elgin for a huge donation to Moray Food plus.

Kathleen & friends made face masks and asked for donations. The cash generated has turned into this massive food donation!

Well done to everyone involved!  

Local Info and Food Deliveries

richardx on 1 April 2020

Forres Local have compiled a list of useful information about how COVID19 is effecting Forres and the surrounding area. They have info such as:

  • Recent news.
  • Which local businesses are still open for business.
  • Which local businesses are offering food deliveries.
  • Contact information about various support groups.
  • and Advice about the lock-down.

Visit: forreslocal.com

An update from the FACT team

richardx on 25 March 2020

Following on from an intensive briefing day last Friday we hope to have the  volunteer telephone befriending programme up and running by Friday this week. We can help with signposting to services that can help you  if you are in need.  This is a work in progress and will develop over the coming weeks as we understand the impact of the pandemic on our community.

Please keep in touch through social media or by calling us on 01309 674 388 and leaving a message. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Important News (Regarding Covid 19)

richardx on 17 March 2020

Following on from the current advice given by the Scottish Government and NHS, Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) have reviewed how we can respond to the current Coronavirus situation.

The FACT team  still remain open for business but our approach is changing.

You may find the following information useful.

  1. As a social space Forres Town Hall will be closed for the foreseeable future (at least until the 13th April when we will review the situation and make decisions about our next steps).
  1. FACT is preparing an action plan for ensuring that people can still access Forres Online and the Cameron Project (befriending) through the telephone or online. More information will be posted online and as posters around the area as we confirm the detail. Please follow us on Twitter @Forres_Area, Facebook – Forres Area Community Trust  or Forres Town Hall or check out our website – forresarea.org to keep up to date with our news and the changing situation.
  1. FACT staff will be working from home and can still be contacted by email through info@forresarea.org or by leaving a message on 01309 674 388. You can also drop a note through the Town Hall door or write to us at Forres Town Hall, High Street, Forres IV36 1PB. We will aim to get back to you within 24 hours.
  1. Requests for Food Parcels can be made direct to Moray Food Plus on 01343 208 293 or email request@morayfoodplus.org.uk  and food donations can be made to the Co-op, Forres High Street.
  1. We are planning a co-ordinated approach to supporting those most isolated and vulnerable. This will include opportunities for a telephone befriending system and we are looking for volunteers to help. If you are interested in helping out please contact Kirsty at kirsty@forresarea.org for more detail.

We are still here and happy to help however we can under the current climate.

For more information:

Town Hall Project Officer

richardx on 28 February 2020

Following its acquisition of Forres Town Hall from Moray Council via a Community Asset Transfer and with grant support from the Scottish Land Fund, Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) is seeking a Project Officer to work on the development of Stage 1 of the £2 – £3m Town Hall Regeneration Project. This will secure the future of this significant Category B Listed Building as a multi-purpose hub for the local community.

The appointment of the Project Officer will be from April 2020 until the end of March 2021, during which time the project will be developed up to Planning Permission / Listed Building Consent stage. The role will involve 30 hours per week at a salary of £20,826 per annum.

For more information view the attached Job Description & Application Form.

Job-Description-FTH-Project-OfficerDownload
Application-Form-SLF-FTH-Project-OfficerDownload