Councillor hosting Spirit of Community event

THE LOCAL community are invited to a special meeting at Forres Town Hall on Thursday at 6.30pm to share priorities for the future of the area.

Culture, heritage, the environment, the needs of the young and old, community facilities, health and regeneration of the High Street will be explored to find out ways to improve local life at the ‘Spirit of Community - Coming Together’ event.

Representatives from Findhorn and Kinloss Community Council, Forres Community Council, Forres Area Forum and Forres Area Community Trust are attending, along with members of the event planning group.

Information and ideas on how the town and area could be developed in the next five to ten years will be shared during the evening.

“Working together makes sense,” said organiser and local councillor, Lorna Creswell.

“The Highland Games, Piping Hot Forres, Scottish Week and the Theme Days prove this.

“We saw what Grant Park looked like this year when people pulled together and also in Findhorn and Kinloss where, following research, the Community Council produced evidence to improve bus services then formulated an emergency plan for their area which could be a template for Moray.

She added: “We want to celebrate our shared views of community spirit and the potential it could bring if we can harness all our resources to set priorities.

“We are keen to hear ideas and will appreciate every contribution made to a Forres Area profile from a community-led, bottom-up approach.

“We want locals to attend the Town Hall from as broad a range as possible to help bring the event to a positive outcome.”

The format of the evening will follow a ‘S.O.A.R.’ technique, focusing on the Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results to help achieve success.

“This will keep the focus on positive ideas and a ‘can do’ attitude,” said Lorna.

“Our Strengths are what we already have - history, experience and knowledge of what we know works well here.

“Added to our Opportunities and Aspirations, these could lead to Results.

“We shall reap what we sow - there is no more powerful way to initiate significant change than to convene a conversation.”

Many issues will be debated, some decisions that will follow will be made by the public while others facilitated at government level.

“Less funding may be available so we need to make the most of our experience and skills, buildings and equipment,” said Lorna.

“Bringing them to the table is wise at a time when demand for services is on the increase.

“We will use what we have learned in the past to move forward instead of dwelling on why things didn’t work.”

More than 400 invites have been sent out to local groups and organisations in the hope that as many people contribute.

Lorna will introduce the event before the planning group outline their roles.

Group discussions will follow based on: Culture and Heritage - how to embrace the opportunities offered by community owned assets such as the Tolbooth, local cultural events and festivals; Our Local Environment - planting, litter picking, planning and more; Older Person’s Activities and Services - what else we need for the growing aged population; Young People’s Activities and Services - how we get what they need; Use of Community Facilities - how to best use what we have to ensure closure isn’t an option; Health and Well-Being - how best to ensure a healthy population; Regeneration of the High Street/Town Centre - how to maintain the vibrancy of the town centre.

Feedback will be provided from each table at the end of the meeting and attendees will be encouraged to network.

“Older local people have lots happening and places to go to but still feel isolated,” said Lorna.

“Youngsters have some activities but would like to see more in keeping with other communities and shouldn’t have to go elsewhere for them.

“Any issue within any community can be best solved by those living within it - we had a full range of childcare, youth and adult services that were all community lead.

“We need to find out exactly what is the demand now and for the next decade.”

Contact Forres Area Community Trust on 07788 803559 or email fact@forresarea.org to book a place at the meeting.