Westray Development Trust – Auk Talk Pages – February 2022 Issue.
General News
The office reopened on 6th January and we are geared up to focus on the Winter fuel grant.
We are planning to hold an EGM in March to appoint new Trustees to the WDT Board but the date is still to be confirmed so keep an eye out for updates in the shops and on our social media. Members will received notice of the EGM through the usual channels. If you are not already a member of WDT, please get in touch with the office for an application. Any member wishing to stand for election at the EGM should also contact the office, alternatively, both application forms are available to download from our website.
Fuel Grant launch in the New Year.
This winter we are increasing the Fuel Grant to be £300 per eligible household in response to increasing fuel prices. The Fuel Grant was launched on Monday 10th January 2022. You will be able to apply both online or via a paper form which will be available to pick up from the shops. To apply for the grant you will need to complete an application form and also include a copy of a recent bill (unless you use a meter key), guidance will be included with the application forms so you know how to apply depending on your set up (e.g. if you use a meter key or if your main heating source is gas or coal). The closing date for applications will be 28th February 2022. Online application forms will be available on our website: www.westraydevelopmenttrust.co.uk.
You can also access support and advice from;
THAW Orkney http://www.thaworkney.co.uk/
Warmworks Scotland (Orkney) https://www.warmworks.co.uk/orkney/
Home Energy Scotland https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/
Bayview Housing Project
We’ve got lots of progress photos for you this month! In these photos you can see the progress made in Flats 3 and 4 as well as the communal main stairway. Poor weather has delayed getting the dashing work finished so please keep your fingers crossed with us for a few good dry days so this can get finished. The build team are still ploughing ahead with work indoors in the meantime, most of the internal walls are now painted, the bathrooms are in (just the bathtub for Flat 4 to go), the electrics are well on their way to being finished, and we’re making progress with Scottish Water and SSEN to get connections in place. The new projected completion date for the renovations to be finished is 1st April 2022 (no joke!).
We’d also like to shout out to Ros at South Hammar our thanks for the fantastic ‘Bayview’ stone plaque she has carved for us. Keep an eye out for that going up on the front of Bayview.
From the lettings side of things, we’re working with our letting agent at Drever and Heddle to get everything ready for lettings as soon as possible once renovations are done. We’ve been collating the results of the community consultation on the Local Lettings Policy with feedback from Drever and Heddle on some questions we received through the survey. We will be sharing that with you all soon. We’ll also be working on a tender for maintenance of WDT assets, including Bayview, so if that sounds like it could be your thing keep an eye out for that tender going out or register your interest with Isobel Thompson so it can be emailed to you directly.
Bargain Box
The Bargain Box roof has been repaired and will continue to be monitored. The Bargain Box can now reopen and will once again be open Wednesdays and Saturdays from Saturday 22nd January 2022. No appointments are necessary but the usual COVID-19 rules of face masks and using hand sanitiser apply.
No news yet on the Building Warrant application for the extension to the WDT Office which will see both the fundraising shop and the office incorporated into the same building.
Höfn
We recently changed the Hofn night groupings to ensure the maximum number of kids in the Hofn is limited at any one time. This was in response to increased restrictions and concerns following the rise of the Omicron variant. These changes are still in place for the time being however are currently being reviewed in light of recent Scottish Government announcements.
Tuesday – S3 & S4 (up to 17yrs) (alternating with Youth Club)
Thursday – S1 & S2
Friday – S3 & S4 (up to 17 yrs)
Saturday – S1 & S2
To stay up to date with the latest Hofn news please complete the Hofn user/ contact detail form so you can be directly notified of any changes. News is also published on our website and social media.
A copy of the rules, as well as Höfn user/emergency contact forms were sent out via Westray Junior High School in November. If you have not completed this form already please do so and return it to the WDT office as soon as possible. If you do not have a form you can download one from our website or you can get in touch and we’ll post one out to you.
Höfn rules include COVID-19 rules are displayed in the Höfn and available on our website https://westraydevelopmenttrust.co.uk/hofn-youth-centre-reopening/
Podiatry
We are working with local charity Age Scotland Orkney to bring more podiatry services out to Westray. They hope to make their first podiatry clinic visit soon if there is enough interest. To register your interest or to find out more information, including fees, please contact Age Scotland Orkney directly at 01856872438 or email [email protected]
Orkney Matters – Community Consultation
It was great to see some familiar names and faces at OIC’s ‘Orkney Matters’ meeting for Westray and Papay on 13th January. If you missed it, make sure you take the time to complete their online survey in order to have your say and what’s important to Westray and what Westray needs going forwards https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/OrkneyMatters/ You can also email [email protected]
Grants Awarded
Education and Training Grants
We have had several Education Grants come in in the New Year, which is a great start to 2022! It’s good to see a variety of different courses come from the door and if you have a New Year’s resolution to learn a new skill or further your education, please remember that each Westray resident is eligible to claim up to £500 a year for personal development through education and training.
Seven people are continuing their piano tuition with Ros Bryant with the help from the Community Turbine Fund while further funding was awarded to folk wishing to take courses in ‘Holistic Integrated Arts Therapy’, ‘Reading Drama: An Introduction’ along with a contemporary and jazz dance course.
Entertainment Grant
Once again Westray managed to produce an excellent covid safe Nativity which could be enjoyed by all via YouTube. WDT were delighted to award £188 through the entertainment grant to help make the Nativity possible.
Turbine Figures
A repair team from Enercon managed to fix the fault with the turbine just before Christmas, a second breakdown followed shortly after but this was resolved a short while later and the turbine is now back up and running. An insurance claim for the loss of income during the downtime has been submitted. If all goes well, we should have some generation data next month.
Contact Us
Our office remains closed to the public for the time being. The staff team are implementing a phased return to work which will enable the office to be staffed by at least one member of staff during the Trust’s core opening hours of 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday.
Isobel – Operations Manager- [email protected]
Margo – WDT and WRE Admin & Finance Officer – [email protected]
Clare – Admin Assistant – [email protected]
Kieran – Graduate Project Officer – [email protected]
To keep up to date with the latest community development news between Auk Talks visit us;
On our website – www.westraydevelopmenttrust.co.uk
On Facebook – Westray Development Trust
– Westray Community Garden Project
On Instagram – @westraydevelopmenttrust @westray_community_garden