Co-op Local Cause
We’re delighted to announce that Wester Loch Ewe Trust has been selected as a local cause to benefit from the Co-op Local Community Fund! This is a wonderful opportunity to raise funds to support our plans for twice-weekly Warm Spaces and community breakfasts at the Old Schoolhouse. These activities will help tackle rural isolation, improve mental wellbeing and bring people of all ages together through friendship, conversation and shared experiences. We’re incredibly grateful to the Co-op for supporting our work and helping us make a positive difference in our community. If you’re a Co-op Member, you can support our cause through the Local Community Fund. Every little helps, and together we can help make our community a warmer, more welcoming place for everyone!
If you’re not already a member, you can join here Co-op Membership – Membership that makes a difference – Co-op you can then can choose Wester Loch Ewe Trust in one click on the Co-op App, under the wallet section.
Dark Skies Event: Astronomy of the Odyssey – Saturday 14th November
We’re delighted to welcome back Dr Vassilios Spathopoulos, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and who specialises in bringing the skies alive through storytelling and interdisciplinary insight.
Composed 2,800 years ago and recently adapted for film, Homer’s Odyssey chronicles Odysseus’s ten year voyage home from Troy. He overcomes monstrous perils including Charybdis, Polyphemus, the Sirens, and unleashed storms, resisting the enchantments of Circe and Calypso to finally reach Ithaca and his faithful dog.
Yet beyond the myth, Dr. Vassilios Spathopoulos from the Royal Astronomical Society reveals a precise map of the ancient Greek sky embedded in the epic: hidden constellations, the ominous Dog Star, and a solar eclipse that may pinpoint the exact date of the fall of Troy. Join him on the 25th of October to learn more!
Reserve your seat today! These events are usually very well attended, don’t miss out. £10 per person.
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/westerlochewetrust
Rural Young Entrepreneurs Project
Volunteer Appeal
We’re looking to grow our volunteer team at The Old Schoolhouse & Tearoom. More volunteers means that we can offer more for our community, with your help. It doesn’t have to be a big commitment. It could be as little as two hours a week or helping out for a few days as a one-off. Every bit makes a difference. At this stage, we’re simply looking to build upon our register of people who might be willing to lend a hand from time to time, so we know who we can reach out to, and when. With a stronger volunteer base, we can:
- Open the Tearoom longer and more regularly
- Introduce new activities and events
- Share the workload more fairly
- Build a welcoming team that plays an active role in sustaining and strengthening our community
And it’s not just about serving teas. You might have digital skills that could help us with social media or admin, practical or technical skills to support behind the scenes, or ideas you’d love to bring to life here. Are you a young person (or you know a young person) who could help us with tech, promotion or creative projects? We’re open to all ages and all skillsets - there’s a place for everyone. If you’re curious, interested, or just fancy a blether over a cup of tea (or coffee) to find out more, please get in touch, either by filling in the form below, or:
📧
📱 07564 478086 (call or text). Or simply pop into the Schoolhouse.
Welcome Janis!
We are pleased to welcome Janis our new development manager. Janis can be contacted at:
Development Manager
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Janis MacLean to the post of full-time Development Manager for Wester Loch Ewe Trust. The post is funded by Foundation Scotland through its Recovery and Resilience Programme and administered by Development Trusts Association Scotland. Janis takes up the post on 16th February 2026.
Some of you will remember that Janis was brought up in Inverasdale, attended Inverasdale Primary School, worked for a time with LEAF (Loch Ewe Action Forum) and has family ties to the area. I am sure you will join with the Trustees in welcoming Janis to her new role - we are all looking forward to working with her!
Local Place Plan Update
The Wester Loch Ewe Local Place Plan has been submitted to The Highland Council to inform the Highland Local Development Plan.
Our thanks to the Wester Ross Biosphere team for the preparation of the plan which was a joint project between Wester Loch Ewe Trust, Wester Loch Ewe Community Council, and Wester Ross Biosphere.
You can view the plan here: Wester Loch Ewe Local Place Plan...
Happy Birthday!
On Saturday 28th September, we were pleased to welcome parents and children for a 4th birthday celebration. A good time was had by all!
Yum yum
What a team!
Future of Poolewe Village Green
You may have heard that Poolewe Village Green is being transferred into community ownership. The WLET board decided to submit an expression of interest to
Wester Loch Ewe Community Council who are managing the transfer as we feel we are well placed to offer a stable long term home for this very important asset to the area. If we are successful, we intend to keep the Village Green running as at present, in the short term. So we don't see it impacting on our plans for the Old School. As part of our expression of interest we were asked to submit a short statement about our intentions. Here it is:
WESTER LOCH EWE TRUST STATEMENT
WLET is a charitable body (SC045512) and a company limited by guarantee (SC 500698) that was formed in 2015 to manage community land and associated assets for the benefit of the Community and the public in general, advancing community development (including rural regeneration), and improving conditions of life of the Community. The Community referred to stretches from Poolewe (including the outlying settlements of Tournaig, Inveran and Croft) through the smaller communities of Naast, Inverasdale, Firemore, Stirkhill and Cove.
WLET is run by a board of 6 local residents, some of whom have been on the board since WLET was formed, so are well experienced in management and fund raising. The current trust membership is over 100 local people drawn from the area from Poolewe to Cove. This number represents a substantial proportion of the total population in the area covered. There are also a many associate members – mainly those who have lived in the area in the past.
The main focus of WLET's activities up until now has been on redeveloping the Old School in Inverasdale and we would be delighted to have an opportunity to help the wider community by providing long term, stable ownership and management of the Green and the other areas of land being donated to the community.
In line with earlier surveys of public opinion, our immediate plan for the Village Green would be to preserve it exactly as it is. These surveys were strongly against any redevelopment of the Village Green. Any proposals for future changes would have to come from the community. We would expect to work closely with the Community Council on all aspects of the management of the Green, and indeed all the other areas of land being transferred from the Macdonald Buchanan Estate.
Until we know the details of these other areas, we are unable to suggest how they could be used, but we would ensure they were managed in ways that benefit the
whole community, and were supported by the whole community.
We would, of course, work closely with the Community Council to ensure the future of the public toilets in whatever form the community would support.
Over the years since 2015, in all its activities WLET has made a point of consulting our community before making major decisions and we feel this approach has
resulted in the community being fully behind us as we move forward. We would want to continue to consult public opinion, both through the elected Community
Council and directly by public meetings, surveys and social media. This will be particularly important regarding the future of the additional areas of land which
may offer exciting possibilities for the benefit of us all.
March 2024
Dark & Quiet Skies Event 14 November 2023
If you prefer, you can contact Liz (07967 115317) directly rather than Eventbrite. Places are limited. Refreshments will be served. The event is free but donations to Wester Loch Ewe Trust will be most welcome.
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