Priority projects identified by FDT for 2023/24
(May 2023 – April 2024)
The Community Facilities Questionnaire, circulated by Finderne Development Trust in March 2022, helped FDT identify the key projects we wish to take forward.
In 2023 the FDT have been operating for 5 years and have spent the first part of 2023 working on the new 5-year plan for 2023 to 2028.
The key projects we wish to take forward in the next five years are identified below.
Broadband
FDT will continue to liaise with the Scottish Government to identify any ways where FDT can support the provision of Superfast Broadband to harder to reach households within Finderne.
FDT are also in discussion with local suppliers to improve the options available to Finderne residents.
Brockloch – Community led affordable housing project.
Project Brockloch has been progressing behind the scenes during the first half of 2023. Now the design phase will enter the next stage as we enter the final quarter of the year.
FDT’s community led affordable housing project in Rafford will provide twelve houses in total. Provisionally eight for rent and four for sale.
Two community consultations have been held in Rafford Village Hall, 19th Aug 2022 and 16th Feb 2023. The second event introduced the Design team to the community and the feedback was collated and shared on our website.
Once these plans are ready, we will then take them back to the Finderne community for further consultation to then arrive at the final design brief.
FDT have developed a draft allocations policy to meet the needs of our community. You can find a copy in the Resources section of the web page under Brockloch Project Documents.
All the houses will be retained as affordable in perpetuity. For rental properties this will be achieved by letting at social equivalent rents, and for discounted sales by applying a rural housing burden to the title of each property. The rural housing burden will allow the community to retain control over the resale and use of the properties. Properties must be a permanent, main residence and letting will be prohibited without consent of the Rural Housing Body.
Community Transport
We are continuing the process of researching different models of community transport which have been introduced elsewhere in Scotland, as well as investigating the transport services that community partners are already providing locally.
FDT have already supported Edinkillie Community Association with a bus trail for 8 weeks in Oct/Nov 2022 and are continuing to discuss future bus possibilities.
FDT in conjunction with the FCC have supported the installation of 4 electronic speed signs in Rafford.
Once FDT have completed the background research, we will then develop a detailed proposal, which can then be taken to the community for consultation and implementation.
Community facilities
We have now prioritised working in partnership with the trustees and committees of our existing community facilities to identify practical ways that FDT could help.
This includes support to upgrade facilities in existing establishments, and support to offer different activities, events, and performances taking place in the Finderne area.
Health & Wellbeing
FDT wishes to develop a strategy, in conjunction with the trustees of existing facilities, to increase the availability of health & wellbeing activities.
FDT will Identify existing health & wellbeing activity providers, practitioners in the local area and assist in the deployment of their services across the Finderne community area.
FDT Community Microprojects Fund
In 2023 FDT have been running the Community Microprojects Fund with funding available of up to £1,000 per project, with the funding geared towards smaller projects which can be achieved with a defined timescale. This has been successfully taken up by a number of local groups.
Finderne Employment and training support
FDT wants to engage with Finderne-based businesses to identify opportunities for:
Future Apprentice placements
Financial support to businesses to encourage additional employment.
Other training opportunities.
Finderne Routes
- As a matter of policy, the FDT Board have agreed that net zero goals should be embedded within all FDT’s project areas, with health and wellbeing as an underpinning theme.