Camas Committee May 18 th -19 th at Camas A G E N D A

1) Welcome, Introductions & Apologies

2) Items for AOCB

3) Minutes of the meeting of 12th March 2012

4) Matters Arising a) Beach Hut b) Aquatron c) South Stairs weather shelter d) Royal Engineers Offer

5) Co-ordinators Report (paper attached)

6) Bookings Report (paper attached)

7) Track Repairs

8) Finance Outturn to March 2012 (Paper attached )

9) Carbon Working Group Report (paper attached)

10) Fundraising Update

11) AOCB

12) Close

Camas party on 18 th , please bring suitable attire and liquid/solid refreshments. We assume you will be staying over and will miss you if you are not able to.

Date of next meeting September 4 th , 2-5, Glasgow Office

Iona Community Page 1 of 6 Camas Committee Agenda & Papers May 2012

5. Co-ordinator Report

It seems to have been really busy since the last meeting.

Staffing

All volunteers should be in place;

Long term: Pete – from Aberdeen Becky Weaver – from Wolverhampton Linnea – Sweden also volunteered in shop on Short term: Charlotte – from Litchfield been several times as guest Hannah – apparently connected to the community in some way? Alice – from Macclesfield been up with Cre8 group Robyn – from Canada

All look strong and committed. Hope will make a good team. The long term volunteers were thrown straight into a group week and since the shorter term ones have been here we have been doing first aid, safeguarding, activity training and general induction.

Resident staff – 2 questions 1. Length of contracts – some concern has been raised regarding finishing off the season and in particular ensuring the garden project is overseen properly 2. Becky and Josef’s last year – need to consider length of contract for new resident staff and also winter period coverage

Other • Becky ran a very successful garden week and is planning the spend for garden grant • Rosie is fully engaged in John Muir and nature classes with local community • Josef has completed the first part of his Single Pitch Award (Rock Climbing instructor)

Centre

Camas is in an unseasonably dry condition which has allowed us to get on with various maintenance tasks • Turbine – to be serviced by Nigel Burgess, Kintra – awaiting parts. • Aquatron (another agenda item). • Track – several ongoing repairs – Liz looking into funding from SNH? • Liz has successfully obtained a grant from the Co-op for new wetsuits and activity equipment • We have new (to us!) pool table and sofa • Garden – chickens are back and laying successfully, we have 2 experts coming to visit to advise on the spending of the grant money. We want to produce a 25 year plan to lay foundations of a community garden for years to come and thus take some advice before committing money and time. The plan is to undertake groundworks, poly tunnel erection, tree planting, new garden potting shed in the autumn when clear vision and spending plan established. Iona Community Page 2 of 6 Camas Committee Agenda & Papers May 2012

6. Guests/Bookings

We have bookings /potential bookings for all weeks except for 2 nd of June until end of September

Since the 31 st March we have had 5 groups in the centre; • Garden week – 8 guests who completed numerous tasks including creating a herb spiral, clearing an area for the new Poly tunnel, clearing bracken and laying a path through the woodland. • Old Fallings Youth Group – great week – Old Fallings the youth group of Becky Weaver long term volunteer and her contact with the group following the event was insightful. One young woman showing much more confidence in school and less bullying. Another lad moving from a group that was introducing him to alcohol and drugs. Another giving up cigarettes. Even the leaders showed significant personal development! • John Muir Day – Emily Wilkins brought down a group with several local adults to start of a John Muir Programme for young people in the Ross. Rosie has been supporting this with afternoons at Primary. • Tobermory High – Mary Ireson brought down several youngsters for a day from to abseil and Kayak, at present working on a residential for S5s and S6s as part of their induction • Cre8 – a team from Macclesfield came up to make the new volunteer hut and it was great to see several previous volunteers up including Rachel, Tom, Sophia, Adam, Tim amongst others. • The Open Day is coming up on Sunday and has been publicised all over the island

However – 2 cancellations and lower numbers in some groups have caused me concern

• Guido from Germany • Todmorton

Josef got in Muirhead from Edinburgh on reduced rate for one week - £1000.00 to cover Guido week

Lower numbers – • Bonnie Bell from Surbiton 8 instead of 14, trying to get an additional group in that week

For me raises question of Marketing and flexibility in setting rates as seems to be harder and harder for youth groups to raise money, transport costs are higher and competition from other activities. Resident Staff team looked at several options to fill weeks;

• Past guests • Scottish youth groups • Youth Offending Teams • Princes Trust • Children’s residential homes • Youth ministry websites

Iona Community Page 3 of 6 Camas Committee Agenda & Papers May 2012

• I have asked Karen Turner to send email to advertise a “Family week” at Camas for week beginning 2 nd June to Members, Associates and Friends • We are producing a pdf leaflet based on printed leaflet and am asking Alice (degree in Illustration) to help on e – leaflet for Autumn marketing

However, it’s a bit hit and miss and needs a co-ordinated systematic approach, which I hope we can achieve in the Autumn.

Another approach could be to identify 20 youth groups from priority areas and ask them if they would like to come. Then offer regular assistance from youth workers to raise funds from September through New Year.

************************************************************************* In terms of flexibility of booking – there are restrictions in bookings software which cause some difficulties for Carol and some uncertainty on how much we can charge for a week. My priority has been to try and fill the centre in order of preference:

1. Ideally with priority group 2. Youth group 3. Groups / individuals associated with the Community / church 4. Any one else!

8. Camas. Income & Expenditure Three Months to 31st March 2012 First Three Months Whole Year Last Budget Actual Variance Year Budget Forecast

Board & Lodgings 1,129 375 - 754 1,110 48,000 Grant 9,350 9,350 Other Income 252 600 348 20 1,000

TOTAL INCOME 1,381 10,325 8,944 1,130 49,000

Catering Purchases 236 613 - 377 218 10,500 Housekeeping Costs 504 97 407 639 2,000 Access Subsidy - - - - - Staff Costs 7,493 6,242 1,251 6,169 34,839 Property Costs 3,307 1,708 1,599 1,875 12,525 Administration Costs 818 515 303 1,597 3,230 Recharges 617 616 1 938 2,465 Depreciation 45 45 - 45 180 Programme Costs 1,404 533 871 475 5,600

TOTAL EXPENDITURE 14,424 10,369 4,055 11,956 71,339

SURPLUS/DEFICIT - 13,043 - 44 - 12,999 - 10,826 - 22,339

Results year to date look good because we’ve had the Awards for All grant but not yet spent it. Other than that, there is not much to say as yet.

Iona Community Page 4 of 6 Camas Committee Agenda & Papers May 2012

9. Carbon Working Group Recommendations

1. In relation to our properties in Iona and Camas, we recommend that, subject to budgetary constraints a. energy audits are carried out for all the properties we own and the recommendations implemented as soon as possible b. a member of staff be given the role of ‘Carbon Coordinator’ on Iona and at Camas and receives appropriate training c. the implication of the Community’s commitment to reducing its Carbon should be included in staff training for all employees and vollies d. there is regular monitoring of indoor temperature levels e. sensor lights are installed in all public areas f. draft proofing installed in windows and doors g. the installation of secondary glazing be investigated for the Abbey h. the continued use of hot water solar panels in the Mac i. the Community develops its work with the community and the Iona residents on energy and sustainability j. the Iona and Camas Committees set up monitoring arrangements and report the carbon usage in the annual report on a comparative year by year basis

2. We recommend that the issue of carbon and other resource implications of the food used by the Community in Iona and Camas be a regular feature of the programme 3. We recommend a regular review of suppliers and the possibility of more local supply through longer term contracts being set up with farmers on Iona and Mull, or west of /Scotland as a whole 4. In relation to guests on Iona and Camas, we recommend that a. we encourage more local guests b. guests from elsewhere in the UK are encouraged to use land public transport where appropriate (i.e. bus and rail) and car sharing c. guests who come to the UK by plane or fly within the UK are invited to contribute to the Community’s ‘Carbon Scheme’ d. booking forms include information about the carbon implication of different forms of travel and the ‘Carbon Scheme’ e. (when the new Glasgow Community House is available) the Community consides offering inclusive packages from Glasgow f. in conjunction with the Mull and Iona Community Councils and the Community Trust we develop better links with Bowman’s buses (and monitor their performance)

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THE IONA COMMUNITY COMMITTEE EXPENSES CLAIM

Name

Committee

I claim reimbursement of the expenses shown below, which were necessarily incurred in the course of my work for the Committee. Please attach any receipts. Please show analysis if expense includes VAT

Date Details of Expense Total VAT Net Nominal Cost Cost Code J551 CA

Total J551 CA Signature of Claimant Date

Authorised by Date

Iona Community Page 6 of 6 Camas Committee Agenda & Papers May 2012