Community Wellbeing Project: and Rosemarkie Community Council area ‘Mapping’ of social opportunities/leisure activities/volunteering (by category) INTRODUCTION

In response to the tragic loss of life from there. For others, establishing these What follows represents the ‘mapping’ suicide in Black Isle communities, a year networks is not so easy. research for this Community Council ago Fortrose Academy initiated the area. One area from the survey and discussion ‘Wellbeing on the Black Isle’ Partnership was about potential vulnerable groups. Note: this is not exhaustive. Apologies if Working Group. The partnership was Those at risk of poor mental health due to there’s anything excluded. launched at a successful ‘Conversation isolation, loneliness and social exclusion. Café’ in June 2018, hosted by Choose Life. Groups cited included the elderly; too often Following the ‘Conversation Café’ feedback, isolated at home. New mothers/parents at the Wellbeing Group engaged with Black Isle home can often struggle; overwhelmed and Community Councils to discuss the feedback lonely. Newly retired males came up in the from the event. Following this a community discussion; also rurally isolated teenagers. survey around mental health/wellbeing was From these discussions we agreed to look at undertaken which, in turn led to the idea of a pan-Black Isle mapping exercise. what our communities offer in terms of social

spaces, social groups, leisure and cultural Wellbeing is so often about feeling part of activities. Each Community Council was the community; having access to formal and asked to ‘map out’ what was available – and informal social opportunities that improve who they are aimed at. From this exercise quality of life and mental/emotional health. and subsequent discussions it was then Many of us take our person-to-person social possible to identify gaps in provision and networks for granted – until they’re no longer address other ‘barriers’ that potentially keep

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Black Isle Community Wellbeing Project: Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council area ‘Mapping’ of social opportunities/leisure activities/volunteering (by category)

Social/Membership Clubs Adult – Sport/Exercise participation Adult – Arts/Creative/Culture/ participation Golf Club 50+ walking group Local History Group Sailing Club / Community Rowing 50+ Dance Book Club x 2 (Fortrose Library) Bowling Club Scottish Country Dancing (Rosemarkie) Art Classes Tennis Club Yoga (Seaforth Lodge) Mens’ Choir Riding School Pilates (Rosemarkie) Village Voices Social Spaces & regular social events Kempo/S.O.S (16+) Black Isle Accapello Group (publicly owned/commercial/religious) Walk & Blether (High Life – HLH) Allotment Society Fortrose Library (& Open Learning room) You Time Writers’ Group Fortrose Leisure Centre Archery Men’s Shed Fortrose Town Hall / Gordon Memorial Hall Smash 2 Badminton Rosemarkie Women’s Institute Fortrose Theatre (which can also be a Range of fitness classes run by HLH cinema) Upholstery Group - Spinning Fortrose Café / IV10 / The Anderson / - Body Balance etc. Elderly / Pensioners Plough Inn/Tavern/Crofters Café/Golf Club restaurant/Beach Café Running Groups (often self-organised) Getting to Know Your Techno Seaforth Lodge Fun Aerobics Inter-Generational Games a/noon Places of worship Indoor Bowling (Rosemarkie) Lunch Club (via Black Isle Cares) Coffee Morning (Fortrose Town Hall) Indoor Bowls (Rosemarkie) Meals-On-Wheels service (Black Isle Cares) The Filling Station (Gordon Memorial Hall) Step-it-Up Highland (walking) Community Market (monthly) Classic Movies (Film Club) (Run by a volunteer. Limited space.) lectures (monthly) 2

Black Isle Community Wellbeing Project: Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council area ‘Mapping’ of social opportunities/leisure activities/volunteering (by category) You Time (generic but looks to be pitched Golf Club (junior coaching) The general consensus during discussions is more at the older residents) that this needs to be addressed as a priority. Riding (lessons)

New Mums/New Parents & Carers Tennis (coaching / club membership) Volunteering Opportunities (examples) Book Bug (Library) Meals on Wheels (Black Isle Cares) *Code Club (Friday a/noon, secondary) Parent & Toddler Groups (both villages) Tidy Our Royal Burgh Group (TORB) *Black Isle Mountain Bike Club Baby Massage (via Health Visitor) St Boniface Fair (committee) Breast Feeding Group *Eden Court Drama/Dance (Fridays after Men’s Shed school – may cease due to funding cut at Lego Club (Fortrose Library) Eden Court.) Groam House Museum

* Goes up to S6 so includes late teens. Transition Black Isle Toddlers/Children/Pre-Teens to S3 Fortrose & Rosemarkie Community Council Lego Club (Saturday – Fortrose Library) General – a tiny Play Park in Fortrose. Parent Councils George V Park (with old, dilapidated Kindergym (2 – 5yrs) equipment); Rosemarkie Park/playing field. Pre-School Committees Gymnastics (5 – 11) Mother & Toddler Group Committee Football (P1 – P3 & P4 – P7) Older Teens (15 – 18 years) Gordon Memorial Hall Committee Archery (P1 – P3 & P4 – P7) There’s very little I could find that is Rosemarkie Amenities Saturday Club (P1 – P7) specifically targeted at older teenagers (i.e. Rosemarkie Volunteers Beavers/Cubs S4 – S6) in this community. Guides, Voluntary Driver Scheme Scouts, Sea Scouts, Kempo, Mountain Bike Sea Scouts (run in Avoch) Club and fitness classes are open to all Girl Guiding /Scouts movements Kempo (4 – 7 yrs / 8 –12/12 - 15 yrs) young people and/or 16+ as adults. Golf Coaching Rainbows/Brownies/*Guides

Sailing Club (membership)

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Black Isle Community Wellbeing Project: Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council area ‘Mapping’ of social opportunities/leisure activities/volunteering (by category) Local Cultural Events - Our performance spaces are under- Finally, having done the research, the utilised. Resolis and Cromarty both Community Council plans to turn this There are a few live performances locally at have thriving community arts information into a local directory/resource Fortrose Theatre or Fortrose Town Hall but organisations that regularly bring live later in the year. this is also an underdeveloped area. theatre/music into their communities.

There’s scope for similar in Fortrose General conclusions/observations: and Rosemarkie but only if a group of Sarah Atkin, Fortrose & Rosemarkie Community Council. June 2019 - There’s a great deal ‘out there’ to keen volunteers want to set up it up. access but it’s not always easy to source the relevant information - How do people know what’s ‘out because it’s not in one portal. there’? Can communication be improved and participation better - Young People: the glaring gap in facilitated? provision for our teenagers, Next steps: especially mid-late teens. There are The ‘mapping’ exercise across all Black Isle no dedicated activities and social Community Councils will inform the opportunities for them outside of Wellbeing Group’s strategy. The formal school. This is a major challenge Community Council input is done. in need of address. However, any ideas on how to address our - Lack of transport is a ‘barrier’ for local challenges are welcome. More many. Those is rural locations often welcome are those wanting to make these can’t access what is already ideas happen! available across the Black Isle. Teenagers can’t always rely on The energy of volunteers is more often than parents. Often, very short journeys not how lasting change comes about. The are too much for the elderly to community is hugely grateful for the manage by foot. Creative solutions fantastic contribution committed volunteers to transport challenges are needed. already make. Our unsung heroes.

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