DEVELOPMENT MANAGER'S AND PROJECT OFFICER'S MONTHLY REPORTS

Project Officer's Report March 08

Project Officer’s Report March 08

Lodge Redevelopment Funding:
GCA, HIE and HICEC now all approved.

GCA – 784,997
HIE – 250,000
HICEC – 100,000
Subtotal – 1,134,997
Shortfall – 385,796 (total costs: 1,520,793)

We recently had a productive meeting with the business adviser for Energy Saving Trust. It is hopeful that the size of interest-free loan we could get from Loan Action Scotland for energy saving measures can be increased from the estimate given in our energy report of December 2006. Loan Action Scotland’s maximum loan size has recently doubled from £50,000 to £100,000. All loans need to be repaid in full within 4 years. We have now met with the producer of the original energy report who is going to rewrite it with additional buildings included within it (as the woodchip system can be channelled to them. We need to send current energy costs for the existing buildings. This new version of the energy report is unlikely to be completed before mid-April. Grants would be preferable, but this interest free loan would likely be preferable to other loans.

Fergus and I met recently with an officer from a major arts funder. One point for discussion was which of two possible grant streams to apply for: one of them would not be give any grant until October. Much work will be required producing documents such as a business plan tailored more around the lodge project, and cash flows. I can be doing much of this, but I recommend a meeting of the arts subgroup very soon to discuss the arts programme amongst other things. We think the deadline we are looking at for getting everything to them is early April, to catch their next monthly meeting. It might be worth reducing the amount we ask for to increase likelihood of success.

A charitable trust’s decision on an application for £95,000 will be towards the end of this month. There’s a lot of competition for their money, I’m told by various people.
I’ve just sent a first round application to another charitable foundation, for an amount of their choosing. Their average award is about £16,000.
A further charitable foundation have suggested we put together an application tailored at an aspect of our plans for arts activity which are pioneering and not done elsewhere. I can do this at some point, unless anyone else wants to volunteer – Mandy has been giving constructive suggestions. Again, their average awards are for £15-£20,000. Got to start fishing for small fry once all the salmon are gone. Though I feel sure there are other big fish out there lurking in the weeds…

Log buildings
A second meeting was held with Hilary of Culag Community Woodland Trust, mainly regarding chainsaw courses in advance of the log building course. Jake Willis of Community Woodlands Association also attended. We are seeking funding for three chainsaw courses now, from CVS and HC discretionary fund initially. This will be match funding for the GCA project, as estimated chainsaw course costs were included in the GCA project costs. One of the log builders we intend to run the log building project visited last Saturday and played didgeridoo to the trees. I trust his methods 100%. Some degree of intuitive musical groove will be essential for those seeking places on the log building course. There was a good turnout of people interested in taking the log building course who came to meet the log builder. Many other enquiries have been made regarding the chainsaw and log building course recently. Both courses are to be advertised in the next Assynt News. Some transparent method of allocating places will be needed, even for the chainsaw course perhaps. Mark has made some sound suggestions for this already.

Lodge Bookings
Many enquiries are coming in through a web directory we have recently joined, and many from our own website. A week booking with catering for a stalking group has recently been made for in August. Many gaps still to fill.
Mandy has accepted the price increase to the ‘social’ rate for 2008, and hopes to get sufficient interest for three writers’ retreat weeks this year, in May, June and October. The aim is for the June one to be an invitation only week for writer’s to write about Suilven. The other two are advertised on AF website.

Stalking
Deposits are coming in for stag bookings. The season looks like being as busy as last year if we let it be. We are in the process of seeking help as a third stalker from a contract stalker we used a lot last season.

Other
Meeting attended regarding woodfuel in Ullapool area.