We are looking to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors and are seeking applications from enthusiastic individuals with a passion for our communities. This is a great opportunity to join a dynamic and vibrant board and make a significant contribution to the local community.
As a Director you will be responsible to ensure that the Fund complies with its objectives and governing documents as well as all relevant legislation and regulations. You will also become a member of the Fund’s assessment committee (meeting quarterly) and will use your skills and knowledge to help distribute our grant funding to benefit communities within the Dounreay travel to work area.
Candidates must be resident in Caithness and North Sutherland and we are particularly interested in
attracting candidates with the following attributes:
Applications would also be welcome from candidates who are less experienced and who do not possess the above attributes to join a board as a non-executive director for the first time (mentoring will be provided).
For further information or for an application form, please contact the Fund Administrator:
Email: enquiries@cnsf.org.uk
Tel: 01847 500101
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund AGM Report 2022/23 is available to read and download online here.
Crowds gathered during the unveiling ceremony of the Seafarers Memorial at the Braehead, Wick, this weekend 20 May 2023. The ceremony celebrated the culmination of a five-year campaign to raise more than £100,000 for a sculpture honouring all those lost at sea from, or in the WK registration area – stretching from Talmine in the west across to Stroma and down as far as Golspie.
There were speeches, pipe band, seafaring songs, a poem and a specially composed pipe tune and 10 local vessels formed a flotilla in Wick Bay, as invited guests and members of the public gathered around the towering bronze figure.
Sculptor Alan Beattie Herriot, one of Scotland’s leading figurative sculptors, was commissioned to create the monument. Alan was selected from a short list of five artists and his design was revealed at a public meeting in the town in June 2022. Standing five metres high at Wick’s Braehead, looking across the harbour and bay, the bronze figure will symbolise how the sea “gives with one hand and takes away with the other”.
The statue stands on top of a stainless-steel base plinth, and panels at the base of the column feature figures of sea users from past and present in bas-relief. The statue is surrounded by five lecterns with tops detailing different maritime themes. Three of these were designed by pupils at Wick High School. The base of the column is surrounded by Caithness stone slabs that are engraved with details of Black Saturday. A place of reflection and remembrance, the memorial also has four Caithness stone benches, two with backs detailing all the harbours and fishing stations in the WK vessel registration area.
The Caithness and North Sutherland Fund was delighted to support the fundraising efforts of the Seafarers Memorial Group with a grant award of £20,710. A cheque was presented to chairman Willie Watt, by CNSF vice-chairperson Kayleigh Nicolson, who commented: “We at the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund were absolutely delighted to support the Seafarers Memorial Group in putting the memorial together. It’s just stunning the way it has turned out. It’s going to be a focal point for the community. It really draws the eye. It’s wonderful the way it looks like it has just come up from the sea.”
The full report can be viewed online here
Caithness and North Sutherland Fund supports renovation of Castletown Football Pavilion.
A celebration of the official re-opening of Castletown football pavilion was celebrated at an event on Saturday (29th April 2023) attended by guests including representatives of funding bodies and as well as tradespeople who carried out the work.
The £45,000 revamp includes upgrades to changing rooms, new showers and the Quarrymen’s Bar featuring a “legends wall” with framed shirts of distinguished former players on display. The team is known as the Quarrymen because of the village’s historic links to the flagstone industry.
Club president Jimmy Gunn was invited to cut the green ribbon to officially open the new facilities. Mr Gunn was joined by his nine-year-old grandson Kian Sutherland.
Almost £21,000 was awarded by the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund, while £3000 came from the Baillie Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, both administered by Caithness Chamber of Commerce.
A share of the proceeds from the sale of the village’s Traill Hall also went towards the refurbishment, and the club used some of its own funds.
A donation came from Brian and Fiona Mackenzie, whose late son Marc was a Castletown player, committee member and supporter.
The facilities at Back Park are used by the Castletown men’s team, who play in Division One of the Caithness Amateur Football Association summer league, and Caithness ladies, who compete in the Scottish Women’s Football Highlands and Islands League, as well as by youth sides.
The full press report can be read online here
Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill has reopened its doors following an investment of £2m to secure Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill the historic building and improve Strathnaver Museum’s visitor experience. The museum team kicked off their 2023 season when the local community were invited to have a ‘sneak peek’ of the newly installed interpretation and exhibitions.
Visitors were delighted by the improvements to the existing building and new exhibitions which was felt complimented the original building. While the annex building showcasing the agricultural, fishing and trades history was a welcome addition to the museum campus.
The museum tells the story of 8,000 years of human occupation in north west Sutherland in the context of the Highland Clearances. Its eclectic collection includes a bronze age beaker, bagpipes made from a wagon that crossed the Oregon Trail, and a dog skin buoy. Strathnaver Museum will be open until 31st October, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
The refurbishment was made possible thanks to National Lottery players, Cultural and Natural Heritage Fund, Museums and Galleries Scotland, SSE, Dounreay, HIE, The Wolfson Foundation, Caithness and North Sutherland Fund, Garfield Weston and Wildland and the many private donors who supported the work.
The Caithness and North Sutherland Fund (CNSF) is delighted to announce the appointment of Fiona Forbes as its new chair at its recent board meeting.
Fiona is local to Caithness and has spent most of her career working in different roles at Dounreay and is currently a Project Manager. Fiona also spent a six year period with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). She is involved with various local groups and clubs and her interests include beekeeping, sport and spending time outdoors. She joined the CNSF Board in December 2020.
Fiona Forbes, the new Chair commented:
“I am delighted be taking on the position of Chair after serving as a board director for the last two years. It has been fantastic to see how the Fund has supported so many different organisations in the local community. I look forward to leading the organisation through this next period alongside fellow board directors and newly appointed Fund administrators Caithness Chamber of Commerce.”
“The Fund is also looking to fill two vacancies on its Board of Directors and we are seeking applications from enthusiastic individuals with a passion for the local area. Candidates must be resident in the Caithness and North Sutherland area.”
The CNSF is particularly interested in attracting candidates resident in either South East Caithness or North Sutherland who have a good knowledge of the community, voluntary or charity sectors and have an awareness of the local community. Applicants should also have a good understanding of finance and governance and be willing to commit the necessary time and effort.
The CNSF would also welcome applications from candidates who are less experienced and would like to join a board as a non-executive director for the first time, as training/mentoring will be provided.
Further information or how to apply, contact the Fund Administrator on enquiries@cnsf.org.uk Tel: 01847 500101
The Caithness and North Sutherland Fund (CNSF) has announced the appointment of Caithness Chamber of Commerce as Fund Administrator.
Fiona Forbes, the new Chair of the CNSF commented:
“The CNSF Board is delighted to have engaged the Caithness Chamber to administer the fund on a day-to-day basis. With a strong foothold in the socio-economic landscape of the North Highland region, we are confident that the expert fund management and local business and community knowledge provided by the Chamber will be extremely beneficial to the Fund.
Fiona added, “Since launching in 2011, the CNSF has made a significant contribution to the Caithness and North Sutherland area; committing a total of £2,938,286 towards 216 community projects with a cumulative value estimated to be over £14 million. The projects are wide-ranging and deliver major improvements through the Fund’s core themes; Social Improvement, Infrastructure, Environment, and Culture.”
Trudy Morris Chief Executive, Caithness Chamber of Commerce commented:
“We are delighted to add the CNSF to our portfolio of fund management. As a Chamber, we are constantly evolving and looking for new ways to support not just our members but also the wider community. We are pleased to bring our professional knowledge and experience to the administration of the CSNF and look forward to working with the board on the delivery of the Fund’s key objectives.”
The CNSF was established to distribute a £4M funding package provided by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority as a result of the low-level waste facility built near Dounreay. Funding is distributed to community organisations for projects that will increase the attractiveness of Caithness & North Sutherland as a place to live, work and invest with particular emphasis on achieving environmental, social, cultural, and infrastructure improvements.
Grants are distributed in line with the NDA’s socio-economic policy with applications being assessed every quarter. Further information about the CNSF and how to apply can be found at www.cnsf.org.uk or by contacting the Fund coordination team on enquiries@cnsf.org.uk Tel: 01847 500101
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund is a community fund established by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd to distribute a £4M funding package to community projects that will increase the attractiveness of Caithness & North Sutherland as a place to live, work and invest.
We are looking to fill two vacancies on our Board of Directors and are seeking applications from enthusiastic individuals with a passion for our communities. As a Director, you will be responsible to ensure that the Fund complies with its objectives and governing documents as well as all relevant legislation and regulations. You will also become a member of the Fund’s assessment committee (meeting quarterly) and will use your skills and knowledge to help distribute our grant funding to benefit communities within the Dounreay travel to work area.
Candidates must be resident in Caithness and North Sutherland and we are particularly interested in attracting candidates with the following attributes:
• Good knowledge of the community/voluntary/charity sectors.
• Awareness of the needs of our communities.
• Good understanding of finance and governance.
• Be able and willing to commit the necessary time and effort.
• Resident in either South East Caithness or North Sutherland (within the Dounreay travel to work area).
Applications would also be welcome from candidates who are less experienced and who do not possess the above attributes to join a Board as a non-executive director for the first time (training/mentoring will be provided).
For further information or to apply,
please contact the Fund Administrator:
Email: enquiries@cnsf.org.uk
Tel: 01847 500101
Deadline for applications:
by 12 noon Thursday 6 April 2023
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund considers funding applications on a quarterly basis.
Please ensure that you submit your initial enquiry form well in advance of the closing dates to allow yourself sufficient time to complete your full application form, which we will provide you with after we receive your initial enquiry form and have concluded our eligibility screening checks.
2023 – Round 2
Application form closing date – Friday 31st March 2023.
CNSF Assessment Meeting date – Wednesday 26th April 2023.
2023 – Round 3
Application form closing date – Friday 30th June 2023.
CNSF Assessment Meeting Date – Wednesday 26th July 2023.
2023 – Round 4
Application form closing date – Friday 29th September 2023.
CNSF Assessment Meeting date – Wednesday 25th of October 2023.
The CNSFund reserves the right to change this schedule.
We are looking to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors and are seeking applications from enthusiastic individuals with a passion for our communities. This is a great opportunity to join a dynamic and vibrant board and make a significant contribution to the local community. As a Director you will be responsible to ensure that the Fund […]
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund AGM Report 2022/23 is available to read and download online here.
The TWELFTH Annual General Meeting of the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund will be held in the Georgina Suite at the Pentland Hotel, Princes Street, Thurso, KW14 7AA on Tuesday 12 December 2023 at 2pm If you would like to be in attendance at the Annual General Meeting please let us know by contacting enquiries@cnsf.org.uk […]
Crowds gathered during the unveiling ceremony of the Seafarers Memorial at the Braehead, Wick, this weekend 20 May 2023. The ceremony celebrated the culmination of a five-year campaign to raise more than £100,000 for a sculpture honouring all those lost at sea from, or in the WK registration area – stretching from Talmine in the […]