Two of the driving forces behind Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust resign
Two of the driving forces behind the Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust have called time on their association with the group.
Chairman Duncan Swarbrick and vice chairman Mike Gale have decided that it is time for a change at the trust.
They have just stepped down from the trust which runs the Aviemore community ice rink which was AGCT’s first major success.
In November, last year, the group officially took ownership of the Glenmore Visitor Centre from Forestry and Land Scotland.
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Both Mr Swarbrick and Mr Gale have been on the board from the start of the trust in 2017.
“I am sorry to go but directorships on community trusts are not meant to be indefinite for good reasons,” said Mr Swarbrick.
“It is healthy for community organisations to have a turnover of directors which enables their boards to be renewed.
“I think I speak for both of us when I say it has been a privilege to serve our community.
“Mike has done an enormous amount of community work before this with Aviemore Business Association and the Big Splash, and I was a director of Aviemore Sports Centre prior to our forming the AGCT.
“I am very proud that our community brought the ice rink back through its own effort and to have been a part of that.
“I am delighted that the trust has managed to secure a successful asset transfer of the Glenmore Visitor Centre and that the refurbishment works are almost complete and that it is looking fantastic.”
He continued: “It’s great to see how much can be achieved by community work with a relatively small amounts of state funding and support.
“It was envisaged when the Community Empowerment Act came in that a culture change would be needed by relevant government bodies to implement it.
“I think we have seen some change but a lot more is needed.
“I hope that the trust has shown that when communities are entrusted to look after their own resources they are often best placed to do just that.
“I will remain a member of the trust and look forward to the next project and to being involved in that.”
Mr Gale said: “Who’d have thought trying to help community grow would bring about such highs and incredibly surprising lows but I guess you’d only know once you’ve tried it.
“I guess there’s no more contentious issue than our snowsports area where community ownership is overwhelmingly wanted and needed but fought against by Highlands and Islands Enterprise…
“Having put our head above the parapet to help our community to grow and flourish where others are too nervous we’ve had plenty of shots taken at us.
“For me this is one of the biggest barriers to growth our community.
“If Scotland wants to be strong and successful independent or not then it needs to trust its communities and let them get on with it and only by working together and giving communities control and power back will Aviemore and Scotland thrive.
“But there have also been plenty of highs.
“The ice rink is an incredible example of community working together.
“Seeing our ice family grow; seeing new people introduced to the sport and seeing the old guard comeback to train them has been incredibly inspiring.
“If only community had ownership and control of the ski area the transformation would be incredible.
“It has been a blast and working alongside my fellow Yorkshireman Duncan that I met when I first arrived in Aviemore has been a real privilege.
“The bond created many years ago after climbing the Steeple on Shelterstone and has never faded - that has helped set the foundations to deal with all the highs and lows of community work.
“Working together is crucial. Nurturing and helping people within our communities is incredibly rewarding but put aside egos - it’s about helping others.
“Thanks must go to many people but in particular for fellow director Michael Dearman for his incredible commitment to community working.”
