About Us
Cromarty Care Project came into being in 2015, arising out of a group of local people who had been trying to establish residential and day care within the town. This was a tall order and proved to be problematic at the time. So it was felt that we should go forward with projects that would provide immediate benefit. As a result we have been involved in various projects including: the Cycling Without Age ‘Trikes’, Table Tennis, Lunch Club for the over-60s and, of course, the Community Sharing Larder.
The aim initially was to embed care into Cromarty – to make it possible for all of us to remain in our own homes for as long as possible as part of the community. We began to work alongside Highland Home Carers to facilitate the Homecare part of our project, and our first clients were taken on in February 2016. Since then, TopCare Inverness have become the local care provider. For further information, have a look here.
When the Covid Pandemic struck in 2020 and we all experienced Lockdown, we realised there was a need to ensure that people had access to groceries – especially the elderly and infirm. So we asked for volunteers to deliver groceries and newspapers and to help stock the shelves of our local store. There was a flood of offers of help, from young and old – Cromarty rose to the challenge and delivered (literally!). We were also concerned that some people were suffering a loss of income without any support. We were able to assist by accessing various funding sources to provide payments to households for subsistence, fuel and children's shoes. We also supplied the local Primary School with a useful 'school pack' for every child and outdoor clothing, so the children could spend more time in the fresh air. For our work during lockdown, we were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (read our Covid Booklet to find out more).
We are keen to work on new projects to react to the needs of our community - especially any project which will help anyone who is feeling isolated and lonely.
Before the Pandemic, we had a lot of fun with fundraising! This included a dog show and a cruise to Nigg to enjoy a BBQ on the beach! As we return to normal, post-pandemic, we hope that the whole community will be able to enjoy more fun events with us. We welcome any suggestions and offers of support.
Below is our Board of Trustees:
Chairperson
Denise McIntosh
Born and brought up in Cromarty, Denise has always championed community resilience. Her involvement with community groups has included eleven years as a volunteer community fire fighter, organising the local playgroup, helping out at the Fourways (over-60s group) and former chair of School Parent Council. Denise is Mum to two boys and is currently completing a full-time degree in Accounting as well as working part-time. In her spare time she enjoys community rowing and is a keen supporter of Glasgow Rangers.
CCP Trustees
Jill Stoner
07850889014
jillstoner@hotmail.co.uk
I have lived in Cromarty for almost 17 years - for 12 of those I was a GP at Munlochy surgery but more recently have been working as a GP Locum. I have two grown up children and have just become a Grandma.
Shirley Matheson
Shirley was born in Cromarty and her family has lived in Cromarty for generations. She is a retired health professional with a broad range of experience within both clinical practice and education settings. Shirley set up and currently runs our Cycling Without Age programme and she is lead funding applications researcher. Pastimes include travel, family history and gardening.
Jim Templeton
Jim trained with the Royal Air Force, gaining international logistics experience, at all levels, in a career spanning over 60 years. His work, with the RAF and later as a ‘civilian’, took him to various countries throughout the Far East and Middle East, latterly returning to Scotland. He now runs a local business. Jim is our liaison with the Charities Regulator.
Brenda Monk
Brenda is a retired School Business Manager and Accountant, with previous experience in banking, publishing and retail. She has many years’ experience in the voluntary sector and is currently a Trustee of two other local charities: Cromarty Courthouse Museum and Cromarty History Society. Brenda is responsible for CCP Finance. Pastimes include: gardening, DIY, classical music, reading, jigsaws and watching old films.
Fiona Grist
Fiona served for over 18 years as a Nursing Officer in the Army, specialising as lead Theatre Nurse during operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, Fiona has worked at the Highland Hospice and as an Adult Nurse Lecturer at the University of the Highlands and Islands. She is newly appointed Clinical Nurse Manager at the National Treatment Centre, Inverness.
Lynn Adam
Following 31 years’ service as a military nursing officer, Lynn has worked in the NHS in emergency care, patient safety, service delivery, commissioning, governance and assurance. She is now Senior Nurse, Nursing & Midwifery Workforce Planning with NHS Orkney.
Alison Seller
Alison is a retired Secondary School Teacher, having taught ‘across the Firth’ at Invergordon Academy for 22 years. She has 7 years’ experience as Administrator/Secretary to charitable organisations and voluntary experience with Citizen’s Advice. Alison is Secretary of CCP and involved in funding applications. She loves: singing, writing, gardening, breadmaking, T’ai Chi and ‘ham’ acting.
Maxine Chapman
Maxine moved to the Black Isle from Dorset in 2021. Previously she worked in one of the largest infant schools in Dorset as Senior Admissions Officer. She then re-trained in counselling and spent over ten years as Pastoral Support Worker and Child Protection Officer. She has a passion for baking, trying her hand at new hobbies, live music and comedy, and dancing like no-one’s watching.
