Welcome to the first of our regular updates from Anne Widdop, Chair of Arisaig Community Trust. Every week, Anne shares a candid look at what the Trust has been up to, including the projects we’re progressing, the challenges we’re working through, and the people giving their time to make things happen in our community. These updates first appear on our Facebook page – follow us there if you’re not already to get the updates first!
We’re sharing the updates here too so that everyone who cares about Arisaig – whether you live here, visit regularly, or support us from further away – you can stay close to the work being done on the community’s behalf. If anything sparks an idea, a question, or an offer to help, we’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email: info@arisaigcommunitytrust.org.uk.
ACT Diary: 22nd February 2026
It’s a stark reality that if we need or want something in our community, we need to make it happen ourselves – planning, raising money, rallying resources and managing the projects. Arisaig Community Trust has been going since 2009 and has had many outstanding successes, but can’t stand still – there is always work needing done.
In an attempt to improve communications, I thought a regular journal of everything Trust are up to may help keep you up to date. Many people step up but we can always use more help!
After the fundraising dance on 14th Feb, we cleared the best part of £1000. Every penny raised is hard won and easily spent. A thousand pounds is only half of what we need to replace the fuse box in the toilets. Step forward Chris McQuillan! He kindly offered to do the electrical work for free, saving us thousands. Hurrah, we can now spend some of that freed up money giving the toilets a much needed spring makeover. Anyone handy with a paintbrush? Mop? Sandpaper? Has a pulse? You are welcome to help. Watch out for requests for a weekend work party.
During the last couple of weeks, there has been a concerted effort to clear out Bills Shed. Over the years an accumulation of miscellaneous items have found their way into Bills Shed and was in dire need of a tidy. After what felt like an archaeological dig, we found an old trainer – but just the one; half a pie – dental records may be examined to locate the owner; boxes of rusty nails; lots of empty boxes and half tins of paint that had well and truly solidified; a metal stand that no-one knows what it’s for (prizes for anyone who knows what it is); broken plastic cutlery…I could go on, but with the help of volunteers, we sorted everything into four piles – museum artifacts (perhaps the pie could have stayed?), items to keep for events/gardening etc, a large pile of genuine rubbish and lastly an eclectic pile of ‘stuff’ which perhaps somebody could make use of. The ‘stuff’ was offered to anyone that wanted it, in exchange for a donation. The shed has been open for the last few days and after some brisk trade, almost everything is gone – apart from an old bicycle, some wall cupboards and some tools. The remaining items will have to go to the dump as work is starting next week. It is a real shame that so many items these days have no value.
After the shed clear-out, onto something way more exciting. On a cold dreich morning, a meeting at the community toilets! It was a hard sell ‘fancy giving up a couple of precious hours on Saturday to meet at the public toilets?’ I may have to change my sales pitch. Thankfully Gordon and Chris were persuaded to have a look round, work out what we need to do to change the fuse board and we compiled a list of maintenance jobs. The tree outside remains at a jaunty angle, this still needs to be remedied.
Today, Steve and Peter are dismantling shelving and starting to take the place apart, it’s all go on Bills Shed transformation.
If you want to get involved, there are lots of ways you can do that.
You can join the Volunteers Whats App Group, or drop an email to Zoe to add your name to the list info@arisaigcommunitytrust.org.uk or old skool, talk to one of the Directors.
PS: The name Bill’s Shed will be kept and we hope to have a nice new plaque. Bill Henderson was a shining example of someone who worked tirelessly for many years to help the community and we will continue to honour that legacy.
Thanks for reading!
Anne Widdop – Chair of Arisaig Community Trust