Strathpeffer Pavilion is currently undertaking a major piece of research to identify how both the building and the events it offers can best match the needs of people living in the north of Scotland.

Next year, the iconic Pavilion, set in the heart of Ross-shire, will celebrate its 10th anniversary since a major refurbishment brought it back to life. General Manager Andrea Muir has been working closely with Douglas Westwater from Community Enterprise to establish ways in which the Pavilion can meet the diverse demands of its audience, particularly those who live in Strathpeffer village. This research is required by the Board of Directors to enable them to make a decision on the possibility of buying the freehold of the property.

The Pavilion was built in the 1880s to provide a social centre for the village. It has been entirely community-managed for some years and the Pavilion board are considering taking it into full community ownership. This will help them undertake a major re-development and improve their services and they are keen to root this in the current needs of the community (both individual residents and groups). Continuing the strong community momentum will ensure that owning the asset will make Strathpeffer a more vibrant place, where people want to stay and visit and which benefits other businesses and organisations in the area.

In order to facilitate this research, the Pavilion is holding a public and stakeholder summit to discuss the concept in detail and is extremely keen to engage with residents of Strathpeffer itself along with the wider community of the north of Scotland. The free event is being held on Thursday 2nd May from 7 till 9 pm, in the Pavilion and is open to all village residents and everyone with an interest in the work of the Pavilion.

Andrea Muir said, ‘As we look forward to our 10th year since re-opening, I feel it is vital that we use this opportunity to take stock and fully engage with our audience. Only by doing this will we be able to devise a clear plan for the future.’ She added, ‘The reason for conducting this research is to ensure that this iconic and well-loved venue continues to have a vibrant and prosperous future and continues to benefit as many people as possible.’

The Pavilion team is keen to engage with as many people as possible and has also arranged a drop-in session between 3 and 4.30 pm on Thursday 2nd May, to allow those unable to make the main evening event an opportunity to express their views. Since the Pavilion welcomes an audience from such a large geographic area, an online survey has also been set up and can be accessed at:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/Strathpeffercommunitysurvey

Source: Strathpeffer Pavilion