Crown Connects started as a COVID emergency response group in March of last year (2021). Since then, we have established ourselves as a community group with the aim of keep our community connected through a variety of community-based activities, projects and initiatives. Crown Connects is now an OSCR registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) (registration number 050700). Being a registered and constituted charity will ensure the continuity of our organisation, and that we can realise our objectives in an inclusive and democratic way.
Future Plans - 2022
In the coming weeks we will be holding our first AGM and inviting members to join our group. We will have several committee roles to fill and invite interest for these once we have formally constituted and incorporated the community organisation. We will then begin to elaborate on our aims with more community projects and initiatives which capitalise on our community wealth and futher build community inclusion and cooperation via collaborative initiatives. Head over to our 'Get Involved' page to to become a member, register as a volunteer or sign up for regular group updates and invites!
Current Initiatives
Our many project at the moment is the community cupboard initiative; we encourage any members of the community to reduce waste and become more involved in community cooperation by making use of the food and other essential items available in our cupboard which is located next to SHIMCA Eco-cafe on Ardconnel Terrace, Inverness. Everything in our cupboard is free to everyone. For more information, please check out the Community Cupboard page on this site.
Crown Connects Origin Story
Since setting up very quickly in late March 2021 to help deal with the impacts of Covid-19, we have recruited close to 50 volunteers; delivered 1680 meals; helped with hundreds of other requests for help with shopping, collecting prescriptions and other essential tasks. We have also set up our Community Cupboard to share food and other essentials.
A big thank you to everyone in our community and beyond who has stepped up to help each other and to get involved!
As restrictions across the Highlands ease, we are refocussing our activities on community building and cohesion projects. Very shortly we will be circulating the results of our community survey which was sent to residents of the Crown/Hill area so we can better understand how members feels about their community and what they would like to see happen in the future: activities, projects, developments and other improvements.
In the meantime, please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any ideas or suggestions, or you would like to get involved with the group as a volunteer, become a member or find out more about sitting on the Crown Connect's committee. You can use our membership sign-up form or email us at: crownconnectsSCIO@gmail.com
A big thank you to everyone in our community and beyond who has stepped up to help each other and to get involved!
As restrictions across the Highlands ease, we are refocussing our activities on community building and cohesion projects. Very shortly we will be circulating the results of our community survey which was sent to residents of the Crown/Hill area so we can better understand how members feels about their community and what they would like to see happen in the future: activities, projects, developments and other improvements.
In the meantime, please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any ideas or suggestions, or you would like to get involved with the group as a volunteer, become a member or find out more about sitting on the Crown Connect's committee. You can use our membership sign-up form or email us at: crownconnectsSCIO@gmail.com
Crown Connects Community Cupboard
The Community Cupboard is just outside SHIMCA at 1 Ardconnel Terrace, it is the wee shed: just behind the plastic bottle greenhouse. Open to everyone 8am – 8pm every day. We need to keep the door closed but we are always open during these times!
Our Community Cupboard is here for residents and local businesses to share perfectly good surplus food rather than throwing it away. You may be going on holiday, have surplus from your garden or simply know you won’t eat all the food you have. Or if you are a Registered Food Business you may have baked or cooked too much to sell. A Community Cupboard provides a simple solution which will enable our community to waste less and reduce our carbon footprint, as well as helping those in need.
The Community Cupboard will also look to stock limited toiletries including, unopened period products, toothpaste and baby formula as well as soap/body wash, shampoo and nappies.
To help anyone who may be struggling at this time due to the COVID crisis, the group will also be purchasing basic grocery supplies so that nobody in the community goes without. With funding from HIE via the Scottish Government, the cupboard will also be stocked with essentials such as rice, pasta, tinned fruit and veg. We also have a benefit/tax credit rates (2020/21) poster on the inside of the cupboard door so you can check that you are getting all the support you are entitled to (soon to be updated).
The cupboard automatically opens at 8am and locks at 8pm and is checked daily. Complying with Covid-19 regulations only one person can enter the cupboard at a time, with social distancing being encouraged at all times. Hand sanitiser will be provided at the door for visitors to use on entry and exit, and bins will be provided for litter.
Visit our Facebook page for more information or if you would like to offer suggestions/ideas.