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 with others on new projects to react to the needs of our community. For example, in 2024 we have helped to re-instate Citizens Advice outreach sessions in the Victoria Hall, Cromarty, with support from Cromarty and District Community Council.

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

Karen Mackay

Karen was born in Germany but has lived in Cromarty, her family hometown, from the age of 11. She worked as a secretary in a solicitor's office for ten years, thereafter for European Information Centre and latterly was Financial Director of her part-owned company, Calico Internet Ltd. Since selling the company in early 2023, she has been focusing on giving back to the community and is currently responsible for CCP finance and is also a Trustee on the boards of two other local charities. Karen is a keen rower and coxswain for the local community rowing club. She also loves walking her two cocker spaniels.

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.

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 responsible for funding applications. She loves: singing, writing, gardening, breadmaking and T’ai Chi.

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.

Abc.