Sinclairs Bay Lunches Serve Over 200 by Midpoint in Caithness Project

A project helps communities in eastern Caithness. Sinclair’s Bay Trust runs it in three village halls. They already served over 200 lunches, and the project began its third year last month. It offers a social space during winter.

The project provides warm spaces in the community. It started because of the cost-of-living crisis last year. People can get hot drinks and lunch there. Community feedback led to a rebranding this year, reflecting the project’s social benefits.

June Frame and Kerry O’Keefe facilitate sessions, while Nadine Stewart takes care of the catering. Kerry said they reached the halfway point recently. She also noted the increasing number of attendees, showing people really seem to enjoy it.

Maysie Calder chairs the Sinclair’s Bay Trust and is happy the community supports the project. She says it meets a key social need, as winters can be long and isolating for residents, helping chase those feelings away.

Attendees find the project a “must-go event,” citing it’s a chance to chat and reminisce. People enjoy the weekly quiz too. The catering consistently receives positive reviews. Thistle Wind Partners and National Lottery fund it.

The project offers free attendance to local residents. Keiss hall hosts it on Wednesdays, Staxigoe hall on Thursdays, and Reiss and Killimster hall on Fridays. The hours are always from 11 AM to 2 PM. The sessions end on March 21st.

Sinclair’s Bay Trust wants a better local area, aiming to improve living, working, and visiting. Keiss hall also hosts other events. Sinclair’s Bay Creatives exists too, having received funding from Stroupster Wind Farm.

The Creatives offer a social space to meet and let people explore their creative side. It occurs on the last Wednesday each month, except for July, August, and December. Soon, they plan on formal artist workshops.

The trust seeks interested people to reach out. Another project is “A Year in Sinclair’s Bay,” involving taking photographs in the area each month. People then share them on Facebook and Instagram, allowing the community celebrates the beauty of Sinclair’s Bay.

This project is in its third year now. Wick Voices helped create a calendar last year. The trust’s largest project is Caithness at War, which launched in collaboration with Wick Development Trust. All serve the community.