News

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We are delighted that the Scottish Government has granted Ray’s Opportunities the funds to establish a Changing Places Toilet (CPT) in Forres, on the site of the currently derelict Leys Road toilet block in Forres.

The Scottish Government CPT fund is designed for disabled people families and carers, to increase –

·       opportunities to take part in leisure and other activities outside

·       the house and to enjoy outdoor spaces

·       connections to other people and with the community

·       wellbeing and fun

·       safety, dignity and confidence when going out

A Changing Places toilet has a hoist and a bed and other features which accommodate those needs.   It addresses the issue of people, adults and children, with complex needs who need more support in the community if they are to be able to get out and about with their carers, and experience relative independence, without the indignity of having to be changed on the floor.

This is nested in a wider project which is to establish a new modern Rest Room facility, badly needed, in the centre of Forres, designated a Heritage Quarter.  This is for everyone in our community and for travellers, tourists, hopefully adding to the attraction of Forres as a destination and thus supporting the local economy.  Part of the building will be sectioned off as a street food outlet, facing east towards Ley’s Road, sitting behind the Coop.  The purpose of this is to sustain the maintenance of the unit, particularly the CPT which obviously needs to be kept safe and secure for all its users.  It will be let on this basis, as a small entrepreneurial opportunity, not in any way to compete with other high street offerings, but as, we hope, a fun addition.  

The Charity will apply for whatever public funds are available - 'we will be grateful for any help we can get' – and will shortly be launching a Crowdfunding initiative to fund the new roof on the building, necessary to accommodate the required height of the CPT, and giving a much more attractive pitched appearance to the whole thing.  And it will give breathing space to develop the interior as a quality facility.  The Crowdfunder will be called Ray’s the Roof.  Details to follow. 

Please click this link for more about the background to this project 

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Videos

A short video of our recent Food, Work and Health Matters project, produced in March 2019 

FWHM 2019 video

Also available is our earlier Volunteers Video available by clicking on this link

Volunteers Video

Christmas gathering December 2020

Despite the difficulties caused by the virus, Ray’s Opportunities has kept in touch with its volunteers individually during the past months, just to maintain our social links and to offer any support if needed. 

On 16 December, Ray (our Chair) and Iris (Volunteer Coordinator) we were able to manage a socially distanced get together and welcomed Euan, his mum Rhona, Scott, Tracey and Susannah.  

It was particularly good to be able to present Susannah with her Saltire award which recognised 35 volunteering hours at the Community Café before the community centre shutdown in March.  She also told us about some other volunteering work, undertaken during the lockdown as part of the Community Impact Project, which was supported by the Employability Fund.  She showed us the poster she designed which she called ‘Project Comfort’ and which you can see shows what a star volunteer Susannah is.  

It was a lovely safe afternoon and we look forward to 2021 when we hope to have more chances to get together.