Engage, Learn & Connect
Welcome to the Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum Myth-Busting Q&A series! In this series, we are here to provide you with accurate information and address any myths or misconceptions surrounding the Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum (GALE).
GALE is an organisation dedicated to socially and economically regenerating the Gairloch and Loch Ewe area. With a deep commitment to our community, we strive to create a platform for positive change and collaboration.
We aim to make our area a better place for people of all abilities to live, work, and thrive.
Throughout this series, we aim to debunk any false information, clear up misunderstandings, and provide you with comprehensive answers to common questions about GALE. Our goal is to ensure that you have a clear understanding of our mission, work, and the positive impact we strive to make in the area.
So, if you have any doubts, queries, or misconceptions about GALE, this is the place to be. Our team is here to provide you with accurate and reliable information, helping you gain a better understanding of our organisation and the invaluable work we do.
We encourage you to continue the conversation and ask any additional questions you may have about GALE. We believe in open dialogue and are here to provide you with all the information you need. If you have any specific queries, feel free to email us at marketing@galeteam.co.uk. Our dedicated team will be more than happy to address your concerns and provide you with the information you seek.
Alternatively, if you prefer a face-to-face interaction, we invite you to book a slot at our next Ask GALE session. These sessions provide an opportunity for community members and stakeholders to engage directly with us, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of our work. Details about upcoming sessions can be found by following the link.
We value your curiosity and appreciate your interest in GALE. Your questions help us improve our communication and ensure that accurate information reaches everyone. So why not ask us a question that’s not already covered here?
Let’s get started on dispelling myths and answering your burning questions about the Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum!
Question: How is the Highland Hospice funding used?
Answer: GALE provides a community-led Befriending service in the Gairloch and Loch Ewe area in partnership with Highland Hospice Helping Hands. It offers support to people at home, who have been identified as needing help, either by the local NHS teams, self-referral or friends and family. Self- referral is very much encouraged and it’s easy; just complete the form. Once your referral is received we will arrange a time to chat about what the service can offer you.
“Highland Hospice values its many collaborations with Community Anchor Organisations. None more so than with GALE who consult, inform and work with their community to deliver services that are important to them. As an organisation which promotes ‘not counting the days but making every day count’ with a Highland wide remit, we are delighted to support the befriending service run by GALE as a prime example of a service that does just this. Now more then ever, when financial recourses are declining and demand for services increasing, collaborations such as that with GALE and Highland Hospice are becoming increasingly important to maintenance of the local social care safety net.” Harry Tedstone Community Engagement Officer, Highland Hospice
The service focuses on fostering a sense of community and establishing connections among individuals within our community. Our primary goal is to address the issue of loneliness and isolation, while simultaneously creating a more compassionate, supportive, and resilient environment for people of all abilities to thrive. This service specifically targets vulnerable members of our community who experience social isolation due to various reasons such as illness, lack of transportation, being a new parent, mobility issues, disability, or difficulty in forming connections. Individual and group befriending opportunities are available. Moreover the service facilitates the development of themed groups centred around shared interests.
BefriendingGALE is provided by volunteers who provide social and practical support in an informal way. The amount of time and activities will vary but every volunteer will provide a friendly ear to listen as well as extra assistance to help reduce anxiety and stress for individuals and carers.
As each person is different, the help and support offered is tailored to their individual needs. For some people this might be keeping them company or going out on trips, whilst for others the support enables their family or carers to have time to themselves knowing their loved one is being well looked after.
Each person has their own volunteer befriender who visits as little as 30 minutes per week, and this enables the person, their family and/or carers to get to know the volunteer. Building this connection is at the heart of this service.
BefriendingGALE volunteers may:
- Take short car trips/outings
- Sit with people to enable carers to have a break
- Chat about local or national news and sports
- Read with a person
- Help with a hobby
- Provide emotional support at times of change or difficulty
The service can be accessed by anyone resident in Gairloch, Loch Ewe Area, and Ullapool. Individuals and family members may self-refer to BefriendingGALE.
Ongoing support for this partnership is provided through Highland Hospice community services with regular review meetings with the Highland Hospice community partnership manager. BefriendingGALE is funded by GALE and Highland Hospice. Funding helps to cover any expenses incurred by volunteers such as their travel. The funding Highland Hospice contribute to this service is treated as restricted and therefore appears in our annual accounts as such. If you wish to contribute to keep the service going, drop into the GALE Centre or make a donation online.
Date: April 2024
Question: Where did the Covid funding go?
Answer: During 2020-2021, GALE utilised the Covid funding received from various sources to support the local community in response to the pandemic. These funds were used for a range of activities aimed at addressing the challenges faced during the Covid lockdown and subsequent recovery. Details of the activities were included in our annual accounts for 2020 and 2021 as well as being published in the local newspaper.
To combat loneliness and isolation caused by shielding and social distancing, GALE provided six tablet computers to Strathburn and Isle View care homes, allowing residents to stay connected with their families. GALE also collaborated with Highland Hospice to establish a telephone befriending service, providing a friendly call to those in need.
Food insecurity caused by lockdown and Covid was another significant focus. GALE worked with Gairloch High School, Gairloch Primary School, Good for Ewe, and The GALE Centre to increase fruit and vegetable production for local distribution. Volunteer gardeners, including those on Furlough Leave, played a crucial role in this initiative. GALE facilitated a seed/plant swap scheme to encourage more people to grow their own produce. Additionally, GALE acted as a referring agent and distributor for The Highland Food Bank, providing emergency food boxes to local people in financial crisis.
To help reduce the spread of Covid in the community, GALE collaborated with Safe Hands, Saves Lives, and Badachro Distillery to establish hand sanitiser refill stations at local points. Public use hand sanitiser dispensers were also distributed at community buildings and public spaces. GALE promoted the use of face masks in public places and supported local volunteer sewers in producing face masks and coverings. Furthermore, GALE provided movement sensors to enable Aultbea Men’s Shed to resume activities while maintaining social distancing. Fogging machines were also supplied to deep clean community buildings and local business premises, ensuring a safe reopening. Lastly, GALE prepared gift packs as a token of appreciation for two hundred key workers who went above and beyond their normal job roles to serve the community.
Throughout 2020-2021, GALE continued its efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the local community. The focus remained on addressing loneliness and isolation, food insecurity, and reducing the spread of Covid. The grant funds received for these activities were fully utilised as described in the narrative of our annual accounts and to the satisfaction of the grant funders.
Date: March 2024
Question: Year-round operation by GALE doesn’t help our community.
Answer: At GALE, we wholeheartedly embrace year-round operations and confidently tackle seasonality head-on. We firmly believe that operating throughout the year brings an abundance of incredible benefits to our community and economy. Allow us to share our unwavering passion for this approach!
First and foremost, by maintaining year-round operations, we ensure a healthy and balanced community. Relying too heavily on seasonal visitors can have unintended consequences, such as a fragmented sense of togetherness and inflated housing prices. However, by operating year-round, we strive to create a harmonious and connected community that thrives year-round.
Another compelling reason for our staunch support of year-round operations is the creation of an inclusive and sustainable community. Seasonality often leads to certain sectors dominating the scene while others struggle. Our aim is to avoid such imbalances and ensure that every industry has a fair chance at success.
Did you know that seasonality often forces young individuals and families out of the picture? It’s a disheartening reality. When the seasons change, the economically active sector can suffer. By maintaining year-round operations, we provide stability and employment opportunities, encouraging talented individuals to remain right here in our community. They contribute to its vibrancy and fuel its growth.
One of the most exciting aspects of our year-round approach is the positive cycle it creates. By promoting year-round opening and supporting businesses that share this mindset, we foster a resilient economy and a thriving community. It’s a true win-win situation for both residents and visitors alike.
At GALE, we take immense pride in leading by example. We are committed to being accessible and active throughout the year, unlike others who solely focus on specific seasonal periods. We maintain a year-round mentality because we firmly believe that it builds a stronger and more resilient community.
Our commitment to year-round operations isn’t just empty words. We create permanent, year-round job opportunities for our staff. We offer annualised contracts that provide stability and continuity. We genuinely care about our employees and the local workforce, and we wholeheartedly support them in the long run.
In essence, GALE stands confidently behind the incredible benefits of year-round operations. Through our proactive and positive approach, we contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of our community. We invite everyone to join us in supporting local businesses that operate year-round and championing a vibrant and sustainable community for all. Let’s forge ahead with confidence and make a lasting impact together!
Date: February 2024
Question: Why do some ‘volunteers’ pay to work at GALE ?
Answer: This is not only completely wrong but damaging to suggest. GALE is an inclusive organisation, where labels that have a potential to make people feel excluded are avoided. Individuals within the organisation are referred to as either staff or volunteers.
GALE works with a diverse group of individuals, including volunteers, some of whom may be considered vulnerable. These individuals have chosen to receive support through self-directed support (SDS) backed by the Scottish Government Act. SDS allows individuals to have control over their own budget, which is provided by the local council. With this budget, they can arrange their own support, employ care staff, or purchase services from care organisations.
GALE provides a service that supports these individuals within the framework of SDS. It is important to note that these individuals are not paying to work at GALE, but rather utilising their SDS budget to access the necessary support and services provided by the organisation.
At GALE, we strive to be an inclusive organisation, ensuring that everyone feels valued and supported. We are committed to providing a safe and empowering environment for all individuals, including those who may require additional support.
Date: January 2024
Question: The GALE Centre can only open through the winter months because it gets handouts. How is that fair to other businesses?
Answer: GALE has an ambition to deliver all of its services every day of the year. We believe a year-round community is healthier, more connected, and more resilient than a seasonal, visitor focused one. We believe that providing consistent services and support to our community is crucial for its wellbeing, growth, and viability.
As a social enterprise, GALE operates with a different mindset compared to traditional businesses. Our objective is not solely focused on financial profit, but also on creating and enhancing employment opportunities and reinvesting our profits back into the community.
During the summer months, when the GALE Centre experiences higher customer numbers and increased revenue, we are able to generate surpluses. These funds are then used strategically to keep our staff employed during the winter months when the Centre may operate at a loss.
This approach allows us to maintain a year-round operation and continue providing valuable services to our community, even during the quieter winter period. It is not about receiving handouts, but rather the result of hard work, careful financial management, and a strong commitment to the wellbeing of our community.
By reinvesting our profits and keeping our staff employed throughout the year, we contribute to the sustainability and growth of our community. We are passionate about creating employment opportunities and supporting the overall wellbeing of the people we serve.
Donations have a significant impact on the operations of GALE but not in the way the question suggests. While our operations are already sustainable through our trading operations, donations enable us to do more than just break even. They empower us to go the extra mile by prioritising sustainable practices and supporting local suppliers. With donations, we can choose to use homegrown produce instead of cheaper alternatives, take an environmentally friendly approach, and prioritise staff welfare.
Additionally, donations allow us to involve people with additional support needs and provide year-round services instead of limiting our operations to profitable seasons only. By embracing a different business model, one that focuses on community and environmental benefit rather than individual wealth building, donations enable us to prioritise social and wellbeing benefits.
In summary, the GALE Centre’s ability to operate throughout the year is not reliant on handouts but rather on our dedication to seeing the wider benefits to our community’s wellbeing. We are proud to be able to provide consistent services and contribute to the growth and development of our community. If you believe in our work and would like to contribute, we kindly ask for you support.
Date: January 2024
Question: Why does GALE have such a high staff turnover?
Answer: The notion of GALE having a high turnover of staff is indeed a myth. GALE’s rich history, dating back to 1997, has seen us provide employment for 105 individuals, a number that includes both permanent and time-limited positions, and even summer work for students. This diversity in job roles and employment durations demonstrates GALE’s flexibility and commitment to offering opportunities to a wide range of individuals, at different stages of their careers.
It’s important to remember that many people who have passed through GALE’s doors were seeking transitional roles. In other words, these individuals were not looking for long-term employment, but rather a stepping stone to further their career or personal goals. GALE has always been dedicated to supporting these types of career paths, helping individuals transition to their next steps.
Moreover, GALE’s current staff stands as a testament to its positive work environment and commitment to staff retention. With 10 employees boasting a combined service of nearly 80 years, it’s clear that GALE is a place where people not only want to work but also stay and grow in their careers. This level of staff loyalty is a clear indicator that GALE values its employees and fosters a nurturing, supportive work environment.
So, when we look at the facts and context, it’s clear that the idea of GALE having a high staff turnover is simply not accurate. Instead, GALE demonstrates a balanced approach to employment, offering both long-term career opportunities and shorter transitional roles to cater to a variety of employment needs and aspirations.
Date: December 2023
Question: GALE has an unfair advantage over local businesses as you don’t pay business rates.
Answer: GALE does pay business rates (or non-domestic rates to give them their official title.) In the 2023-24 financial year, GALE paid over £3000. GALE has paid business rates every year since the GALE Centre opened in 2012.
Date: November 2023
Question: What is GALE going to with the million pounds it has in the bank?
Answer: If only we did! This has been a popular rumour repeatedly doing the rounds for the last few years now. It’s likely this has arisen from a misunderstanding of the Total Charity Funds shown at the bottom of our balance sheet (approximately £900K).
This figure represents the total of all GALE’s assets so includes the value of The GALE Centre building and its contents. The value of the GALE Centre itself is approximately £500k.
We aim to hold about 4 times our monthly operating costs as unrestricted cash at bank. On average we spend about £30 – 40k per month and so require a minimum of 4 times that in the bank to meet our reserves policy.
Social enterprises, like GALE, are businesses with a social or environmental mission at their heart. Unlike traditional businesses, social enterprises reinvest their profits back into the community or their causes, rather than distributing them to shareholders or owners. They prioritise purpose over profit and are accountable to their stakeholders, not just their investors.
By employing locals and sourcing services from local businesses and producers, GALE ensures that as much as possible of the wealth generated by our activities stays within our community. Turning over around £400K per annum, GALE keeps £350K circulating in the local economy via a local first approach
Date: November 2023
Question: What does GALE do with all that money, the community never sees any of it?
Answer: GALE turns over around £400K per annum. Of that around £350K per annum stays within our local economy, in the form of staff salary, and payments to 39 local producers and suppliers, 27 community bakers, and 6 local charities and community groups.
The £350K going into the hands of local residents is equivalent to almost £160 per local resident. Between 5-10% of our population receive a direct payment from GALE. For more information on GALE’s impact on the local economy, review the GALE in Numbers blog.
Date: October 2023
Question: GALE staff are paid by grant funding. That’s unfair to other businesses.
Answer: All our permanent staff are paid from the income we generate through trading activity, mainly from the operations of the GALE Centre rather than grants. That’s around 20 to 25 people at any given time.
While permanent roles form the backbone of our organisation, we also recognise the importance of flexibility and adaptability. Temporary positions offer us the opportunity to explore innovative ideas, embark on unique projects, and bring fresh perspectives to our community. To support these temporary positions, we are sometimes awarded grants, which allow us to explore new avenues for development and community engagement. One such temporary project that was fully grant funded was the Aultbea Stories initiative, spearheaded by the wonderful Katie Grant.
The availability of grant funding is largely determined by government policy and the good will of philanthropic individuals and trusts.
Date: October 2023
Question: If GALE is self-sustaining, why do you ask for donations?
Answer: That’s a great question and we understand the curiosity behind it. Indeed, the operations of the GALE Centre are self-sustaining and generate sufficient income to cover the salaries of our permanent positions. This is a testament to the efficient and sustainable regenerative tourism model we have built over the years.
However, GALE is not just about business operations; it’s also about making a difference in our community. This is where donations come into play. The generous contributions we receive from our supporters enable us to run several community-centric initiatives that go beyond our regular operations.
For instance, donations help us run the “Pay What You Can” programme, which ensures that everyone in our community, regardless of their financial situation, can have a hot meal and socialise over the winter months. This initiative is particularly important in promoting inclusivity and fostering a sense of community spirit.
Similarly, donations support our Befriending service, a program designed to provide companionship and support to individuals who may be feeling lonely or isolated. This service is crucial in ensuring the wellbeing of our community members, particularly those who may not have many social interactions.
Additionally, donations also help us maintain public amenities such as the toilets at Aultbea and Poolewe. These facilities are used by locals and tourists alike and their upkeep is essential to ensure a pleasant and welcoming environment for all.
In summary, while our operations are self-sustaining, donations allow us to further our mission of community service and make a more significant impact. These contributions are an investment in our community and go a long way in enhancing the quality of life for everyone. We are grateful for all the support we receive.
Date: October 2023