Community Connections

New Connec� ons is looking for board members

Jo Cowan In February, I fi nally managed an in-person visit to an exciting initiative that I had only previously been able to see in an online tour. I was delighted to fi nally step over the threshold of New Connections and meet Lochaber Hope’s Operations Manager, Lara Paulus. Lara spoke passionately about the need for, and potential of, this new community hub, and is inviting people who share this passion to come forward as board members to lead it through the next stage of development.

You have probably already heard about New Connections. Maybe through a mention in Lochaber Life, on Nevis Radio, or by word of mouth. New Connections is a new community space, established in 2021, located at the west end of Fort William’s High Street, to bring people together. A place for people, as the name reveals, to connect – business, organisations and community. Especially now, connecting and bringing people from the whole community together is of high importance. Our community needs to connect as never before. New Connections provides this open and safe environment to bring all together. It’s a space to bring ideas and plans to fruition. Until now, Lochaber Hope has been taking the lead on this open space for all and strives for New Connections to become a bigger presence within the community. Therefore, New Connections is looking for board members. Are you business-minded? Know about third sector governance? Or simply know a lot about the Lochaber community and are eager to get involved? Then please contact us for more information. We welcome you for a chat and a coff ee or tea at the New Connections premises. The vintage café, run by Nimble Fingers, is open every Wednesday and Friday from 11am to 3pm. You can enjoy beautifully presented homebaking and a cuppa in a warm, friendly atmosphere. In our March into Inspiration month, we have been able to off er a wide variety of events at New Connections and will hopefully have inspired some people to come along and experience its welcoming atmosphere fi rst-hand. For anyone who hasn’t had that opportunity, if you are in the area, please don’t hesitate to come a pay a visit. For more information, please email lara. paulus@lochaberhope.org.uk, call 07769 158291, or visit New Connections on Facebook.