2025 an exciting year ahead

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As we prepare to unveil our plans and updates for 2025, we begin with some bittersweet news. After over 6 years of dedicated service, Pat Dawson, Chair of the Trust, has announced her decision to step down. Under her leadership, the Trust has undergone a remarkable transformation in governance and has experienced unprecedented growth. Her unwavering support for staff, volunteers, and trustees has been exemplary, leaving an indelible mark on the organisation. Pat’s departure marks the end of an era, and she will be deeply missed. Consequently, we are now seeking to recruit a new Chair and plan to cast the net far and wide. If you are interested, or know someone who might be a great fit for this role, please visit: www.waterofleith.org.uk/work-for-us/ for more information

Long-time supporters and regular readers will remember George Hunter OBE, a founding member and Chair for 27 years, who sadly passed away a year ago (see Newsletter 84 for a tribute). We are pleased to announce that George chose to leave a substantial legacy to the Trust. This generous contribution will play a crucial role in securing the Trust’s future, enabling us to fulfill the goals outlined in our strategy, and providing much-needed capital for investment in the Centre, staff, and essential projects along the river

We are fortunate to have supporters who share our passion for waste reduction and our commitment to achieving net-zero goals. Thanks to their generous private donations, we can continue our decarbonisation journey. To date, we have made significant progress, including the conversion to LED lighting, the introduction of an electric van and cargo bike, and the installation of destratification fans to improve heating efficiency.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of our Visitor Centre and, as such, it will undergo much-needed upgrades. Energy efficiency will be at the heart of these improvements, with plans for solar power, secondary glazing, additional insulation, and a reassessment of our heating systems. We also aim to update the interpretation panels and enhance comfort for our community café visitors.

While improvement projects are important, it’s our staff and volunteers who are the key to the success of our strategy. To better protect and improve the river, while fostering community engagement and learning, we have decided to restructure our staff team and recruit new members. For more information on these new roles, please visit our website—applications are due by 10th February.

These exciting initiatives will help us continue working toward our vision of a healthy river, cared for by its community.

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