Exploring a Shared Community Events Library for Mid Ross

Garve and District Community Council

Added at 23:06 on 04 February 2026

Community events are at the heart of life across Mid Ross. From summer galas and village fêtes to seasonal celebrations, fun days and local gatherings, these occasions bring people together, raise funds, and help keep community spirit strong.

Behind every successful event, though, is a lot of practical work  and a lot of equipment.

Gazebos, tables, PA systems, staging, tents, urns, crockery, bunting and more are often needed. Many local groups already own some of these items, but they can be expensive to buy, difficult to store, and may only be used a handful of times each year.

A shared approach
Lynn from the Highland Community Planning Partnership is currently exploring whether there is interest across community councils, groups and organisations in the Mid Ross area in creating a shared community events library.

The idea is simple: instead of each group having to purchase and store everything themselves, equipment could be shared. Groups could both borrow items when needed and contribute items they already have.

This kind of shared system could:

• Reduce costs for local groups and volunteers
• Make better use of resources, rather than equipment sitting unused
• Support more sustainable practices by sharing rather than buying new
• Help communities deliver high-quality events without the financial pressure of buying everything individually

What’s being asked
At this stage, nothing is set in stone. This is an early conversation to see if there is enough interest to take the idea further.

Local groups are being asked to consider:

• Whether there is an appetite for a shared borrowing system for event equipment
• If they would be willing to share items they already own
• What types of equipment would be most useful to them if such a resource existed

Why this matters
Across our area, volunteers already give a huge amount of time and energy to keep community life active.
Finding ways to make events more affordable and easier to organise could help ensure that local celebrations continue  and even grow.

A shared events resource could also encourage more collaboration between communities, with groups supporting each other in practical, tangible ways.

Have your say
Feedback from community councils, groups and organisations will help shape whether this idea goes ahead and what it might look like in practice.

If your group runs events of any kind  big or small  this is a chance to help design something that could benefit communities right across Mid Ross.

The email from Lynn includes her contact details.