Call for Wick development fund to support local coronavirus fight
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A CALL has been made for the Wick Academy Development Fund to make a donation to help in the local fight against coronavirus.
The plea came from Colin Stewart, a former chairman of Wick Academy FC, who feels the fund has a moral duty to give some of the money – which was mostly raised locally – to help the community at such a stressful time.
But the fund chairman, Jacky Gunn, said it would be difficult to make a donation as the charity's "hands are tied" due to its stated objectives.
The fund, which was set up to help provide social, leisure and recreation facilities for the town, was registered as a charity in March 2002.
According to the fund's accounts it had £143,644.24 in the bank in May last year and Mr Stewart says it would be fitting if a donation could be made to the community as it fights the virus. He suggested a sum of £20,000.
"We are facing the worst crisis since World War II. People and communities are getting together and trying to do something to help out so now would be a good time for the Wick Academy Development Fund to put some of its money towards the needs of the community," he said.
"The fund could give the money to a body such as Caithness Voluntary Group to distribute."
Mr Stewart does not believe making a donation to the community would contradict the fund's constitution.
"There's nothing in the constitution which precludes the fund from making a donation," he said. "I think morally they should be doing something. They are a charity at the end of the day and should be doing something with the money.
"They could put some of their funds to the community and let the people of Caithness know what their plans are for the rest of the money."
Mr Stewart said the fund had been in abeyance for over 10 years and added: "A lot of people are working in the community to help provide personal protective equipment, food and other things. Why can't the development fund do something as well?"
Morally they should be doing something. They are a charity at the end of the day.
Other local people share that view. Will Robertson from Wick would also like to see the fund make a donation.
He said: "The money was raised by the local community but has been lying dormant for years. I feel now would be the right time to use it for the benefit of the community.
"Everybody is going out of their way to do something to help in the fight against Covid-19. I think it is time for the Wick Academy Development Fund to do something as well.
"I would like to see all the money used but anything would be better than nothing."
He, too, would like to know what the fund plans to with the money in the future.
"Nobody hears anything about that," Mr Robertson added.
Mr Gunn said: "It is difficult for us being a Scottish registered charity to make a donation for the coronavirus as our hands are tied and that is the case with other charities, large and small."
Wick Academy FC has no connection with the development fund. Mr Stewart was chairman of the football club from 2005 until 2014.
