Who We Are

Our Mission

Cupar Development Trust was set up in 2015 to promote and coordinate change for the benefit of Cupar & District, defined as postcodes KY15 and KY14, and the entire catchment area of Bell Baxter High School and its feeder primary schools.

Our ambition is to provide a focus for local collaboration in community development, citizenship, the arts, heritage, and culture, resulting in initiatives, activities and events which will benefit people throughout Cupar & District, regardless of age, ability or background.

On 23rd December 2024, CDT was awarded Registered Scottish Charity status No. SC053878.

Vision Statement

Inspiring enthusiasm for a “Creative Community with a Cause”

The Development Trust is a member-led organisation which is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee and as such is independent and not-for-profit distributing.

We seek to realise un-met opportunities that will deliver benefits for Cupar through promoting and supporting community-based initiatives.

Our particular focus is upon the improvements within the town centre.

The Trust takes forward initiatives through establishing collaborative partnerships.

Projects emerge from dialogue with the community organisations and are shaped by assessing the emerging ideas and their potential outcomes and by obtaining the necessary resources (volunteers and funding) to deliver results.

Member Driven

We are a Member Organisation. There is no membership charge: members are encouraged to support the work of the Trust as volunteers and we are very grateful for the support we receive.

Without the time, effort and enthusiasm given by those who support ouyr cause, the Trust would not exist.

We have four categories of member as listed below: you can use this link to access and download our Membership Forms.

Who’s who …

The Trust operates with a Board who are appointed at the AGM each December.

Chair, Tony Miklinski CBE: “After a career in the Royal Navy, and a recent Fife Councillor for Cupar Ward, I want to use our Development Trust’s influence to help make Cupar a happy and thriving community“.

Treasurer, James Hair: “Arrived in NE Fife in 1979 and set up James Hair & Co in Cupar in 1980. Offering a range of accounting , tax and investment advisory services the business is now the largest of its type in the area. Wife, Margaret, and four grown up children who all attended Bell Baxter and five grandchildren. Played rugby for Howe of Fife RFC in the 80’s and 90’s before taking up golf. I suppose I can now call myself a naturalised Fifer!“

Ann Bain: “I have lived in Cupar for 25 years plus and my husband is Cupar born. I work locally at Stratheden and think Cupar is a fantastic place to bring up a family.“

Nicky Bond: “I have lived in Cupar for over 30 years with my husband Rick and our 2 children. Both children attended Castlehill Primary and then Bell Baxter High School and benefitted from the various local clubs and activities available in Cupar. I have worked for Quaker Oats for over 26 years in a number of roles covering logistics, export, and supply planning before transitioning to a Pepsico European Procurement team purchasing a number of different grains for our UK and European plants, including oats for the mill at Cupar.“

Rick Bond: Rick is a qualified engineer and manager who has spent 40 plus years in education and training. On behalf of Elmwood College, he worked extensively in the former Soviet Union countries and China. He retired from Elmwood in 2013 as head of faculty, and in the same year he formed with his business partner the St Andrews Management Centre based in Cupar. The Centre specialises in accredited and non-accredited programmes in Leadership and Management, Project Management and Financial Management.

Jim Lawrence: Jim had a 36 year career as an RAF Navigator mainly on flying duties and operations management with Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft. Also served on exchange duty with the US Navy and on secondment to the FCO based in Jordan. On return to Fife in 2007 served as the Regional Welfare Officer for the Combat Stress veterans charity for some years. Jim and Chris have 3 grown up children and both currently volunteer with locally based charities.

Mairi Lumsden: “I live in Cupar with my husband and 3 children. I work as an Early Years Officer and in my free time I enjoy running and helping out at local community events. I am also a member of various different local committees.“

Kathy McCall: Kathy trained as a doctor, her career mostly overseeing research done by others to ensure quality and legal compliance. She has lived in Cupar since 1998, and was involved for many years with local clubs her two children (now grown up) took part in. She likes walking and cycling around Cupar and villages and would love to see more safe routes clearly signposted (length, difficulty, suitability) to improve inclusion and fitness of the people of Cupar of all ages and abilities.

Euan McLeod: Having originally studied Psychology at University, Euan took a different career path on his graduation becoming a Chartered Tax Adviser and Business Adviser. He maintained his interest in Psychology and has been heavily involved with charities focussing on mental health and therapies. Previously he was a Board member on Perth Action for Mental Health (Mindspace) and is currently on the Board of Sunshine Club (a charity working with young adults with additional support needs) as well as Nurture Steps. He retired from his partnership in Johnston Carmichael in 2021 and keeps himself active in the world of Tax Training and advisory work for growing businesses.

Staff

Currently, the Trust employs two part-time staff, Simon Baldwin as a Business Development Consultant – with a primary remit to help drive the Food Station initiative – and Ian Sloan as our Administrative Officer.

Simon Baldwin: A journalist with 30+ years’ experience, Simon Baldwin ran his own marketing agency in England before selling in 2007, relocating to Fife a year later. He has worked in published, broadcast and online comms, specialising in social media since the earliest channels launched. Throughout his career, he has helped to design, plan and implement award-winning delivery in support of hundreds of businesses, UNESCO World Heritage sites, tourism destinations as well as multiple community and charity projects. Most recently and relevant to Cupar, Simon launched and delivered CuparNow as the UK’s first digital improvement district (2019-24). The legacy of that project continues with support now being delivered to businesses, organisations and community groups across north-east Fife through his company’s managed channels – Blogs, Meta, YouTube and a Podcast with a combined, engaged digital audience that tops 150,000. Simon says: “The Food Station initiative was borne out of CuparNow’s engagement with partners and stakeholders – all looking to help our local community. I am delighted to take on this role for the next six months, supporting the Trust, their working group and appointed consultants at such a critical and exciting time.” Simon is looking to engage with all parties that are interested in either the Food Station project or in the Development Trust’s wider work across the town and Cupar’s rural catchment. The best way to reach him? Via his mobile/WhatsApp on 07971581966.

Ian Sloan: After a career in Community Education and Project Coordinator roles with several local and national charities, and as a former Fife Councillor, I am delighted to be working for CDT. I am a volunteer with Diabetes Scotland, am a member of the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Working Group on Diabetes, and am administrator of the Fife-wide Diabetes website. Recently I became a Board Member of Express Group Fife, promoting positive mental wellbeing. My hobbies include photography, and watching Formula 1.

Should you wish to Contact any member of the Trust – our Board or Staff – please use the Contact section of this website. Thank you.