It didn’t take half as long as we though it would take. 24 June 2021 is a red letter day for the Friends of Cathcart Cemetery, the day we became incorporated as a Scottish charity.

What does that mean for us? Firstly, it’s a statement of intent. it says we’re serious about this cemetery. We see value in this place, as a place of history, as a place of remembrance, and of wellbeing and finally as a green, sustainable space for the community. The Cemetery has been keeping our story for the last 147 years. We need to make sure we keep telling its.

It also means we can apply to a bigger pool of funding, which will be great for when we’re in a position to apply for something.

The application process was fairly painless. Ian drafted up a management document from an online template. Then left it to me to coordinate the comments and do the final draft. And put in the submission. That was early April and we didn’t really expect to hear anything back so soon, the pandemic. It took someone we know 9 months for them to hear their application had been approved and only then, after OSCR had asked for clarification on something. That we sailed through, especially during the pandemic, is a great sign.

But it also comes with a huge dose of The Fear. My Fear comes from two directions – my Fear of other people and my Fear of my newly acquired legal status as a Charity Trustee. And a Co-Chair no less! I’ll deal with the latter first, I’ve spent this couple of months really (since the application went in. It’s obviously intensified over the last week) thinking about what we have to do with Trustees once we get them. Their induction; their understanding of the role; their vision for the Cemetery. The fact that we’ve got to put together a business case for what we want to do. And all this when I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. And I want to get this right. I want to set this charity to be in a good position to start applying successfully for projects and I want there to be lots of projects with lots of different people, but I have no idea where to start. This isn’t imposter syndrome – this is real. Not the foggiest clue what I’m doing. Well, that’s not entirely true – admin and death. I do them. Designing processes is my thing. But is it the right thing? I’ve suddenly become all too aware of the Rumsfeldian ‘known unknows’ We mocked him, but we knew exactly what he was on about. What am I missing? While I’m worrying about codes of conduct for trustees, what should i really be looking at?

And my second Fear – other people. Other people who’ll see and know that I am a real imposter. I hope we get some interest from good people (sigh, communication plan). I think I need a mentor.

Whilst all this is going on, we’re in the middle of piloting our Summer Tours. Which in this COVID world means more risk assessments, joining this scheme (VisitScotland GoToGo) and that scheme (the SG’s Test and Protect or Track and Trace, whatever it’s called. Haven’t even started advertising it yet. But all the backroom stuff is nearly done.

This time next week it’ll all be out there and there’s no going back. Time to put on the big girl pants.

Lastly for this week, I wanted to (share? memorialise?) this documentary about the Cemetery made by Sam Ruddy for his fial project piece. Sam just happens to live in the Cemetery Gatehouse.