Tracie Dick - BRDT

Date: Friday 16 June

Tracie was born in Edinburgh and grew up in Lancashire. She spent a number of years living and working in various places around the Midlands and southern England, including London, predominantly in banking, with a particular focus on training and development and the creation of online learning programmes and management systems. Tracie moved to Blairgowrie, where most of her family is from, in 2010 and in 2016 co-founded a social enterprise supporting local creative talent in the town. Nest Creative Spaces is now a community interest company that provides a creative hub for the local community and which is committed to improving wellbeing and reducing loneliness through crafts, while at the same time keeping reusable material from going to landfill.

What is it that you love or enjoy most about living or working in Blairgowrie and Rattray?

My parents and the majority of my family are from Blairgowrie and it’s always felt like home to me. We visited every year when I was growing up to see my grandparents and cousins and then I started coming up on my own at least twice a year when I could drive. I love the variety of people, the beautiful countryside and the wealth of creative talent around us.

What’s your professional background?

From school I worked in hotels and I never had a particular career path that I wanted to follow. In 1987 I joined the banking world and worked my way through the various branch roles to become branch manager of two London branches. I then joined the training and development team as a trainer for a large IT project and stayed on there as I discovered I had a passion for helping others to develop their skills. Being a bit of a techie geek I joined the head office team creating online learning programmes and eventually becoming a web developer, mostly self-trained, implementing and creating content for a learning management system. After taking redundancy in 2016 I became the co-founder of Create at Nest, a social enterprise supporting local creative talent in Blairgowrie. It came as a complete surprise to me, as I never had the desire to be self-employed. In 2019 I converted the business to a community interest company, now called Nest Creative Spaces, that I run with the invaluable help of 23 volunteers from the local area.

What motivates you?

Using my knowledge and skills to help others to develop theirs. Showing how creative activities can make a difference to wellbeing and reduce social isolation. Finding ways to keep perfectly good craft materials, and other items out of landfill!

Who is your hero and why?

I don’t really have one. I admire anyone who follows their passion and helps to make the world a better place.

How did you first get involved with BRDT?

I first joined BRDT in 2017 to meet new people and to see how I could use my skills to help support and develop the town. I left after a couple of years as I could not devote the time to it while trying to develop a sustainable business at Nest at the same time. As things are more settled with Nest, I have now re-joined as I have a wide network of contacts and I feel I can contribute towards the Community Action Plan and support the town’s objectives, particularly with anything creative.

What experience and qualities do you feel you bring to BRDT?

I have some project management experience, I’m organised (except for my craft room!), managing finances, organising events, I’m a creative thinker and always looking for opportunities to collaborate with other groups and individuals to promote and build the creative skills within our community to support wellbeing.

What are your areas of interest and particular roles and responsibilities as a BRDT trustee?

To identify opportunities to use my skills for the benefit of the town, to collaborate with other groups and individuals to promote and build the skills within our community, to use creative activities that are available to all to support and strengthen our community wellbeing and reduce social isolation, and to promote and showcase the town and what it has to offer, particularly the creative skills and services that we have in abundance here, and to make them more visible.

Are you involved in any other community groups and organisations in the area?

As well as being a director and the facilities manager of Nest Creative Spaces Community Interest Company, I am also a Trustee of the Strathmore Community Hub, and a committee member of the It’s BRAW! (Blairgowrie and Rattray Arts for Wellbeing) Festival.

What do you do for fun or in your spare time (if you have any!)?

Spare time is limited but crafting is my go-to activity that helps keep me sane(ish). Mainly crochet but I also dabble with needle felting, mosaic and anything else I fancy having a go at. I am also an unpaid carer for my stepdad.

What are your hopes and aspirations for Blairgowrie and Rattray as a town and as a community?

To be a vibrant, beautiful, inclusive, supportive town for locals and visitors, that showcases our people, our places and has a sustainable, climate friendly and circular economy.

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