Tag: Scottish Land Fund

Edinburgh project receives backing from the Scottish Land Fund

Gracemount Mansion Development Trust has been given £167,340 to buy Gracemount Mansion in the south of Edinburgh in order to redevelop and reopen the asset as a community hub.

The grant is amongst 11 totalling £1,833,622 that have been given to communities across the country in the latest round of awards by the Scottish Land Fund.

The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2021. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “Over one million people across Scotland now live in communities where assets have been acquired with funding from the Scottish Land Fund. This is a remarkable milestone and displays just how large an impact the Fund has had on communities across Scotland.

“Community ownership is an effective way to revitalise local areas and improve the lives of residents . The latest recipients are no exception and I know that their projects will bring countless benefits to their communities.

“I’d like to congratulate the groups involved and I look forward to seeing their projects, and their communities flourish as a result.”

Lindsay Aitken, Chair, Gracemount Mansion Development Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded funding from the Scottish Land Fund. The funds awarded will enable GMDT to purchase Gracemount House and surrounding grounds from the City of Edinburgh Council, as well as a significant contribution towards the essential works required to partially reopen Gracemount Mansion as a community hub in 2025.

“With further funding, the full reopening of Gracemount House will bring back a much needed and desired facility and resource for the community and beyond.

“We must say a huge thanks to the Project team who have progressed the project, GMDT charity Trustees and Members, Friends of the Mansion, the local community, stakeholders, CEC, and of course to the SLF and National Lottery for the funding.”

Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “Like all the groups that have been successful in this round of funding, Gracemount Mansion Development Trust will use their awards to make purchases that will directly improve the lives of people in their community.

“Targeted funding such as this gets right to the heart of local issues.”

And Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: “The successful projects announced today across Scotland are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.

“Through the purchase of land and properties including a community hall and a former church, groups will be in a position to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits to the community. These latest awards will further strengthen the sense of community and empowerment.”

“All these projects announced today will help retain the population, attract visitors and create jobs. Ownership will give the community groups greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.”

Other groups receiving funding are:

Wigtown and Bladnoch Community Initiative

Award – £88,474

Wigtown and Bladnoch Community Initiative (WBCI) will acquire a former Church Hall in Wigtown. The acquisition will bring social benefits by providing space for meetings, classes and skill sharing workshops, as well as exercise, entertainment, and health & wellbeing activities. Alongside the social benefits, opportunities for digital access will also enable employment and enterprise skills.

Tighnabruaich District Development Trust

Award – £61,443

Tighnabruaich District Development Trust (TDDT) will purchase 2 retail units in Tighnabruaich, Argyll and Bute. The group will continue to use one of the units as the location for their heritage centre and will rent out the second unit.

Cockenzie House and Garden

Award – £227,400

Cockenzie House and Gardens will acquire the Cockenzie & Port Seton Old Parish Church and Hall, in East Lothian, and will use the asset as a community hub, offering community space for groups to meet, social activities, pop-up hospitality and childcare provision.

Dunvegan Community Trust SCIO

Award – £361,096

Dunvegan Development Trust will acquire a building known locally as the ‘Gaeltec Building’ in Dunvegan, Syke from a private business. The group will develop the asset into an energy efficient, multi-use commercial and community hub that includes office space, a gym and  childcare facilities to address a range of community needs in a remote, rural community.

Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust

Award – £267,948

Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust will purchase the Taversoe Hotel on Rousay, Orkney. The hotel is the only current hospitality venue on all three islands. The group will operate the asset as a hotel, pub,

restaurant and community space. This asset will serve as a year-round gathering place for the community that will assist in combating rural isolation.

Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust

Award – £262,188

Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Development Trust  will purchase a Manse in Rousay,Orkney from the Church of Scotland. They group will convert and renovate the asset into up to 3 separate housing units that will be used for affordable rent.

Toryglen Community Hall

Award – £171,272

Toryglen Community Hall (TCH) will acquire the building in Glasgow that they’ve occupied for 35 years. Community ownership will provide security enabling TCH to improve and extend the building thus, continuing to provide activities aimed at a range of groups.

Bailliefields Community Hub SCIO

Award – £27,500

Bailliefields Community Hub will purchase a small area of land adjacent to the boundary of their existing Community Hub. Acquisition will allow the group to extend existing walking/cycling routes and increase local walking access with a focus on active travel.

Raasay Development Trust

Award – £99,961

Raasay Development Trust will acquire an empty 2-bedroom house in Inverarish on the Isle of Raasay. The group will renovate the house to create affordable rented accommodation for the community.

North Yell Development Council

Award – £99,000

North Yell Development Council will acquire the units 3-4 at Sellafirth Business Park, North Yell, Shetland. The group will use the premises to provide a multi-use office, heritage, events and training space which will be used by local agencies, individuals and community groups.

Grants for projects across Scotland from Scottish Land Fund

£50,000 FOR NEW COMMUNITY GROWING PROJECT IN WESTER HAILES

A forest on Islay is set to pass into community ownership, following a grant from the Scottish Land Fund.

Islay Development Initiative has received £619,122 with which to buy Sgiba Forest near Port Charlotte, which it plans to develop into a community woodland with a pathway network, community events and learning space. 

The grant is one of 11 totalling £2,381,927 that has been given to communities across the country in the latest round of awards by the Scottish Land Fund.

The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2021. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “The Scottish Land Fund is a valuable tool, allowing local groups to develop projects that will provide lasting benefits to their communities, in both urban and rural areas.

“It is especially welcome to see projects that will positively impact not just people but local wildlife and biodiversity too. This aligns with our wider goal to ensure that communities can reap the benefits during our transition to a green future for Scotland.

“I’d like to congratulate all of the successful groups. It is their expertise and limitless passion that are the real drivers of change in our communities across the nation.”

Thomasina Glover, CEO, Islay Development Initiative, said: “Islay Development Initiative is delighted that we have been successful in our Stage 2 application to the Scottish Land Fund to purchase Sgiba Forest on behalf of the Islay Community.

“As Islay is part of the Carbon Neutral Islands project, this forest will not only be a great asset in helping us achieve our Net Zero ambitions, but also address several other community issues such as rural depopulation and peatland restoration. IDI is looking forward to delivering significant community benefit in developing this project.”

Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “This current round of funding demonstrates the importance of the Scottish Land Fund in helping both urban and rural areas to achieve their goals.

“SLF grants will enable these groups to unlock other funding and take positive actions to help their communities to thrive.”

And Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, said: “The groups receiving funding have all identified opportunities to help their local area to thrive. The projects are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.

“Ownership will give them greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish every successful organisation the very best in their new ventures.”

Other groups receiving funding are:

Harris Development Ltd

Award – £147,790

Harris Development Limited will purchase land in Tarbert, Harris in order to build modular accommodation units to alleviate a shortage of housing for key workers.

North Yell Development Council

Award – £142,600

North Yell Development Council (NYDC) will acquire the shop at Cullivoe, North Yell, Shetland. NYDC will take over the running of the shop, securing employment, an important

amenity and gathering space for the community.

Strathdearn Community Development

Award – £356,934

Strathdearn Community Developments (SCD) will purchase a woodland in Tomatin, Inverness. SCD will create a more biodiverse and sustainable woodland environment that will be used by the community for recreation and wellbeing.

The Crafthub

Award – £286,788

The Crafthub will purchase Trumland Church (known locally as The Space) on Rousay in Orkney. The group currently use the asset for pop-up events. The Crafthub will use The Space to create a community café and craft shop, offering workshops and community events.

Friends of The Broadway Prestwick

Award-£328,060

Friends of the Broadway Prestwick will purchase the former Broadway Cinema in Prestwick, South Ayrshire. The cinema will be redeveloped into an accessible, modern cinema with community space.

Portree and Braes Community Trust

Award – £53,655

Portree and Braes Community Trust will acquire amenity land known as the King George

V playing fields in Portree, Skye. This will benefit the community by enabling the improvement of land, and changing facilities resulting in increased use for sports clubs and activities

St Ernan’s by the Loch SCIO

Award – £86,446

St Ernan’s by the Loch SCIO will acquire the St Ernan’s Church building, Fionnphort and restore it in order to make it modern, versatile and accessible for local people. Thus, enabling quiet contemplation, small gatherings, ceremonies, exhibitions, a place of cultural learning with focus on Gaelic language as well as health and wellbeing activities.

Wester Hailes Growing Communities

Award – £50,675

Wester Hailes Growing Communities will purchase land in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh. Purchase of the site will pave the way for the construction of a new community centre, providing a multi-purpose space to come together through events, learning, families and food.

Gargunnock Community Shop Ltd

Award – £154,759

Gargunnock Community Shop Ltd will acquire the vacant shop building in the heart of Gargunnock village, Stirlingshire. The shop will be renovated and will reopen as a community shop, supporting local business and enabling crucial local services such as prescription deliveries to recommence.

Shapinsay Development Trust

Award – £155,098

Shapinsay Development Trust will acquire a mid-terraced house in Shapinsay, Orkney, which it will renovate then offer the property for affordable rent.

Granton Community Gardeners become local landowners!

IT’S OFFICAL: We now own our Community Garden at 10 Wardieburn Road!

Our Community Asset Transfer is now complete, and we received money from the Scottish Land Fund (Scottish Government) to help enable us to purchase the land from the Council. The process has taken a wee while, but now it’s done. Thanks to everyone who’s helped along the way!

As a local community charity, we’re aiming to benefit our community as much as we can, and you’re all invited to get involved – and anyone living within our defined local area who supports our aims can become a voting member!

Today (and every Wednesday) there’s a free community lunch open to all at 2pm.

Wednesday Gardening club is an open drop-in session every week 1-3pm (winter hours).

And there’s women’s outdoor cooking club 12-2pm (with Pilton Community Health Project)

There are also other regular groups through the week even through the Winter:

Weds mornings: Wee Steps run by Stepping Stones North Edinburgh (parents/carers and under 5s)

Thurs mornings: Play Together Outdoor Adventures, with Pilton Community Health Project and Trees and Seas Outdoor Adventures (mums and under 5s)

Friday mornings: Women’s Woodwork, with Pilton Community Health Project and The Edinburgh Tool Library

For more information on our Asset Transfer, see: https://www.grantoncommunitygardeners.org/community-asset…

Pictured: Our Harvest Festival back in September

Grants for projects across Scotland during Community Land Week

  • A community centre in Aberdeen, a village shop in Plockton and a resource hub in Speyside are all set to benefit from the Scottish Land Fund
  • £1,968,921 for 11 projects across Scotland

Great Western Community Trust in Aberdeen (above) has received £425,154 to purchase Holburn West Church and manage it as a community venue that will host a wide range of groups and activities.

The award is one of 11 made during the most recent round of funding from the Scottish Land Fund and the announcement comes during an extended Community Land Week (13 – 29 October), which community landowners across the country are marking with events and celebrations.

The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in 2021. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.

Other grants awarded during the current round of funding include £90,459 to Plockton & District Community Trust to acquire the Old Post Office in Plockton, Lochalsh, from which the group will continue to provide community services while developing the building as a multi-use community space; and £118,663 has been awarded to The Grantown Society in Grantown-On-Spey, to allow them to purchase the former SSE Hydro building in the town and turn it into a multi-use resource hub and visitors’ centre.

Martin Greig, trustee, Great Western Community Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful for the generous award from the SLF. The funds will make a huge difference to the benefit of the local community.

“The project has enormous support from residents. They have said again and again that the area needs this kind of public facility. Thanks to the SLF, this splendid building can now remain at the heart of the community.”

Alasdair Mackenzie, Vice Chairman, Plockton & District Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to secure SLF support to bring this much loved building in the heart of our village into community ownership.

“We’re a new organisation and this is our first asset, so it’s a real boost for us. There has been informal use of the building for over 20yrs, but this purchase safeguards it for the community.

“We can now press on with our plans to improve the fabric of the building. Without SLF support none of this would be possible.

And Bill Sadler, Chairman, The Grantown Society, said: “Grantown’s No 2 High Street, latterly SSE Hydro Shop, which has lain empty for over seven years, was once a thriving grocer’s shop, situated on what became known as “Rimmington’s Corner”; a favourite meeting place for locals.

“Now, with thanks to the Scottish Land Fund, The Grantown Society is bringing it back to life as a warm and welcoming Community Resource Hub with  rentable “pop-up” retail space, community information, an ATM and gigabit Wifi with available desk space.”

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “Many people and community organisations know exactly what their local areas need but may lack the funding to make their visions a reality.

“This is why the Scottish Land Fund is so important. It allows community groups to realise their goals and unlock the full power of community actions. It is a prime example of our plans to ensure that Scotland’s land is used in a way that benefits everyone.

“I want to congratulate the latest recipients. I know that their projects will prove hugely beneficial to their respective communities. I also want to encourage any other organisations who may be eligible to apply to the Scottish Land Fund.”

Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “The groups receiving funding today have all clearly identified opportunities to help their locality to thrive.

“By establishing new or securing existing shops, work spaces, social hubs and leisure facilities they are helping their communities become more cohesive and sustainable places to live.”

Douglas Cowan, Director of Communities and Place at HIE, said: “These successful projects are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.

“All these projects announced today will help to deliver local community priorities. Ownership will give them greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful community organisations the very best in their new ventures.”

Other groups receiving funding are:

Resonate Together

Award – £295,822

Resonate Together will acquire The Ochil & Harvey House plots on the Carsebridge site, in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. They have occupied the buildings since January 2022 and will renovate the site as a community hub, with a community garden and café, benefiting the community by providing space to socialise, learn new skills and volunteer.

Broadford and Strath Community Company

Award – £95, 700

Broadford and Strath Community Company will purchase a commercial unit located in Broadford, Isle of Skye. The group will use this space to provide a multi-use office, workshop and exhibition space which will be used by local businesses and community groups.

Sunart Community Company

Award – £241,782

Sunart Community Company will purchase Longrigg Wood (87.6ha) in Strontian, West Lochaber to improve the social, economic, and environmental health and wellbeing of the area.

Gairloch & Loch Ewe Community Hub (GALE)

Award – £337,724

GALE will acquire The Shieling café and restaurant in Gairloch, Wester Ross. The building will allow them to expand on the services they currently offer, and will be developed into a community hub.

Hoy Youth Hub

Award – £93,802

Hoy Youth Hub will acquire St Columba’s Church in Longhope, Hoy, Orkney. The building will be developed into a Youth Hub, which will provide the island’s only dedicated space for young people. The asset will also be used as a community space for various groups to use.  

Friends of Sanday Kirk Ltd

Award – £83,730

Friends of Sanday Kirk will purchase the Cross Kirk in Sanday, Orkney. The group will use the building as a multi-use community facility to provide a range of community support activities and services which focus on wellbeing, arts and a community meeting space.

Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Company

Award – £104,820

Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Company will acquire Glentarff House, Canalside South, Fort Augustus. They will then carry out a refurbishment and reconfiguration, creating affordable housing units.

Whalsay Kirk Development Company (WKDC)

Award – £81,265

WKDC will acquire Whalsay Kirk, in Shetland with the intention of repurposing the vacant building as a multi-purpose space that will include a visitor centre, art and crafts exhibition space with options for workshops, events and pop-up shops.

Empowering communities

Visit to group leading development of Inveraray Pier

First Minister Humza Yousaf met community group Inspire Inveraray to see first hand their ongoing work to regenerate the local pier as part of wider transformation plans for the area.

The community group purchased the pier in July 2023, using £121,374 from the Scottish Government supported Scottish Land Fund, to bring it back into operation, providing greater access for leisure and water sports, fishing activities and further connections to surrounding towns. The pier had previously been privately owned for 20 years and has been closed to the public for the past five years.

First Minister Humza Yousaf took a tour of the pier ahead of the 51st Travelling Cabinet and discussed how the funding had enabled the group to take on community ownership.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Community empowerment is a key aim for this government and it was great to see in person a perfect example of a local group, supported by the Scottish Government, taking power of local assets for their community benefit as well as supporting the local economy.

“We are fully committed to ensuring that Scotland’s regions are able to thrive and contribute to a growing sustainable economy.

“I look forward to discussing this with the people of Inveraray and the wider Argyll and Bute area to achieve this within their local communities.”

Find out more about the Scottish Land Fund.

Corstorphine Community Centre receives Scottish Land Fund support to buy Westfield House

Corstorphine Community Centre (CCC) in Edinburgh has received £960,000 from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) in order to buy Westfield House, which the organisation already uses as a community hub.

With the money, CCC will be able to purchase the building and to start making internal improvements, including improving accessibility, while at the same time continuing to provide a wide range of services and space for hire.

The grants are amongst six that have been awarded to groups across Scotland by the Scottish Land Fund, which is funded by the Scottish Government.

Amongst those also receiving funding are Tayvallich Initiative, which has received £565,608 to purchase land in Argyll & Bute where it will build housing for affordable rent, along with a number of environmental initiatives.

And Kingsbarns Community Development Trust has been awarded £590,00 to establish a community hub, which will consist of rooms to let, pub, restaurant, cafe, and community shop.

Shulah Allan, Chair, Corstorphine Community Centre, said: “This is a momentous occasion for the local community who have been raising funds since a fire in 2013 to rebuild a community centre for the area.

“We are grateful to the Scottish Land Fund Trust for providing us with this level of funding, which will be added to the funds which are already in place, to complete the purchase of 5 Kirk Loan.

“We still have some more funds to raise for the refurbishment of the building, but this is the final stage for the purchase and our forever home for CCC.”

It’s a double celebration for Corstorphine Community Centre, who will be marking one year in their new home with a fete this weekend.

Martin Mellor, Chair of Tayvallich Initiative said: “The award from Scottish Land Fund will enable Tayvallich Initiative to move forwards with plans to create housing for affordable rent and to promote the use of Rural Housing Burdens for houses and plots so that more people can live and work in the area. 

“We are happy to be starting off with two rental houses as part of the community project. We hope that this long-term project will encourage a good balance in the area between tourism/holidays alongside an established year-round community. Rural areas need enough affordable housing to keep schools open and the day-to-day economy running, and community-led housing projects can help to facilitate this.”

And Sharon Makin, Kingsbarns Development Trust, said: “The Kingsbarns Development Trust is delighted to accept the award of £590,000 from the Scottish Land Fund.

“This will enable us to keep the pub open and is the first step to realising our dream of creating a lively and welcoming community hub in the village including a shop for essentials and local produce.

“Everyone on the team has worked tirelessly to get us to this point. We are so thankful to the Scottish Land Fund, for their guidance and for seeing the amazing potential this funding will mean for the community.”

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform, and Islands, said: “The Scottish Land Fund is continuing to help community groups take control of local land and buildings and manage them in a way which benefits people in their neighbourhoods.

“By 2026 the SLF will have doubled to £20 million which will allow more groups to get involved.

“This SLF aims to place the needs of local communities first and it is clear that the most recent recipients live up to this goal. The successful projects will help to create jobs, mitigate climate change, and tackle social isolation and loneliness.

“I commend them for their efforts so far and wish them all the best in the future.”

Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “From supporting rural housing to strengthening urban communities, the Scottish Land Fund continues to empower local people to deliver services that meet their needs.

“It is about listening to communities and helping them to address their unique local challenges, through ownership of land and buildings.”

And Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at Highlands, and Islands Enterprise, said: “The successful projects announced today across Scotland are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.

“For example, the Great Bernera Community Development Trust in the Isle of Lewis will acquire the former salmon hatchery at Kirkibost to develop into a community-owned social and enterprise hub with space and equipment for businesses, entrepreneurs, and the community. The new hub will be an important asset and helps to create a sustainable future for the area.

“All these projects announced today will help retain the population, attract visitors, and create jobs. Ownership will give the community groups greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.”

Other groups receiving funding are:

Eday Partnership: Award – £225,380

Eday Partnership will acquire a two-bedroom house in Eday, Orkney. The project will assist in providing affordable housing on the island of Eday.

Great Bernera Community Development Trust – £101,447

Great Bernera Community Development Trust will acquire The Hatchery building in Kirkibost. The vacant industrial building will be developed into a social and enterprise hub where people can work, learn, and create together.

Papay Development Trust – £208,596

Papay Development Trust will acquire two houses on the island of Papa Westray, Orkney, which will be offered for affordable rent.

Bute Community Land Company – £32,005

Bute Community Land Company will acquire land at Shalunt, Isle of Bute. The group will install a carpark and other infrastructure to improve the accessibility of their community owned Bute Forest.

Evanton Community Trust – £17,166

Evanton Community Trust will purchase land adjacent to the community owned Victoria Diamond Jubilee Hall which will allow them  to fundraise to extend the Hall and expand the support they currently provide to the local community.

Blooming Good News: Land Fund success for Granton Gardeners

A community garden in Granton, the arts agency in Wester Hailes and a village shop in West Linton are all set to benefit from the Scottish Land Fund

Granton Community Gardeners has received £89,902 to acquire land in Granton where GCG will continue to host various community activities related to the growing and sharing of food to around 700 visitors per month.

Across the city WHALE Arts Agency in Edinburgh has been given £157,483 to bring their entire project into community ownership by buying the land that the current WHALE building sits on.

Community ownership of the land will secure the future of this well-used amenity from which WHALE Arts have delivered services and activities to the community for 30 years.

And West Linton Enterprise Group has received £97,600 to purchase a building in West Linton, Scottish Borders. The group currently uses this asset and will continue to use the building as a volunteer-run community thrift shop and local art gallery called The Knot.

The projects are amongst 16 across the country that have received grants totalling £1,972,701 from the Scottish Land Fund.

Tom Kirby, Development Manager, Granton Community Gardeners, said: “We’re excited to be able to move forward with ownership of our Community Garden, which has been created through the hard work, skills, and dedication of our local community. 

“This is now secured for the long term, opening up more possibilities to improve it, and for more people of all ages to enjoy the space; and to grow, cook, share and eat more food together.”

Dr Andrew McNiven, Chair, WHALE Arts Board, said: “WHALE Arts is delighted to have been granted this funding which will support us in our Community Asset Transfer. T

“his ensures community ownership of the WHALE Arts site for the people of Wester Hailes. We’re grateful for the support of the Scottish Land Fund in this important step for WHALE and the community of Wester Hailes.”

And Allison Glasse, Co-Chair, West Linton Enterprise Group, said: “We are so pleased to have been awarded this grant, which will enable us to take our small retail outlet into community ownership.

“We are excited by the future possibilities of making The Knot into a real local asset, run by community, for the community and raising money for local organisations and projects.”

Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “Every one of these grants allows for the provision of assets and services that individual groups have identified as being essential to their areas. 

“This localised approach helps to strengthen both urban and rural communities.”

Sandra Holmes, Head of Community assets at HIE, added: “The successful projects announced today across Scotland are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.

“For example, the Coigach Community Development Company, through the purchase of the land at the former hydroponicum site, will now be in a position to build much-needed affordable community housing. The new homes are vitally important to create a sustainable future for the area.

“All these projects announced today will help retain the population, attract visitors and create jobs. Ownership will give the community groups greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.”

Other groups receiving funding are:

Alyth Development Trust

Award – £76,774

Alyth Development Trust will purchase the Milhaugh site in Alyth, Perth and Kinross. The group intends to develop the site in order to provide a broad range of outdoor community activities.

Coigach Community Development Company

Award – £304,700

Coigach Community Development Company will purchase the former Hydroponicum site in Achiltibuie, Highland. They will develop affordable housing and an amenity space on the site, to strengthen the community’s long-term viability. 

Concrete Garden

Award – £140,287

Concrete Garden, Glasgow, will acquire two sites, one currently used by the group and another vacant site nearby. Concrete Garden will continue to deliver community growing and creative play activities for the community and expand their outdoor services onto a new site.

Dunoon Community Shed

Award – £153,000

Dunoon Community Shed will acquire the former ceramics factory in Dunoon. DCS will continue to offer multiple activities to the local community to build skills, reduce isolation and provide a community gathering space.

The Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation

Award – £136,192

Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation will purchase Argyll Beaver Centre at Knapdale, Argyll. They will continue to provide educational and volunteering opportunities from the centre, alongside their conservation work.

Inspire Inverary

Award – £121,374

Inspire Inverary will acquire and restore Inverary Pier in Argyll. This will provide safe access for leisure, water sports and fishing activities, increased use by yachts and cruisers and offer opportunities for investment in moorings, pontoons and slipways.

Nether Lochaber Community Association

Award – £45,186

Nether Lochaber Community Association, Highlands, will take ownership of the Inchree Barn. The group plans to repair the building to address isolation in the community by providing a community hub for people and groups to meet.

Netherthird Initiative for Community Empowerment

Award £111,268

Netherthird Initiative for Community Empowerment will purchase Netherthird Community Centre in Netherthird, East Ayrshire, and continue to offer various community and wellbeing services from the building, including a community cafe.

Staffin Community Trust

Award – £116,064

Staffin Community Trust will purchase a slipway protected by a breakwater, plus onshore hard standing, a derelict boathouse and a parcel of land in Staffin, Skye. The Trust will continue to redevelop and improve the local harbour to serve a range of different users and meet the demand for onshore facilities.

Scenic Sandbank

Award – £119,890

Scenic Sandbank will acquire land in Sandbank, near Dunoon, Argyll, for the purpose of creating a community garden to develop the group’s horticultural activities and to provide an attractive green space for residents of Sandbank and the wider area.

Dornie and District Community Trust

Award – £66,316

Dornie and District Community Trust will acquire the former Dornie Store building in Dornie, Highlands. The group will renovate the building and reopen the shop and post office, establish a cafe and offer the flat above as an affordable rental opportunity.

Take A Bow Development Trust

Award – £65,650

Take A Bow Development Trust will purchase the Take A Bow Community Centre in New Farm Loch, East Ayrshire. TABDT will continue to run the site as a community centre offering a range of community-focused events and classes.

Tiree Community Development Trust

Award – £73,415

Tiree Community Development Trust will acquire land in Crossapol, Tiree and construct four light commercial business units, which will be leased to local businesses at affordable rates.

Heart of Newhaven: We’re OPEN!

The Heart of Newhaven Community (HoNC) has finally received the keys to the front door! 

The charity, formed four years ago to purchase Newhaven’s old Victoria Primary School for use as a community hub, has faced a long battle to get all the legal documentation with the City of Edinburgh Council signed, sealed and delivered but has finally been given legal possession of the site.

The original Steering Group was set up after public consultation and eventually converted into a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), registered with OSCR the charity overseer in 2020.

They won the right to purchase the site under the Community Asset Transfer scheme in July 2020 and secured funding for the purchase from the Scottish Land Fund in June 2021.

The school pupils and teachers moved out of what was then the oldest working primary school in the city in December 2021, but delays originally caused by Covid 19 and last minute legal hurdles meant that the final transfer could not take place until this week.

Current HoNC Chair Judy Crabb and former, and very first Chair, Rodney Matthews led the way in and now it’s all systems go, with volunteers tidying and cleaning and potential users and tenants queuing up to move in and get started.

First though, there are some necessary health and safety measures to install, IT equipment and communications must be set up and the most urgent repairs to the structure need to be completed.

Once open to the public, the community hub will be offering spaces for intergenerational activities of all kinds, including space for such as theatre groups, choirs and performances, rooms for rent for meetings or parties, artists’ studios and small business rooms for rent, a Heritage Suite including the Victorian Schoolroom run by the History of Education Centre, much needed early years’ provision in the modern Anchor Building, rooms for the Men’s Shed to carry on their activities in the Creel Building and of course a community cafe.

Current Chair, Judy Crabb has been involved since even before the first public consultations and is now celebrating with the rest of the Board.

“It’s a well known phrase ‘ If it is worth having, it is worth waiting for’ and how true that is as of today,” she says. “Finally, we are thrilled to announce that HoNC now owns the former Victoria Primary School that from now on will be known as ‘The Heart’.

“A huge thank you to everybody who has helped over the years to bring about this day, volunteers, supporters, members of the community, our funders, trustees and consultants. Every contribution, big and small, has made a difference.

“Over the next few months we will begin to open up the buildings to all the services and activities that support our themes of culture and heritage, learning and enterprise  and improvement in well being. 

“Watch this space as we offer opportunities for people of all ages, from all walks of life and interests, to come together in an accessible and welcoming environment and The Heart comes to life.”

Cara Gillespie, Chair of the Scottish Land Fund, said: “The Scottish Land Fund is committed to helping urban and rural communities across the country to unlock assets on their doorstep and to put them to work for local people, so we are delighted that Heart of Newhaven Community has now taken ownership of Victoria Primary School.

“We wish them every success with their plans to turn the school into a thriving community hub.”

Heart of Newhaven’s New Year newsletter

Welcome to your New Year newsletter

It’s a new year and we hope you’re all raring to go. If you’ve made resolutions, we hope you stick to them!

HoNC certainly intends to. We won the right to purchase the building. We’ve been awarded enough funds from the Scottish Land Fund to pay for it. We have a business plan. We have architects. We have lawyers. We have volunteers at the ready.
What we need now are the keys and then it’s all hands on deck.

“So when will that be?” you ask.

Many of you have no doubt seen that the pupils and staff of Victoria Primary School have now moved into their new building and may be wondering when HoNC will be moving in to the old one.

Well the fact is that it probably won’t be until well into March. There are still formalities to be completed and final contracts to be signed, but the HoNC board is on the case and we’re hoping that there will be no hiccups before we can get started on the real work on the ground.

With the onset of Omicron some of our interim projects about which you might have been expecting news, had to be postponed, but they’re waiting in the wings for the right moment to get going again.

We’ll bring you news about them as soon as we have it.

In the meantime, sign up for free membership if you haven’t already done so, which will give you the right to have your say at the next AGM, (if you live in the area of benefit). Or sign up as a volunteer and offer your skills to the community.

Once we have the keys, we will need all sorts of practical help to get the Heart fit for purpose and operating the way the community would like to see.

We’ll need helping hands to clear any old school “rubbish” left behind, more to clean and paint, and repair and all sorts of things, so get ready.

We’ll be calling on you soon!

Community share offer raises over £92,000 to buy local pub

Port Bannatyne residents are delighted that their community share offer has raised £92,385 in just over a month.

The monies will be used to allow the village to complete the purchase of the Anchor Tavern and the former off-licence at 34 Marine Road which will become a flexible community hub space.

The share offer drew widespread backing from Port Bannatyne and other Bute residents as well as support from around the UK and worldwide.

The 267 people who have invested in the offer are now members of The Port Bannatyne Development Trust, the Community Benefit Society (CBS), that will own the Anchor Tavern.

The shareholders will now control the CBS, on a one member one vote basis. The CBS’s rules have been designed to comply with Scottish Land Fund requirements, which include a majority of shareholders being resident in the village and a £25 minimum shareholding. 

The Scottish Land Fund announced last month that they would provide the funds to purchase the building, subject to a successful community share offer to raise funds to cover renovations and working capital. 

Most of the funds raised will be spent on refurbishment.  The parts of the building which customers don’t see are in urgent need of attention, with vegetation now growing inside the building.  PBDT has gone out to tender to local contractors for the initial repair works. 

The share offer had a target of £105,000, and so the CBS now hopes to raise the remainder via a Crowdfunder launched today (15 December). 

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/anchor-tavern

Garry Charnock, Chair of Port Bannatyne Development Trust said: “We are totally bowled over by the support from the local community and others who live on the island or further afield.

“We can now move forward to buy, refurbish, and open The Anchor Tavern in Spring 2022. We will also create employment and harness the tremendous amount of volunteer help to make the pub and hub an attractive venue for locals and visitors.”

The society aims to pay community share investors 2% interest after year three and is applying to register for HMRC’s Social Investment Tax Relief scheme which offers attractive tax incentives for larger investors. 

More information is available at www.pbdt.org.