By theorkneynews

Copyright theorkneynews

Egilsay Community Association has been awarded £56,858 with which it will acquire the Egilsay Community Centre and adjoining School House through a negotiated sale from Orkney Islands Council (OIC).

The project will safeguard the only remaining public building on the island. The group will use the assets to create an inclusive, and accessible community hub which will be adapted into a multi-functional space that serves residents and visitors in a way that supports the specific needs of the small and geographically isolated population.

Vanessa Garrett, Chair of the Egilsay Community Association, said:

“We are absolutely delighted. Securing the former school site for community ownership marks a significant milestone for Egilsay, reflecting years of sustained effort by the whole community. We are proud that the Scottish Land Fund has placed its confidence in our vision of community-led regeneration, giving local people a genuine stake in their future.”

In Shetland, Sandness Community Development Ltd has been given £12,045 to purchase three assets collectively known as Melby Pier, from Shetland Islands Council and two private owners. The group will develop the pier, making it safe and accessible for use by the local community and tourists. The site will act as an outdoor hub for community events such as seashore and water-based pursuits. Facilities will be upgraded providing public toilets, showers, car parking with EV charging, and campervan and camping böd provision.

Brian Ashley, Chair of Sandness Community Development said:

“This SLF grant is fantastic news for Sandness. It helps us to secure an important and much loved asset for Sandness folk and visitors to enjoy. This is a project that will strengthen our community, around which we can build our resilience for the future.”

The grants are amongst 15 totalling £1,563,608 for community asset projects across Scotland that have been announced today 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 in the Scottish Government said:

“That is one of the real strengths of the Scottish Land Fund, whether you live in urban or rural Scotland, access to land and buildings matters, and the Scottish Land Fund enables that to happen.

“I want to thank each of the groups for the work they have done so far, from purchasing land for further development or creating welcoming, useful spaces for businesses and individuals in their communities, all of these projects will make a real difference.”

Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said:

“The Scottish Land Fund Committee is delighted to fund diverse groups in both urban and rural environments to take ownership of key community assets, in order to provide the services that they have identified as being essential in their local areas.”

The Scottish Land Fund will fund ( Amount: £5,000 to £1,000,000):

the purchase of land or land assets

support to help plan and develop ideas

Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, said:

“These projects show the power of communities taking the lead in shaping their own future. By securing vital assets, they’re protecting essential services while creating spaces that support jobs, attract visitors and bring people together.

“Community ownership gives the tools to drive long-term change, strengthening the local economy and building resilience for generations to come. We’re looking forward to seeing what these ventures achieve next.”

Other groups receiving funding are:

Creative Regeneration

Award £197,200

Creative Regeneration (CR) will purchase a Grade B Listed five storey former sugar refinery and adjacent land known as The Glebe in Greenock, Inverclyde from a private seller. The group will redevelop the asset into a technical and creative community hub that will have a focus on STEAM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and community learning. The asset will provide flexible exhibition/community spaces, office space and other creative/technical workshops delivered by both business and third sector/community partners.

Milton Food Hub and Community Garden

Award £157,635

Milton Food Hub and Community Garden will purchase St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Milton in Glasgow from a private seller. The group will create a vibrant, flexible community hub that brings people together and supports local services. An anchor tenant, North Glasgow Community Food Initiative, have been operating from the asset for 15 years and will continue to occupy the building delivering services including a people’s fridge, community café, and providing space for groups and activities.

Rannoch Community Trust Limited

Award £160,411

Rannoch Community Trust Limited will acquire a development plot in the village of Kinloch Rannoch, located in highland Perthshire from a private seller. The group will build twelve community-led affordable homes for rent, which will be a mix of two and three bedrooms.

Chapelhall Community Development Group

Award £40,000

Chapelhall Community Development Trust (CCDT) will acquire a development plot of land through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) from North Lanarkshire Council (NLC). Following acquisition, the group intends to build a modular two storey community hub for residents of Chapelhall. The hub will encourage social interaction, community integration and provide a space for local activities and events.

Dunvegan Community Trust SCIO

Award £208,469

Dunvegan Community Trust SCIO (DCT) will purchase three sections of the Orbost Estate in northwest Skye via a negotiated sale from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Cruachan Woodland will be purchased to develop two woodland crofts with house sites. Included in the same title is Cnoc nan Craobh, which will be purchased for continued use as a public amenity and to improve biodiversity. Orbost Farmhouse will be purchased to create two homes for affordable rent.

Ford Village Hall Ltd

Award £123,774

Ford Village Hall Ltd will acquire the woodland at Torran Bay, near the village of Ford at the southern end of Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute from a private seller. The group will improve community access to the loch and native woodland by creating accessible paths, parking facilities and moorings. They will develop local water sport clubs and activities, creating picnic and swimming areas, and storage facilities for small boats and paddle craft. Natural habitats will be improved for biodiversity and visitors, supporting people’s health and wellbeing.

Glenlivet and Inveravon Community Association

Award £27,299

Glenlivet and Inveravon Community Association (GICA) will acquire Inveravon Church in Ballindalloch through negotiated sale from the Church of Scotland (CoS). The group intends to reopen it as a space for community gatherings, historical interest, worship, reflection and life events.

Nigg Community Hall SCIO

Award £32,354

Nigg Community Hall SCIO will acquire Nigg Community Hall in Nigg, Highlands through the Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS) administered by the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR). The group will reclaim and improve the hall, creating a community hub. The space will provide venue hire for community groups, sports activities, life events and private functions. In addition, the group will host concerts, community events and other activities.

Oban and District Development Trust

Award £219,400

Oban and District Development Trust (ODDT) will purchase a retail unit on George Street in Oban through negotiated sale from a private seller. The group will lease the property to existing tenants, a collective of local third sector organisations who operate the space as a food pantry, charity shop, repair shop and community hub.

Solas Eige SCIO

Award £92,703

Solas Eige SCIO will acquire St Columba’s Church located on the Isle of Eigg from the Church of Scotland. The group will transform the church into the Solas Eige Centre, a vibrant cultural and educational centre for residents and visitors. It will provide flexible indoor and outdoor space for community gatherings and exhibitions, Eigg’s Community Archive, heritage engagement, and space for reflection. Accommodation, toilets and parking will be created. There will be a focus on providing employment, training and volunteering opportunities for the local community.

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO

Award £79,860

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO (SRASCIO) will acquire the former Roy Bridge Primary school, via a Community Asset Transfer from Highland Council, for the purposes of housing. The Victorian school building will be retained (converted to holiday lets with a view to generating income, before potentially being offered as homes to rent) and other buildings demolished, to build seven new homes for affordable rent. An existing MUGA will also be retained for community use.

The Langholm Initiative

Award £68,000

The Langholm Initiative (LI) will purchase an existing 3-bedroom home that is currently tenanted, from a private seller in Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway. In the short term, the group will continue to use the property to provide affordable rented accommodation that will be added to the group’s portfolio of rental properties.

Tighnabruaich District Development Trust

Award £87,600

Tighnabruaich District Development Trust (TDDT) will acquire a petrol station at Tighnabruaich on the Cowal Peninsula. TDDT will continue to operate the site as a petrol station and develop the existing building into two hireable workshop units. The site will also serve as a resilience hub. The project will deliver community benefit by retaining an essential source of fuel for residents, visitors and local emergency services.