Ar Talamh – Ar Coimhearsnachd – Ar n-Àm©
Our Land - Our Communities – Our Time©
The
independent Scottish Community Land Network (SCLN)
aims to encourage, support and inspire the community land sector in
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News - Woodland & Forestry - Renewable Energy – Funding & Support – Events –- Training - Bits & Pieces – A View from the Hills – Jobs - Community Websites - etc.
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Hi All,
The newsletter this month inadvertently has a common theme throughout, the sustainability of community land initiatives (CLI). This has 2 not unrelated threads; sustainability of revenue costs in this world of project-led financing and the sustainability of volunteer effort in volunteer-led organisations. These intertwine so completely when most CLI directors consider that the vast majority of their efforts are not actual spent leading and aspiring for their respective communities but on soul-destroying fund raising efforts. This entails seeking funding, meeting every funders separate and onerous burdens of proof, on-going monitoring and assessment, and having to qualify everything in terms of documentary evidence. Recently in less than 6 months our directors had to complete separately a whole estate plan, a twenty year business plan, an access and interpretation plan, a section 15 agreement and to prioritise our milestones to achieve our outcomes (new flag words; same old pap). All this to be considered against recently completed feasibility studies and various consultations with the community and experts. 1 year later the process is still ongoing, and not a penny has passed by our door. Meltdown is how I think one of the writers described what is happening to our volunteers.
Good luck with all your communities’ projects.
Cheers,
Steve
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Congratulations to the following Community Land Initiatives who have recently overcome the first bureaucratic hurdle to achieve their visions of community sustainability through community land ownership by being registered on the Register of Community Interest in Land (RCIL) under the Part 2 of the Land Reform Act (LRA):
Darnick Village Trust, Borders– To acquire a centrally located field for amenity for the community - RCIL CB00067
Benbecula Golf Course Community Interest Company, South Uist – To acquire land to reinstate a historic community golf course - RCIL CB00042
Balloch Village Trust
Community Company,
Comrie Development Trust, Perthshire – To acquire an ex-military base for community hosing, social enterprise recreational, environmental and amenity needs – RCIL CB00043
Lochwinnoch Community Buyout Group, Renfrewshire – to acquire a disused factory and surrounding land for a community regeneration project – RCIL CB00044, 45, 46, 47
Gifford Community Land Company,
Abernyte Community Company, Perthshire – To acquire land for community recreation and amenity use - RCIL CB00071
Willow
Wood Community Company,
Additional congratulations to the Benbecula Golf Course Community Interest Company and Comrie Development Trust have both had, or about to have, their right to buy activated to purchase their respective lands. Both of these were previously under MOD ownership. These are the only 2 communities to achieve community land ownership under LRA since April 2006 and bring to a grand total 6 communities able to achieve the community right to buy since the legislation was enacted in 2003.
Andy
Wightman has been campaigning on the Edinburgh Common Good Fund for the past 18
months. Just back from
Andy Wightman recently published Common Good Land.
A Review and Critique.
Two columns in latest Assynt Foundation newsletter have really got a measure of community land sector issues. First Don Campbell’s Assynt Foundation and the Future of Assynt - A Personal View, pretty much sums it up for all rural Highland and Island communities, the dilemma of stemming the demographic tide. Then Clair Belshaw’s Sustainability - A Personal View, addresses the very real issue of sustainability in the volunteer effort in communities, again reflecting growing concerns of the community land sector. Download the Newsletter from the Assynt Foundation website.
The CLU and
Knoydart Foundation have
jointly organised an exciting film project for youth in community buyouts. They
are looking for 4 communities who would be interested in having their young
people make a film. They will need the support of each community the project
takes place in, so that the young people are free to film what they choose. The
theme would be community and land ownership and one of the aims of the project
is to engage young people in 4 respective communities and open debate and
discussion on what it is to live in a community land initiative. It is hoped it
will inspire young people to get more involved in their respective communities.
The young people involved will also get chance to gain a broad range of skills
though learning how to make films. For further information email Sam Firth or mail to: Sam Firth, Manitoba
West,
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It’s good to see Community Woodlands Association (CWA) advertising for its 5th employee (See SCLN Jobs). Recently it has made 2 appointments. Congratulations to Diane Campbell who is to be promoted to development manager and Jon Hollingdale formerly of Dunnet Forestry Trust and CWA Chair to become the Chief Executive Officer. Two field officers are also awaiting appointment. This has been achieved through an application to Big Lottery Fund’s Dynamic Inclusive Communities with additional support from Forestry Commission Scotland and HIE-CLU.
Congratulations
to Echline Community Woodland
Queensferry,
The Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has just issued a paper Support for social aspects of the Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006 in the Scottish Rural Development Plan and invites feedback from social forestry stakeholders. These measures have not yet been approved by the EU and are guidelines to optimise benefits for all rural sectors including social forestry. Most support in the Scottish Rural Development Plan (SRDP) is to be supplied via a series of measures in integrated Rural Development Contracts. This takes two forms:
• Tier 2: A menu scheme for activities on Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) registered land. Eligible landowners choose which activities they wish to have supported up to an allowance.
• Tier 3: A competitive scheme with wider eligibility. Some SRDP support is provided outside Rural Development Contracts. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6wxjmk for further information on these.
For further info or comment contact Dominic Driver, Social Policy Advisor at FCS.
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Download the Highland & Island Community Energy Company’s (HICEC) June Newsletter for all the latest regional community renewable energy news.
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The Directory for Social Change and ten leading voluntary sector agencies have launched a campaign to promote the importance of grant aid for charities.
They have published a leaflet, Sustaining Grants, aimed at local authorities and other statutory grant givers, to support their case. Download the Sustaining Grants Pamphlet.
Ben Wittenberg is he director of policy and research at the Directory of Social Change writes about applying some common sense to supporting the Voluntary sector. The recent trend towards stringent and prescriptive monitoring of project oriented funding is strangling voluntary organisations in bureaucracy and accountability. What is needed is the funding of organisations rather than projects. See the Guardian for the full story.
There are
around 168,000 registered charities in the
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Development Officer - £22,000 to £25,000 pro rata (22 hours per week) - Community Woodlands Association
A vacancy now exists for a part time Development Officer for a fixed period until June 2010.
This post
will involve working from home and travel throughout
Closing date for applications 5pm 20th July 07. Enquiries and applications to Diane Campbell or Tel/Fax 01854 613737
2 Year
Project - Isle of
1 Year contract with extension subject to funding - Closing date Friday 20th July
Download Application Pack or contact info@dunnetforest.org
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Community Ownership of Land in Edinburgh - The Story of the Common Good Fund
Speaker: - Andy Wightman
Wednesday
27 June at
Book seats at saveglenogle@googlemail.com
Workshops – Assynt Foundation
(Wine-making, digital photography skills, natural dyes or painting)
25th
& 26th June – Assynt – Contact Adam @ Tel: 01571 844 100
Venison Cookery Display – Deer Commission & North Harris Trust
14th July –
Tiorgha Mhor Hill Race – North Harris Trust
A regular event in the Hill Race Calendar and Guided walks for all abilities
Saturday 11th August – Amhuinnsuidhe, North Harris – Contact Mary
20th Wooplaw Anniversary Celebration – Wooplaw Community Woodland
Come and
celebrate 20 years of community work at Wooplaw, the first community woodland
in the
Sunday August 26th – Nr Galashiels, Borders
Inspiring Ambition – The Institute of Fundraising
29 October
- 31 October - Crowne Plaza Hotel,
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Project Development and Funding – CWA Share Knowledge
4th and 5th July – Milton Community
Ignite Woodfuel Training - Rural Development Initiatives
17 - 19 July
– Creebridge House Hotel,
Environment Awareness - Evolve Training
5 July –
Best Practice Demonstration Event – Deer Commission & North Harris Trust
14th
July – Huisinis, North Harris – Download
for further
details - Free apply to Mary
Global Climate Change and the Sustainable Revolution – UNITAR & CIFAL Findhorn
18th – 20th September - Findhorn Ecovillage, Forres
Legacy Fundraising Made Easy
with Richard Radcliffe -
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A campaign
led by the Scottish
Council for Voluntary Organisation (SCVO), highlights the vital role that
village halls and community buildings play in
An interesting contribution from a reader called Grounding Learning in Place shows three case studies show how to grow passionate local leaders and activists from our own youth. the economic vitality of small communities depends upon the willingness of young adults to believe that they can create their own economic opportunities and need not depend upon large corporate employers located elsewhere. Sadly, many who lack this belief and can leave, do leave, and more and more rural communities are abandoned to the elderly, the infirm, and the young adults unable or unwilling to move.
REAL @
Inverness High School
is a community based business growing organic vegetables within the grounds of
the school. They offer work experience along with a new learning environment
for the pupils of the school. They sell locally through a number of
'market stall' style outlets. They would also like to expand these stalls and
are looking to recruit a range of keen and committed people to run them on
regular (weekly) basis. Such people would be enthused with locally grown food,
be at ease with working with a small team of similarly thinking adults and
young people and relaxed and courteous when serving the public. This
commitment could run from
If you are interested in getting involved with us, please contact Iain Clyne on 07795064635.
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On his way to Eigg to join in the 10th anniversary celebrations Alistair MacIntosh (Centre for Human Ecology) delivered the Radio Scotland Thought for the Day:
“In
a couple of minutes I’ll be leaving
I vividly remember how a journalist asked a farmer’s wife what it felt like. “Yesterday,” she replied, “I had a house, but today, I have a home.”
And
for me, that sums up the importance of
Ten
years ago in a marquee symbolically pitched on the ex-laird’s tennis court,
Brian Wilson, then an MP, got up and declared “game set and match to the people
of Eigg!” He also announced setting up the Community Land Unit within
But
as Eigg celebrates, let’s also remember
They understood that land is about more than just agriculture or economics. It’s also a bond that is psychological, cultural and even spiritual. As the Bible puts it, “The profit of the Earth is for all,” and as Dougie MacLean sings, “You cannot own the land; the land owns you.”
That’s
the historical character of
Agree, disagree or have another opinion you like aired, contact steve@communityland.org.uk
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Kinghorn Community Land Association
For relative links, resources or community groups see the respective links at SCLN Links, SCLN Resources or SCLN Community Groups
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Over 1750 subscribers
Thanks to contributions from Andy Wightman, Jenny Smith, Lucas Chapman, Diane Campbell, Neil Gerrard, Alistair MacIntosh, Dominic Driver, Adam Pellant, Ian Gallacher, Toni Clark, Sandra Hogg, Sam Firth, Jon Hollingdale, and Gordon Gray Stephens.
This newsletter has been generously funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Lomond & Rural Stirling Leader+ and North Highland Leader+
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The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are for general information and do not represent those of the Community Land Unit, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Lomond & Rural Stirling Leader+ or North Highland Leader+
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