Ar Talamh – Ar Coimhearsnachd – Ar n-Àm©
Our Land - Our Communities – Our Time©
The 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 – Featured CLI – Jobs - Links - etc.
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Hi All,
You’ll have noticed a bit of a hiatus in the newsletter, my sincerest apologies. This issue will be a bit historical to catch-up with the missed news, and will be followed in a few days by an up-to-date issue.
Being the Development/Project Officer with a community land initiative, the first and often only employee, can be a Herculean and often a thankless task. As the job suggests you will be expected to forward the many projects the directors and community aspire to. What isn’t mentioned in the job description is how you must be all and everything to the community. You are the face of the community, projecting the correct community image(s); press officer; advisor and aspirational speaker for other community buyouts; archivist, knowing exactly where very single fact, discussion and document can be referenced or has been filed; website designer and manager; newsletter editor; land manager; tea lady; tour guide and ranger; business manager and CEO; minute taker; final arbitrator of director disputes; and the expert on whatever issue rears its ugly head. Oh, did I mention that the deadline for all of these was the end of last week!
I think from personal experience it’s a lot easier to be a director; you can swan in twice a month, wax lyrically about your aspirations, pronounce your expert opinion on whatever is to be decided and leave it to the staff to implement ! I can just hear the heckles of derision !
Good luck with all your communities’ projects.
Cheers,
Steve
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The community-led Wildcat Centre, Newtonmore has been saved from closure. A benefactor, who wishes to remain anonymous, came forward with an offer of significant basic funding for the community project. Using this as leverage, a public appeal and appropriate funding bodies were sought for further funding. The community are now able to ensure that the Wildcat Centre will remain open for the next five years.
It is not just the land based community organisations who are driving forward with community ownership and bringing benefits and facilities for all. Harbour Associations are also in the driving seat. Visit the excellent work of the Tobermory Harbour Association (THA)
The Tourism, Heritage and Technology
Challenge Fund was created by HIE to encourage, innovative and
collaborative working between sectors across the
Community-based – Galson Trust - THETA
Hosted by Galson Estate Trust, on Lewis, with technical input from Lews Castle College, UHI and other partners, this project aims to explore the benefits of bringing together state-of-the-art online social networking technology with the local knowledge and enthusiasm of the community to improve access to cultural and heritage resources for both tourists and locals.
Site-based - Macbeth the King
Based in Moray this will deliver a compelling visitor experience, blending drama and historical fact, through the medium of mobile technologies.
Destination-based – Visual Arts Sutherland
Breathtaking geography makes Sutherland a unique area. This project will design and create a highly original and technologically innovative virtual studio trail linking artists and craft businesses with the outstanding heritage of the area.
As usual the Galson Trust seems to be showing us the way forward by winning this category and they offer an excellent project with potential to establish a template for other communities Download a short descriptor of all the project category winners.
The Vital Spark is to be
a major international event on heritage interpretation – the art of
communicating with visitors at places such as museums, nature reserves,
historic buildings and national parks. Hosted in Aviemore from 30th September
International keynote speakers, and a full programme of pre and post-conference tours, are already organised. There are discounted places available for community based individuals. For more information about the conference, or to make a proposal for a presentation or a workshop, visit the Vital Spark website.
A new
initiative known as Local
People Leading (LPL) has recently been founded. LPL is a campaign for
organisations and individuals across
LPL has
been initiated by a consortium of networking organisations which serve hundreds
of community-based groups across
Local People Leading contends that extending community ownership of assets and investing communities with more control and responsibility through community anchor organisations are the cornerstones for developing a more sustainable, inclusive and democratic Scotland.. For more details and how to join check out the LPL website
The Isle of Harris has high hopes of achieving a third community buyout with the formation of a steering group to investigate the community taking control of 20,000 acres of land on the west coast of Harris. This comprises the villages of Luskentyre, Seilebost, Horgabost, Borve and Scarista, almost all exclusively croft land under the ownership of Scottish Executive. Uniquely to SEERAD owned estates, the community has the right to buy not only under Parts 2 & 3 of the Land Reform Act but also under the as of yet never enacted Transfer of Crofting Estates (Scotland) Act 1997.
On a personal note I’m sorry to see Derek Louden moving on from the Assynt Foundation. Derek was the first Development Manager for the Assynt Foundation. Derek has been wholeheartedly community-oriented and has often helped to enthuse me with his knowledgeable contribution on topical community issues. We wish Derek the best of luck in his new endeavours and welcome Mark Lazzeri as the new Development Manager and Adam Pellant as Project Officer.
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Woodlands & Forestry
Congratulations to Community Woodlands Association (CWA) have successfully secured funding to increase our staffing level to fully support Community Woodland groups across Scotland. Funding for the next 3 year period was awarded by the Big Lottery Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise - Community Land Unit and the Forestry Commission Scotland. Due to their unprecedented growth CWA has expanded to give greater support and capacity for their sector. There are 4 excellent jobs to undertake this expanding organisations project. Check CWA jobs. Closing date June 4th - 5pm.
The highly ambitious Aline Community Woodlands has just been awarded £40,000 by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for the first phase of woodland restructuring. The 625 hectare forest planted over 15 years ago suffered extensive damage through a pine beauty moth infestation. The woodland project over a 10 year program would create access, doubling as a local amenity and a visitor attraction incorporating walking, cycling and nature trails and bird hides. 10 hectares a year will be harvested for local biomass heat resource. Currently employing over 14 people involved in fencing, tree felling, and path construction, the regeneration will include extensive replanting.
The Lochalsh Woodland Park Steering Group has recently employed Steve Heap as a community resource worker. The Park is part of a large area of woodland managed by community representatives from the Lochalsh area working alongside The Forestry Commission Scotland .they hope to facilitate continued use of the Park for recreation, sport, community events and education, including all necessary provisions of rights of public access and to conserve and improve the natural environment in the site. Some of their aspirations include redevelopment of the old camp site hut, a permanent orienteering course, barbeque and bonfire site, and a permanent outdoor classroom site.
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The issue of connections to the electricity supply grid for community renewable energy projects in the Western Isles will hopefully be overcome by Regional Power Zones (RPZ). Scottish & Southern Energy has been in discussion with OFGEM on the encouragement of Calum MacDonald, former MP. Basically RPZ will manage the local transmission grid differently for up to 15 MW of extra capacity. This can then be released for local community renewable energy groups awaiting progress on the not very hopeful undersea transmission cable link to the mainland. It is understood that as many as 6 local groups with a potential of 30 MW production are awaiting connections.
The North Harris Trust is continuing to play the waiting game for their advanced proposals
for the Monan Community windfarm. The local authority, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, gave planning consent on the project in March on the application submitted in October. This was referred to the Scottish Executive due to objections from SNH who can prevent planning due to their role as a statutory consultant. This has left the SE decision in a state of limbo while the newly-elected Scottish Parliament get their feet. SNH objected to the 3 turbine development due to “the adverse impact upon the visual amenity within this part of the National Scenic Area”. They have, however, removed their objections on ornithological grounds. The cash flow could bring up to £100,000 a year for 20 years for the community. Without this the future aspiration plans including affordable housing for the community will be in jeopardy.
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A new thrift shop and recycling centre in Ballantrae is one of five Ayrshire projects today sharing in £1.2 million from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG). The money comes from the BIG’s Investing in Communities portfolio and is part of a wider £5 million announcement being made to twenty groups across Scotland.
The Ballantrae Rural Initiative Care in the Community Ltd (BRICC) has been commended for recycling not just unwanted goods, but also profits and enterprising spirit for the benefit of the community. BRICC’s main objective is to provide services for the elderly, sick and disabled. For nine years it has boosted funds with earnings from a thrift shop. However, the shop has been such a success that it has outgrown the current location.
The group recently picked up an award of £30,375 to build a new purpose built shop, and recycling centre in Ballantrae. BRICC plans to plough profits from the new recycling centre and shop into creating a new care residential centre for 15 frail and elderly people, within the next five years. For the full story and other awards see BLF Press release.
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Minding the Future - The Big Tent, Scotland's Festival of Stewardship
15th – 17th June - Falkland, Fife. Contact the Big Tent
The Assynt Challenge - Run Cycle Kayak !!!
Saturday 23rd June – Lochinver – Contact Joanne
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Application Form for All Posts
CWA Background Information
Chief Executive Officer -Chief Executive to promote and represent the community woodland sector, lead future strategic development, oversee financial performance and line manage staff. As the post covers the whole of Scotland, it is expected that the successful candidate will work from or close to their home and travel widely. Chief Executive Officer Job Description
Development Manager - The Development Manager will manage the day to day running of the CWA. This will include implementation of the business plan at operational level. The DM will also be responsible for supporting member groups, new project development, fundraising and representation of the CWA within the social enterprise sector. Development Manager Job Description
Community Woodland Extension Officers - North and South Scotland - The Community Woodland Extension Officers will be employed to meet the need for the Association to provide greater in-depth technical forestry and other advice and assistance to community woodland groups and other member organisations. CWEO - North Job Description - CWEO - South Job Description
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Social Enterprise Academy supports Social Enterprise by developing excellence in leadership and management for social enterprise. See their website for a full range of their upcoming courses.
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The Scottish Islands Network is undergoing important changes in order become a more representative body, similar to other European islands organisations. To mark these changes, it is changing its name to the Scottish Islands Federation (SIF). To help SIF make these changes, and to ensure that the organisation is representative, we would like your feedback through a questionnaire.
The Highland Environmental Network is a voluntary organisation which aims to promote environmental education and community environmental action. Download their newsletter which is also an excellent resource of funding support for smaller community and educational environmental projects.
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For relative links, resources or community groups see the respective links at SCLN Links, SCLN Resources or SCLN Community Groups
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Current circulation – over 1650
Thanks to
contributions from Sheila Wickens, Margaret Kane, Neil Gerrard, Diane Campbell,
Camille Dressler, Pamela Noble, Ninian Stewart,
This newsletter has been generously funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Lomond & Rural Stirling Leader+ and North Highland Leader+
For a free monthly subscription to the newsletter: join@communityland.org.uk
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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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