Scalloway Youth and Community Centre

Reducing carbon footprint and increasing comfort for local community

Members of the Scalloway Youth and Community Centre (SYCC) in Shetland are feeling the benefits of greening their building, delivered with the help of our Green Grant Fund.

The centre is a cornerstone of the Scalloway community, providing vital services for youth, seniors, and various local groups. With 12 part-time jobs, SYCC is not only a social hub but an essential community asset.

Located on the shoreline the building is susceptible to the elements. Following some work to update their double glazing, it became clear the buildings 1990s insulation wasn’t cutting it. The trustees set their sights on a project – to green their heating and improve energy efficiency.

As part of their wider long-term climate action planning, SYCC worked with Business Energy Scotland in 2023 to measure their baseline carbon emissions. Phase 1 of their decarbonisation project has involved extensive insulation work on their main building, vastly improving energy efficiency and reducing heating costs. It’s been funded with support from the previous round of our Green Grant Fund and Shetland Community-led Local Development (CLLD) programme.

Trustee and volunteer Sonia Inkster said: “We came back into the building in April following the insulation works and were delighted at how warm it was. During this summer we could turn down the heating and at times switch it off completely.

The 60 Plus Club uses the centre every Wednesday and found a big difference on how much warmer the building is following the insulation. Our group is made up of members mostly from 70 to 89 years of age, and for some mobility is limited, so a warm place to meet is crucial for the comfort of our members.”

Looking forward, SYCC is collating information and quotes to replace storage heaters with modern heat pump technology, and a solar array on their roof space. With these in place it is hoped that the building will achieve net zero aspirations and may even become a contributor to the grid.