Region’s community groups benefit from SLF awards

The SLF is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The latest round of SLF approvals across Scotland, announced this week, total £2,381,927.

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

Thomasina Glover, CEO, Islay Development Initiative, said: “Islay Development Initiative (IDI) is delighted that we have been successful in our SLF Stage 2 application 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 benefits in developing this project.”

Harris Development Limited was awarded £147,790 to purchase land in Tarbert, Harris to build modular accommodation units to alleviate a shortage of housing for key workers.

North Yell Development Council (NYDC) received £142,600 to 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.

An award of £356,934 was made to Strathdearn Community Development to purchase woodland in Tomatin, Inverness. The group will create a more biodiverse and sustainable woodland environment that will be used by the community for recreation and wellbeing.

Portree and Braes Community Trust got £53,655 for acquiring 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.

Two Orkney community groups received awards including community Interest company, The Crafthub, which will use their £286,788 award to 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.

Shapinsay Development Trust was awarded £155,098 to acquire a mid-terraced house in Shapinsay, Orkney, which it will renovate then offer the property for affordable rent.

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.”

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.”

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:

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.

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.

Buidhnean coimhearsnachd na roinne a’ faotainn buannachd bho dhuaisean SLF

Tha seachd pròiseactan coimhearsnachd anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan am measg a h-aon deug pròiseactan ann an Alba, a gheibh buannachd bhon chuairt as ùire de dh’aontaidhean bho Mhaoin Fearann na h-Alba (SLF).

Tha an SLF maoinichte le Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus air a lìbhrigeadh ann an com-pàirteachas le Maoin Coimhearsnachd a’ Chrannchuir Nàiseanta agus Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE).

Tha a’ chuairt as ùire de dh’aontaidhean SLF air feadh Alba, a chaidh ainmeachadh an t-seachdain seo, a’ tighinn gu iomlan de £2,381,927.

Fhuair Iomairt Leasachaidh Ìle £619,12 gus Coille Sgioba faisg air Port Sgioba a cheannach. Tha iad a’ planadh air a leasachadh gu coille coimhearsnachd le lìonra de shlighean, tachartasan coimhearsnachd agus làrach ionnsachaidh.

Thuirt Thomasina Glover, CEO, Iomairt Leasachaidh Ìle: “Tha Iomairt Leasachaidh Ìle (IDI) air leth toilichte gu bheil sinn air a bhith soirbheachail nar tagradh aig Ìre 2 gu SLF airson Coille Sgioba a cheannach às leth na coimhearsnachd.  

“On a tha Ìle na pàirt de phròiseact Eileanan Càrboin Neodrach, cha bhi a’ choille seo a-mhàin na maoin phrìseil ann an cuideachadh le ar n-amasan càrbon neoini a choileanadh, ach cuideachd a’ dèiligeadh ri grunn chùisean coimhearsnachd eile leithid di-dhaoineachadh dùthchail agus ath-leasachadh fearann mòintich. Tha IDI a’ coimhead air adhart ri buannachd coimhearsnachd chudromach a lìbhrigeadh ann an leasachadh a’ phròiseict seo.”

Chaidh £147,790 a bhuileachadh air Leasachadh na Hearadh Earranta gus fearann a cheannach air an Tairbeart sna Hearadh, agus aonadan còmhnaidh mòidealach a thogail gus lùghdachadh a thoirt air gainnead taigheadais do phrìomh luchd-obrach.

Fhuair Comhairle Leasachaidh Yell a Tuath (NYDC) £142,600 airson a’ bhùth aig Cullivoe fhaotainn ann an Yell a Tuath ann an Sealtainn. Gabhaidh NYDC thairis a’ bhùth, a bhios a’ cruthachadh cosnadh, agus na goireas cudromach is àite cruinneachaidh don choimhearsnachd.

Chaidh £356,934 a bhuileachadh air Leasachadh Coimhearsnachd Shrath Èireann gus talamh coillteach a cheannach ann an Tom Aitinn faisg air Inbhir Nis. Cruthaichidh am buidheann àrainneachd choillteach a bhios bith-iomadach agus seasmhach, a thèid a chleachdadh leis a’ choimhearsnachd airson chur-seachadan agus sunnd.

Fhuair Urras Coimhearsnachd Phort Rìgh ’s a’ Bhràighe £53,655 airson fearann ghoireasan a cheannach, a tha aithnichte mar raointean cluiche Rìgh Deòrsa V ann am Port Rìgh san Eilean Sgitheanach. Bidh seo na bhuannachd don choimhearsnachd, a’ comasachadh leasachadh air an fhearann agus air na goireasan sgeadachaidh, a’ ciallachadh gun tèid barrachd feum a dhèanamh dheth le clubaichean spòrs is ghnìomhachdan.

Fhuair dà bhuidheann coimhearsnachd ann an Arcaibh duaisean. Cleachdaidh a’ chompanaidh Ùidh Coimhearsnachd, An Crafthub, £286,788 airson Eaglais Trumland a cheannach (aithnichte gu h-ionadail mar The Space) air Rousay ann an Arcaibh. Tha am buidheann gu làithreach a’ cleachdadh na maoine airson priob-thachartasan. Cleachdaidh an Crafthub The Space airson cafaidh coimhearsnachd agus bùth ciùird, a’ tabhann bhùithtean-obrach agus tachartasan coimhearsnachd.

Chaidh £155,098 a bhuileachadh air Urras Leasachaidh Shapinsay gus taigh ann am meadhan barraid a cheannach ann an Shapinsay ann an Arcaibh, air an dèan iad ath-ùrachadh agus an uair sin an togalach a thabhann air màl reusanta.

Thuirt Màiri Gougeon, Rùnaire Caibineit airson Chùisean Dùthchail, Ath-leasachadh Fearainnn agus Eileanan: “Is e inneal luachmhor a th’ ann am Maoin Fearann na h-Alba, a’ ceadachadh do bhuidhnean ionadail air pròiseactan a leasachadh a bheir buannachdan maireannach seachad do an coimhearsnachdan, san dà chuid sgìrean bailteil is dùthchail.

“Tha e gu h-àraid di-beathte a bhith a’ faicinn phròiseactan a bheir buaidh dheimhinneach chan ann a-mhàin air daoine ach air fiadh-bheatha ionadail agus bith-iomadachd. Tha seo a’ co-thaobhadh ri ar ceann-uidhe fharsaing gu bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gun urrainn do choimhearsnachdan brath a ghabhail air na buannachdan fhad ’s a tha sinn ag eadar-ghluasad gu àm teachdail uaine ann an Alba. 

“Bu mhath leam mealadh naidheachd a chur air na buidhnean soirbheachail uile. Is e an t-ealantas acasan agus an dìoghras gun chrìch a tha ann an da-rìribh a’ stiùireadh atharrachadh nar coimhearsnachdan air feadh na dùthcha.”

Thuirt Cara NicGill’Easbaig, Cathraiche Comataidh Maoin Fearann na h-Alba: “Tha a’ chuairt maoineachaidh seo a’ taisbeanadh cho cudromach ’s a tha Maoin Fearann na h-Alba ann a bhith a’ cuideachadh sgìrean bailteil agus dùthchail le an cinn-uidhe a choileanadh. Bidh tabhartasan SLF ga dhèanamh comasach do na buidhnean sin air maoineachadh eile fhuasgladh dhaibh agus gnìomhan dearbhach a choileanadh a chuidicheas an coimhearsnachdan gu bhith soirbheachail.”

Thuirt Sandra Holmes, ceannard mhaoinean coimhearsnachd aig HIE: “Tha na buidhnean a tha a’ faotainn maoineachadh uile air cothroman a chomharrachadh a chuidicheas an coimhearsnachd ionadail gu bhith soirbheachail. Tha na pròiseactan uile nan eisimpleirean foirfe de dhaoine a’ gabhail smachd air an goireasan ionadail gu buannachd fad-amail an coimhearsnachdan. Bheir seibheachd barrachd smachd air maoinean cudromach a bhios nam buannachd do dhaoine aig an àm seo agus airson ghinealaichean ri teachd. Tha sinn a’ guidhe gach nì as fheàrr do gach buidheann soirbheachail nan iomairtean ùra.”

Am measg bhuidhnean eile a’ faotainn taic, tha:  

Duais - £328,06 do Charaidean a’ Bhroadway ann am Preastabhaig.

Ceannaichidh Caraidean a’ Bhroadway ann am Preastabhaig an taigh-dhealbh Broadway ann am Preastabhaig ann an Siorrachd Àir a Deas. Thèid an taigh-dhealbh ath-leasachadh gu bhith na thaigh-dhealbh ruigsinneach is nua-aimsireil le farsaingeachd coimhearsnachd.

Duais - £86,446 do SCIO St Ernan’s by the Loch.

Gheibh SCIO St Ernan’s by the Loch sealbh air togalach Eaglais Naoimh Ernáin ann am  Fionnphort agus a h-ath-leasachadh gu ìre gu bheil i nua-aimsireil, ioma-chruthach agus ruigsinneach do mhinntir na coimhearsnachd. Mar sin, a’ comasachadh meòrachadh ciùin, cruinneachaidhean beaga, seirbheisean, taisbeanaidhean, àite airson ionnsachadh cultarach le cuimse air Gàidhlig a thuilleadh air gnìomhachdan slàinte agus sunnd.

Duais - £50,675 gu Fàs Choimhearsnachdan Wester Hailes.

Ceannaichidh Fàs Choimhearsnachdan Wester Hailes fearann ann an Hailes an Iar ann an Dùn Èideann. Bheir ceannach air an làraich cothrom air ionad coimhearsnachd ùr a thogail, a’ solarachadh farsaingeachd ioma-adhbharach airson a thighinn còmhla tro thachartasan, ionnsachadh, teaghlaichean agus biadh.

Duais - £154,759 gu Bùth Coimhearsnachd Gargunnock Earranta.

Gheibh Bùth Coimhearsnachd Gargunnock Earranta an togalach bùtha falamh seo ann am meadhan baile Gargunnock ann an Siorrachd Shruighlea. Thèid a’ bhùth ath-nuadhachadh agus fosglaidh i mar bhùth coimhearsnachd, a’ cur taic ri gnothachas ionadail agus a’ comasachadh do sheirbheisean deatamach ionadail leithid lìbhrigeadh òrdughan-cungaidh, air tòiseachadh a-rithist.