Two projects in Orkney and one in Shetland have received funding in the latest round of grants from the Scottish Land Fund.

The Crafthub has received £286,788 to purchase Trumland Church (known locally as The Space) on Rousay in Orkney. The group currently uses the asset for pop-up events and they plan to use The Space as a community café and craft shop, offering workshops and community events.

Shapinsay Development Trust, has received £155,098 to acquire a mid-terraced house in Shapinsay, Orkney, which it will then renovate and offer for affordable rent.

Ash Boyd, Chairperson, Shapinsay Development Trust, said:

“This funding will allow the community to build on the success of previous housing projects on Shapinsay and create much needed affordable housing on the island.

“These community projects are vital for remote islands in tackling challenges such as depopulation, declining school rolls, workforce gaps to assist in long-term sustainability. We look forward to commencing our exciting plans in the coming months.”

Shetland

North Yell Development Council has been given £142,600 to acquire the shop at Cullivoe, North Yell, Shetland and take over its running, securing employment, an important amenity and gathering space for the community.

Mark Lawson, Chairman of North Yell Development Council, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded grant finance from the Scottish Land Fund to proceed with bringing our local shop into community ownership.  This will allow us to assume the ongoing operation of the shop, securing the jobs of staff employed there and ensuring an essential community asset continues to operate within North Yell. We look forward to working with the current owners to ensure a smooth transfer of the business, and to serving both residents and visitors to the area.”

The grants are amongst 11 totalling £2,381,927 that have been given to communities across the country in the latest round of awards 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: 

“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.”

And Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, added:

“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:

Harris Development Ltd Award – £147,790

Harris Development Limited will purchase land in Tarbert, Harris in order to build modular accommodation units to alleviate a shortage of housing for key workers.

Strathdearn Community Development Award – £356,934

Strathdearn Community Developments (SCD) will purchase a woodland in Tomatin, Inverness. SCD will create a more biodiverse and sustainable woodland environment that will be used by the community for recreation and wellbeing.

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.

Portree and Braes Community Trust Award – £53,655

Portree and Braes Community Trust will acquire 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

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.

Islay Development Initiative

Award – £619, 122

Islay Development Initiative LTD (IDI) will acquire Sgibba Forest near Port Charlotte, Islay. The group will develop the forest into a community woodland with crofts for affordable rent, a pathway network, community events and learning space, and will utilise the timber to provide biomass fuel for a nearby distillery.