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Catch up on the latest happenings across Scotland's inspiring development trust network, from impact stories to upcoming events near you.
Felix Richardson, Research and Insights Officer
At the start of June last month, the Research and Insights Team joined our Development Officer for Argyll and Bute, Laura, on a visit to Tiree Community Development Trust. Also known as Urras Thiriodh in Gaelic, Tiree Community Development Trust plays a vital role for its island community, catering its services towards the island’s tailored priorities.
As the team arrived from the mainland, the Trust’s wind turbine, Tilley, was visible from the ferry, working hard on a windy Hebridean day. Renewable energy has been TCDT’s key source of income since 2010 and has made an immense difference to the scale and scope of what the organisation have been able to achieve.
From the revenue made from Tilley, TCDT has had the resources to be ambitious in their projects and the services they provide. Redeveloping the main harbours in Milton and Scarinish have been some of the biggest successes of the Trust to date. Whilst both harbours cost a pound each to buy, the Trust received capital funding from the National Lottery, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government to complete these projects. The fishing industry on Tiree is one of the most sustainable sources of income for residents and with the renovations complete, the island now has a stable fleet of seven fishing boats in use. Other key projects have included the Cruas Project, a cost-of-living support service for islanders, the purchase of an electric minivan and the construction of a fuel station to name a few.
The team were treated to a tour of the North side of island by Hayley, the island ranger employed by the Trust. Along the way to the ancient ruin of Vaul Broch, the ranger detailed some of their main responsibilities: with large number of visitors coming to the island, Hayley provides information to visitors, offers guided walks and tours and caters activities for visitors with access needs. With oystercatchers, lapwings and starlings flying overhead, Hayley stressed the importance of raising awareness of Tiree’s machair, the fertile but sensitive grass plains which cover the island. She often gives advice to campervans and motorhomes about suitable campsites which will help conserve the island’s environment.
Looking forward, Urras Thiriodh are soon to open business units, partly funded by HIE, which will give in new services for the island community which can only be accessed on the mainland, bringing in new commerce to the island.
The Trust is also looking into solutions to the community’s pressing issues. After consultation with residents, the Development Trust identified the urgent need to improve the island’s housing crisis with a staggering 46% of houses on Tiree not being regularly used. Whilst opportunity does exist on the island, the lack of a variety of accommodation sizes means those wishing to move to the island and rent or buy are faced with a lack of affordable options. Urras Thiriodh are looking into different solutions into this key priority for the community as part of their Community Development Plan.
The visit to Tiree Community Development Trust was an inspiring account of island life and the joys and challenges that come with working for in the interest of the community.
At DTA Scotland, we are passionate about the incredible work done by Development Trusts across Scotland, and in Orkney these dynamic, community-led organisations are changing lives, creating jobs, and building homes. They are the unsung heroes of the local economy, making a significant impact on local people’s lives and empowering the community.
Explore their remarkable achievements and see how they are shaping Orkney’s future!
Development Trusts in Orkney are tackling one of the biggest challenges on the islands - affordable housing. The Stronsay Development Trust are renovating properties like Beechwood, which is attracting families and breathing new life into the community. On Sanday, the Harbour House project is being led by Sanday Development Trust and has not only provided homes for older people and those with complex needs but also instilled a sense of security and belonging. These projects are more than just buildings; they are creating homes and hope for the future, significantly improving the lives of individuals in Orkney.
Tourism is a vibrant part of Orkney’s economy, and Development Trusts are the driving force behind its enhancement. The Papay Development Trust, for instance, offers exhilarating boat trips that not only attract visitors from all over but also provide jobs and preserve the islands' rich cultural heritage. These initiatives and other Trust-led projects, such as the restoration of historical sites, not only draw tourists but also support residents, making Orkney an irresistible destination to explore.
Orkney’s Development Trusts are at the forefront of sustainability. These trusts are pioneering green projects, from renewable energy initiatives like the Hoy Development Trust's wind farm to community recycling schemes. The Hoy Development Trust, part of the Carbon Neutral Islands project, is reducing the island’s carbon footprint and working collaboratively to reach net zero by 2040. These efforts are not just good for the environment, they provide ownership and a sustainable future for the islanders.
Enhancing community wellbeing is at the heart of many Development Trusts and on Orkney they run numerous projects that improve the quality of life on the islands. The Island Wellbeing Project, for instance, offers support sessions, group activities, and training programs to help residents lead healthier, happier lives. These initiatives and other Trust-led programs like mental health awareness campaigns and community sports events are crucial in building a robust and resilient community spirit.
From housing to tourism, environment to wellbeing, these trusts are making Orkney a better place to live, work, and visit. Their work is crucial and DTA Scotland will continue to celebrate the achievements and support our members in their ongoing efforts to transform our islands.
If you are doing similar work or if you are inspired by the fantastic work of Development Trusts in Orkney. Join the movement and be a part of this transformative journey!
Annie Etherington, Events and Facilities Coordinator
I joined DTAS in March in the role of Events and Facilities Coordinator. As part of my role, I will be working within DTAS’ Central Support Services to provide broad-ranging cross-team support, with a specific focus on helping the Development Officers to deliver a programme of regional events across Scotland and provide much needed support in the production of the ever-growing DTAS conference.
With family based across Scotland and many happy summers spent in the Highlands, I decided to move to Scotland in January. I was thrilled to get a job working for an organisation that has the empowerment and sustainable development of Scottish communities at its heart. So, when I was given the opportunity to go to the South Lanarkshire regional gathering in April and visit my first Development Trust, I was intrigued to see how all the elements of community-driven development played out on the ground.
The South Lanarkshire regional gathering was hosted by Woolfords, Auchengray & Tarbrax Improvement Foundation (WAT IF) at Loanhead Farm, recently purchased by the organisation following an award from the Scottish Land Fund. We were joined by five other Development Trusts and aspiring Development Trusts from the area and spent the beautiful spring morning learning and exploring the endless community projects WATIF have planned for the site, many of which were up and running already only six weeks after the official opening of the farm.
When looking round the farm, I was struck by the endless opportunities for different community projects when given the right facilities. Loanhead farm is adorned with many outdoor and indoor spaces, and the mind wanders with possibilities – a café, workshop spaces, shared tool sheds, meeting spaces, wedding venue, community cinema room, camping, allotments and even housing – many of which WAT IF were exploring already.
With the café filled to the brim with members of the community enjoying their Saturday lunch with friends and family, and the staff bumbling about with huge smiles on their faces discussing opening the ‘overflow lunch space’ to fit more people in, you look on in awe of what the community has been able to achieve. And even the small things hadn’t gone amiss. With non-binary toilets, all with a variety of sanitary products available – something that is still few and far between in many public spaces – I was struck by how simple, joined-up community-minded thinking had created such a successful and inclusive all-purpose community space.
After piling our plates high with delicious food cooked by the community café and enjoying a lunch in the sun, the afternoon was filled with hearty discussion regarding the challenges and opportunities faced by Development Trusts in South Lanarkshire. It was clear how much drive, energy and ambition was shared among attendees - at times it even felt like a revolution was starting in the barn.
The day provided a great insight into the world of Development Trusts and the ups and downs that come with it. It was inspiring to learn from the innovative strategies in place at Loanhead farm and to meet other members doing equally as great work for their communities. Thanks to everyone at WAT IF for helping facilitate such a great regional gathering.
Carron Tobin, SCOTO’s exec director, has been on the road supporting a number of development trusts across Scotland in developing a community led approach to tourism. Does this sound appealing? Read on!
Tourism – a dirty word or a force for good?
Is it time for your community to Press Pause?
As the number of community development trusts across Scotland has grown there also has been a curious tension developing within many communities where tourism is being identified as a priority theme but also often seen as a dirty word.
There are many very easily explained reasons for this – not least the sense that tourism just happens to communities but also the word tourism focuses on the tourist and not the place they are visiting.
Here at SCOTO we talk about the visitor economy which is much more about the place and also the numerous interactions between visitors and locals that make that local economy work.
We have devised a new approach to tourism which defines and puts the community’s interests to the fore and encourages individual communities to become serious players in Scotland’s visitor economy.
Who is SCOTO?
SCOTO - Scottish Community Tourism - is the only dedicated network in the UK supporting community tourism. With 300 plus SCOTO Networkers, spanning the breadth of Scotland, we provide peer to peer learning and support as well as empowering individual communities keen to embrace community led tourism. Established just over 2 years ago with the ambition to recalibrate tourism in Scotland to deliver for communities and environment first, we are finding that community led tourism is very much of its time.
What is Community Led Tourism?
Community led tourism refers to communities that are providing a visitor facing service, facility or experience as a social or other not for profit enterprise. The visitor facing activity may not 100% of what is on offer and it may not be the main driver – but the visitor’s experience of the local area is enhanced and the community benefits from their spend and interaction.
And it’s not new! Communities have been providing services and facilities for visitors for decades – local heritage centres being a classic example. But with community empowerment in Scotland we are seeing more and more communities acquiring assets and operating charities and social enterprises which have a visitor facing element to what they do. More and more communities are taking over toilets and providing visitor information – and considering tourism uses for now redundant churches.
However, another element of community led tourism is community led destination development, management and promotion. This is new and is something SCOTO is putting considerable energy into through its newly developed Press Pause initiative.
Why Press Pause?
SCOTO is encouraging all communities to take time to Press Pause. This is partly in recognition that we are in a new era in tourism. Change was coming anyway but has been accelerated by Covid and Brexit – and recognises that we are in the middle of a climate emergency impacting on travel choices and business operations, and technology is revolutionising every aspect of everyday life. Increasingly visitors are seeking much more authentic experiences and to meet local people – and ethical travellers really want to slow down and immerse themselves in their host community.
Who Presses Pause?
At its heart Press Pause is about business and community interests sitting down together to collectively consider what is and isn’t working and what could be done differently or better in their community. Businesses are a vital part of our communities, especially those owned and run by locals that employ local people, whose kids go to the local school and who support the local suppliers, events and sports clubs. It is vital that business and community interests explore ideas together.
How do they Press Pause?
Fundamentally SCOTO believe this approach should be owned and led by local community development trusts where these exist – and could be the basis for setting one up where it doesn’t already exist. Press Pause is about a partnership between local community development trusts and SCOTO.
What happens?
Over a half day workshop business and community interests – basically people with skin on the game within the local community – explore six topics together. This is facilitated which ensures everyone can contribute and also allows perceptions to be challenged based on experience from elsewhere.
Topics include
• An initial appraisal of what is currently working and what is not working
• Understanding the geography of the destination – is it the community and its rural hinterland? Is it a number of communities which form a valley, an island, a neighbourhood or a coastline?
• Considering visitors over time – past, present and future?
• Who are the main competitors? Where are good comparartors?
• A destination competence appraisal – exploring 16 different criteria and jointly appraising the current state of play
• Sense of place and place branding – exploring what makes the community what it is today and what really differentiates it from other places
So What?
SCOTO then do the heavy lifting. SCOTO produces a detailed easy read report in slide format which summarises the findings and specifically highlights the numerous opportunities for community led tourism. It is set out in a format that allows anyone not involved to understand the process – notably funders – and to provide evidence of need for change.
An online meeting allows the draft report to be reviewed and tweaked as there are always local nuances! And this meeting specifically seeks to draw out an activity plan. Of all the ideas set out which should be progressed? What are the quick wins as well as longer term strategic actions that need a kick start?
Next Steps
Getting some quick wins underway is key but it is also important to share the outputs with the wider community and seek buy in to the activity plan and also provide everyone with the opportunity to get involved in making their community a better place to live, work and visit.
Recent research has shown 1 in 5 people in Scotland volunteer. Wouldn’t it be great if more and more people of all ages within a community got involved in simple activities that showcase their community at its best and help visitors enjoy the local area as a force for good. People volunteer when they are passionate about something – wanting to give something back and make a difference. Most residents are passionate about where they live and a few hours supporting community led tourism can lighten loads and make a big difference.
Press Pause is the ideal catalyst for embracing local community spirit and shaping how to share it with visitors who in turn want to become temporary locals and give something back.
Is your community ready to Press Pause?
On 25 June Carron Tobin and Di Smith from SCOTO will join DTAS to deliver a webinar all about Press Pause and community led tourism with a presentation and lots of time for questions and discussion. Sign up on our Eventbrite page at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scoto-community-led-tourism-press-pause-t....
Contact Di, SCOTO’s coordinator on info@scoto.co.uk and visit our websites www.scoto.co.uk and www.belocal.scot .
“Press Pause really helped steer our course and has given us a fantastic platform to work from.” Selkirk and The Valleys
“Not only was everyone contributing at Press Pause but I felt the quality of their contributions was very positive and encouraging leaving me feeling optimistic about the future. The day was both worthwhile and enjoyable.” Braemar
“Undertaking the Press Pause workshop was invaluable. Learnt so much, even about things you thought you knew about locally as different folk had different perspectives. Having an independent but knowledgeable coordinator was hugely helpful to question long held perceptions and pull in experience from elsewhere.” Langholm
Over the next 12 months at DTAS, we’re taking a deep dive into a number of different topics that are important to our staff. As part of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) work and following our most recent staff survey, one of our actions was to focus on raising awareness and sharing experiences of health-related topics.
First up in the series is Menstrual Health. Today, 28th May, is World Menstrual Hygiene Day!
Some of our staff have taken part in a social media campaign that focuses on sharing something about menstrual health they wish they knew as a teenager that may have helped them navigate it in later life.
This exercise has meant that we’ve been able to open up an honest conversation about menstrual health, which is often deemed a ‘taboo subject’ in the workplace. These conversations allow for a breadth of experience from those going through the menopause to those suffering with painful periods. All of these experiences can affect an individual’s life in one way or another, ultimately impacting the way they show up at work. By facilitating honest and open conversations and addressing the ‘taboo nature’ of the topic, staff can feel safe, supported and understood.
Our main goal for focusing on menstrual health is to implement a policy that acknowledges the challenges individuals can face and provide a positive working environment that supports them through it. Additionally, we're holding a lunch and learn where individuals can continue to share their experiences and support each other in a safe environment.
The Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) is funded by the Scottish Government to support community based groups in Scotland take a stake in or ownership of previously publicly owned land or buildings.
Democratic Finance Scotland supports communities to raise money locally to take ownership of important community assets and run democratic community-led businesses.
