Community Anchor Organisations might develop from a variety of different kinds of organisations. The most common examples are probably Development Trusts or community owned Housing Associations which have diversified into wider action - but there are many other models. In some areas a community enterprise, perhaps recycling or providing transport, becomes the lead organisation. In others, community action is environmentally led by the management of community woodlands or a park. There are examples of CAOs which are community councils, residents associations, faith based organisations, community buildings - almost any local activity can develop into the organisation which galvanises local energy and becomes the anchor of progress.

The selection below of different models of Anchors illustrates the reality of what they do - better than explanations or definitions.

West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd Craft and Design Town Project (WKCIL)
The West Kilbride area has suffered from a range of economic problems in recent years, with the loss of large-scale manufacturing jobs leading to above average unemployment. The town lost many traditional retail outlets, partly due to the rise of retail parks and giant supermarkets. With a high street of empty and unkempt shops and a lack of passing trade, West Kilbride was suffering from vandalism, a poor image and a lack of services.

Cassiltoun Housing Association
In the 1950s displaced people from inner city slum clearances were moved to Castlemilk. Poor initial planning lead to isolation and a lack of basic amenities. Unemployment grew due to decline of local industries and poverty/social problems ensued. Housing stock transfer to Cassiltoun Housing Association initiated the beginnings of long term bottom up regeneration. In Castlemilk, the community anchor role is fulfilled through a collaboration of two organisations: Cassiltoun Housing Association and the Cassiltoun Trust. (working with other partners that contribute to the regeneration of Castlemilk)

Ferguslie Park Housing Association
Ferguslie Park is a regeneration area that has been rated as the most deprived area in Scotland in the latest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. It has a mix of housing tenures which includes Council, Housing Association, private rental and owner occupier. Ferguslie Park Housing Association is the largest social landlord in Ferguslie Park.

Neilston Development Trust
Neilston is a, a former mill town that sits on a hill overlooking Glasgow, surrounded by farmland. Due to its position on the urban fringe it has increasingly become a dormitory town. rather than an independent settlement. Neilston’s townscape and sense of self has suffered badly over time and it has its share of social problems with several small but severe pockets of disadvantage.

Renton community anchor organization
Renton is a village with a proud industrial history, renowned for its bleaching and dying industry. In more recent times Renton has suffered from unemployment due to the demise of heavy industry in the surrounding area. At one time Renton was known as 'Little Moscow' because it produced two communist councilors at local elections. Prior to the establishment of the Housing Association, Renton was characterised by poor shopping facilities and council owned housing stock that was in very poor condition In Renton, the anchor role is fulfilled through a collaboration of three organisations: they are the Cordale Housing Association, Renton Development Trust and the Carman Social Inclusion Centre.

Twechar Community Action
A former mining and quarrying village, Twechar is one of Scotland’s15% most deprived areas. Twechar Community Action was formed as a response to the closure of the Council owned and operated recreation centre and have been managing and operating the centre since April 2001.

Westray Development Trust
Westray is the largest of Orkney’s North Isles that until recently was characterized by depopulation, a decline in traditional industries (agriculture and fishing), a limited range of employment opportunities and remoteness that was adversely affecting the cost of living and services being provided. Tourism is currently an emerging industry.

Alness Initiative
Alness expanded rapidly during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s as a result of major industrial development, in particular the establishment a local aluminium smelter and oil fabrication yard at Nigg Due to the subsequent closure of the smelter and the decline in the oil fabrication industry, by 1995 Alness was in economic meltdown and suffered severe deprivation.

Fintry collaborative community anchor organization
Fintry is a small, thriving rural community within easy commuting distance to Glasgow and Stirling. As well as traditional farming businesses, the village is home to many professionals. There is no mains gas supply to the village but electricity is available to all households from the National grid. However the bulk of domestic heating is through the use of combustion of fossil hydrocarbons: either heating oil or LPG. These are increasingly expensive forms of heating…thus the move to developing renewable energy.

Linthouse Urban Village
Linthouse in Greater Govan suffered decline and reduced employment opportunities following the decrease in shipbuilding and heavy engineering along the Clyde. This decline was accelerated by the building of the Clyde Tunnel in the 1960s which physically split the community in two. The siting of a sewage treatment plant in the area and the opening of the nearby Braehead shopping centre as a major retail outlet placed pressure on the remaining shops in the area.

Sleat Community Trust
The Sleat (pronounced 'slate') peninsula lies to the southwest of the Isle of Skye in the Highland Council Area. Sleat is so uncharacteristically green and fertile that it's known as 'The Garden of Skye'. Sleat is an entry point to the island - ferries cross from the mainland at Mallaig to Armadale on the southeastern shore of the peninsula. Traditionally, crofting has been more than a small-scale agricultural system, but a way of life. Tourism is replacing traditional industries. Sleat has seen a remarkable boom in development in the last 35 years. Changes of land ownership have resulted in the establishment of a major visitor centre and estate, a second flourishing privately-owned estate and Scotland’s Gaelic College. This has led to a significant increase of jobs in the area

Wellhouse Community Trust (WCT)
Wellhouse is a distinct community of 1100 homes located in the south of Easterhouse to the east of Glasgow. The area was designated as No1 in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2003 and No.12 SIMD 2006. The area has suffered with the factors associated with deprivation such as high unemployment, poor health, low confidence, addiction problems and the additional issue of historic and notorious gang-related problems throughout the area.

Coalburn Miners Welfare Charitable Society
Since the 1850s, Coalburn developed as a railway settlement associated with the local coal mines. With the closure of the last colliery in 1968 and the railway closure in 1971, the village suffered from unemployment and isolation and the population declined significantly.

Muirkirk Enterprise Group
Muirkirk is a rural village set in the border of East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. At one time Muirkirk was a hive of industry with coalmining, rail connections and ironworks. But the end of the mine industry resulted in widespread unemployment and the village suffered from relatively high levels of poverty and Muirkirk was rated as one of the most deprived areas of Scotland by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2003. At that time the village experienced an unemployment rate of 30 per cent. This has now been reduced to 10%.

Birse Community Trust (BCT)
Birse covers over 125sq. km on Deeside in the north-east of Scotland. The parish (district) has four main parts: the three scattered rural communities of Finzean, Ballogie and Birse and the largely uninhabited Forest of Birse, which covers over a quarter of the parish’s total area. The parish has around 275 households, with half of the population living in Finzean and half in Ballogie and Birse.

Iomairt Chille Chomain
The island of Islay is 25 miles in length and around 20 miles wide at most. It is famous for its abundance of wildlife, beautiful scenery and its whisky distilleries. Islay is also a good stock rearing island with many crofts and farms. Tourism is a growing industry. The island is easily accessible with up to 3 return flights and ferry crossings per day.

Community Central Hall (CCH)
A former regeneration area, with strong industrial links, Greater Maryhill has seen a renaissance in recent years. However the community still has a poor health record, and suffers from youth gang territorialism. A diverse community with many cultures alongside each other Maryhill still has the spirit of “old” Glasgow and the friendly community feel within the City Centre.

The Fisherrow Trust
The coastal town of Musselburgh is situated on both sides of the River Esk in East Lothian. Fisherrow is the traditional name for the settlement on the west side of the river, whose inhabitants worked in the fishing and associated industries. By the late 1960s the local fishing industry went into decline and disappeared, along with the local paper and wire mills and coal mining at Monktonhall. Musselburgh people now find work with the local council, at three small industrial estates, in local shops, hotels and restaurants and some travel the short distance to Edinburgh. Musselburgh is famous for its racecourse and its golf course, the latter believed to be the oldest in the world.

Pearce Institute (PI)
Traditionally a small fishing and weaving village on the River Clyde, Govan became the centre of world shipbuilding during the industrial revolution. Subsequent closure of the shipyards lead to unemployment, a high crime rate, derelict land and a decimated business community. The last decade has seen a grass roots kick-back against that decline. The key opportunities (and threats) for the future are the transformation of the area into the creative industries/media heart of Scotland. On the one hand, there is optimism, jobs, training and employment. On the other, there is a danger that the roots and heritage of the past will be swept away in the process.

The Boyndie Trust Ltd.
Banffshire Coast is a scattered rural community surrounding the twin towns of Banff and Macduff, where the traditional industries of fishing and farming are declining. Tourism and high quality food production are growing, however, and reskilling of the workforce, together with upgrading of tourism related infrastructure, are of vital importance to foster this economic opportunity. Boyndie Trust, addresses these issues alongside its prime charitable purpose of helping people with special needs to develop their personal and work-related potential, by identifying skills and facilitating relevant training or coaching.

Creetown Initiative Ltd (CI)
A scenic coastal village and popular tourist area. Creetown’s traditional sources of industry were mining and fishing, but these have now largely been replaced by tourism. Creetown’s demographics are changing as young people leave for the cities and retirees move to the area. This has highlighted the need for more and improved services to respond to the needs of an aging population. Creetown is also the venue for the largest country music festival in Scotland.

Strathfillan Community Development Trust (SCDT)
Strathfillan is situated in an area of dramatic natural beauty, surrounded by high hills through which runs the River Fillan which is a headwater of the River Tay. Strathfillan is a remote rural community with a rich cultural heritage and is made up of the two main villages of Crianlarich and Tyndrum, with some dispersed settlements between and surrounding the villages. Tourism is now the main industry with other significant employers being agriculture, estate management and public services. Strathfillan has a relatively young population and is characterized by low wages, seasonal jobs and a lack of affordable housing.

Princess Royal Sports and Community Trust
One of Scotlands most beautiful areas that offers two golf courses of high standard, superb wildlife walks and new marina. Fine georgian architecture in the town has resulted in conservation designation. But traditional fishing and farming industries have been in steady decline for many years.

Comrie Development Trust (CDT)
Comrie is a highly motivated community with at least 56 local organisations active in the village. Comrie is the name given by the Scots invaders of the 7th century and is derived from the Gaelic Conruith meaning ‘flowing together’ as our village sits where the three rivers of the Earn, Ruchill and Leadnock meet. In the 21st century it is a place where ancient rivers are meeting new ideas through our new Development Trust.




Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT)
The Glenkens is named from the River Ken that runs through the valley before it flows into the River Dee and down to the sea. The Glenkens enjoys magnificent scenery in an unspoilt, remote part of Scotland. But rural isolation has created challenges. The Glenkens economy is heavily reliant on tourism, forestry and agriculture and has suffered from the setbacks to these sectors in recent years. The area has one of the lowest levels of pay in Scotland and a poor transport infrastructure, all of which poses significant challenges in terms of the long-term sustainability of the area.