Facts & Figures |
| Organisation Name: | Sleat Community Trust |
| Individual Name: | |
| Area Served: | Sleat Peninsula, Isle of Skye, Highlands and Islands |
| Population: | 780 |
| Sketch: | 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 Scotlands Gaelic College. This has led to a significant increase of jobs in the area |
| Legal Form: | Company Limited by guarantee with charitable status |
| Volunteers: | 40 |
| People Benefitting: | 780 |
| Staff: | 4 |
| Turnover: | expect around £200,000 in current year |
| Earned Income: | expect around £150,000 in current year |
| Assets: | The Skye Ferry Filling Station, 3 bedroom house and garage |
| Value of assets: | £300,000 |
Roots & Links |
| Origins: | Established in 2004; a scoping study was carried out by the University of Strathclyde and resulted in a community plan that outlined the needs and aspirations of the community. The Sleat Community Plan allows the Trust to focus on the priorities identified by the local people and to put in place plans for actions/projects to progress community sustainable development. |
| Governance: | The Board of Directors consists of nine local people, elected by the 420 members of the Trust. Full membership is open to anyone over eighteen years of age and living in the Sleat area. Junior membership is open to anyone between the ages of 12 and 18. Associate membership is open to anyone in the world who has close links with Sleat and supports the Aims and Objectives of Sleat Community Trust. |
| Community Links: | There are nine local groups who are group members of the Trust. The Trust has established eight advisory groups, These are members of the Trust who wanted to become involved in the decision making process and are prepared to spend time and effort identifying the issues surrounding sustainable development in areas such as affordable housing, community care, sport and leisure, forestry, renewable energy, environment and tourism. |
| External Links: | The Trust maintains close links with external agencies and is a member of a number of organizations.
Represent the Development Trust Association Scotland in the West Highlands and Islands.
Recently hosted both the Community Land Unit (CLU) and the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company (HICEC) conferences at the Sabhal Mor Ostaig (SMO the Gaelic college).
The Trust in conjunction with Highland Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT) and supported by Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association (L&SHA) carried out a housing needs survey.
Involved in discussions with the Highland Council Planning Department, HSCHT, the Clan Donald Lands Trust (CDLT), Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association (L&SHA), Sleat Community Council (SCC) and SMO management to look at future needs for expansion and development options around the college.
Supporting a local housing group to develop plans for affordable housing at Camuscross in Sleat.
Have a close working relationships with HIE, HRC, CLU, HICEC, CADISPA, DTA Scotland
Have carried out wood drying trials for Northern Woodheat as part of the EU led Northern Periphery Program.
Working with CDLT, Fearann Eilean Iarmain (FEI), Scottish Woodlands and FCS to establish a biomass fuel supply chain in south Skye.
Set up Sleat Renewables Limited to develop wind, mini-hydro, biomass and household renewable solutions for Sleat.
Set up Sleat Community Trading Company Limited to develop business opportunities in Sleat.
Carried out a transport feasibility study to identify the needs of the community. An application has been submitted to the Rural Community Transport Initiative to implement a subsidized taxi scheme.
16 students from Flensberg University in Germany are in Sleat for 5 weeks to carry out a Carbon Footprint for the Sleat peninsula. The data from this survey will be used to help SCT plan a program for reducing carbon emissions throughout the peninsula.
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Activities |
| Physical Hub: | The trusts offices are sited at the Ardvasar Village Hall. There are plans to develop the recently acquired petrol station as a community hub. |
| Builds Local Capacity: | There is considerable potential for individuals and the community to develop skills and learn in the organic processes of their involvement in the Trust.
Individuals also attend various training and networking days.
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| Delivers Services: | : Own and operate the Skye Ferry Filling Station; lease the garage to ensure maintenance and repair service continues; developing a Visitor Information Service; senior residents activities club; developing an affordable housing initiative; setting up a Community Company to supply local businesses with woodchips; publish the Sleat Tourism Leaflet; carrying out a feasibility study re possibility of buying the Tormore forest; carrying out a community transport study , produces a newsletter |
| Develops/Manages Property: | Own and manage the Skye Ferry filling station (including a vehicle
repair workshop)
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| Other: | Received financial support from the Tudor Trust (£50,000) to cover the core operating costs of the Trust for two years.
Received a grant of £280,000 from the BIG Lottery fund to purchase the local garage, filling station and house. This was supported by a grant of £40,000 from CLU to cover wages and running costs for 1 year.
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| Main Achievements: | Completion of a thorough community consultation and development of a comprehensive community plan
Buy out of the Skye Filling Station and vehicle workshop and transfer into community ownership. Future profits will be directed towards community benefit.
Establishment of Sleat Renewables to develop a woodchip business and investigate a community turbine.
Creation of partnership with local landowners and businesses
Involvement of the community of Sleat and encouraging many of them to focus their collective abilities to develop responses to current issues.
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What Next |
| Biggest Challenge: | Developing the Filling Station project as a viable long-term business.
Keeping the community involved and supportive.
Overcoming collective volunteer burn-out.
Having the courage of our convictions
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| Lessons Learned: | The need to focus on one project at a time
The need to be realistic about time-scales and budget
The need to believe in our aims and take risks where necessary.
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| Aspirations: | To achieve financial self-sufficiency for the Trust
To involve all parts of the community
Particularly to develop a relationship with the young people.
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Contact |
| Name: | Henry Mains |
| Title: | Secretary |
| Address Line 1: | Ardvasar Hall, Sleat |
| Address Line 2: | IV45 8RS |
| City: | Isle of Skye |
| County: | |
| Telephone: | 01471 844773 |
| Fax: | 01471 844 711 |
| Email: | henry.mains@btinternet.com |
| Website URL: | www.sleatcommunitytrust.org.uk |
| District: | |
