Facts & Figures |
| Organisation Name: | Strathfillan Community Development Trust (SCDT) |
| Individual Name: | |
| Area Served: | Crianlarich and Tyndrum (and the surrounding area), Stirling. |
| Population: | Around 400 |
| Sketch: | 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. |
| Legal Form: | Company Limited by Guarantee |
| Volunteers: | 25 |
| People Benefitting: | The whole community plus visitors and tourists |
| Staff: | 1 |
| Turnover: | from about £15 000 to £150 000. |
| Earned Income: | Approx £11,000 |
| Assets: | 4 ex-railway houses and 100 hectares of woodland |
| Value of assets: | £238,406 at April 2007 |
Roots & Links |
| Origins: | The Trust was established in May 1997 following extensive community consultation by the active community council to identify the community’s vision for the future. Since then the trust has successfully implemented a programme of work based on identified community priorities. The initial Action Plan was updated in 2007 for the third time. |
| Governance: | The core members of the trust overlap with the community council and include hotel owners, landowners, Scottish Agricultural College staff and forestry contractors. The two community woodland projects are sub groups of the trust …..and have their own sub-groups. Each year the Trust must hold an AGM and there is the usual rotational standing down and election of Directors. |
| Community Links: | SCDT have strong links to the community council as well as local businesses, hotel owners, landowners, forestry contractors, local primary and high schools |
| External Links: | SCDT have links to STAR (Small Town and Rural Development group), Forest Enterprise, The Stirling Assembly, Scottish Agricultural College, Forestry Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, Stirling Council and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority. Member of Development Trusts Association Scotland. |
Activities |
| Physical Hub: | Trust headquarters are in the Tyndrum Hall |
| Builds Local Capacity: | Training for Trusts is made available through the National Park and provides training for directors and members of working groups. This includes training in roles and responsibilities, project development, funding etc. The trust also works with National Park rangers and their volunteers on development of practical skills - eg path building, fencing etc.. |
| Delivers Services: | -Provision of low cost rental housing for local residents
-Development and management of community woodlands in both villages
-Establishment of a rolling calendar of community and social events, including Café Sci and the Woodland Fair
-Creation of local play-parks and a new recreation area
-Deliver the Crianlarich tidy up and landscaping project
-Developed the Killin to Tyndrum cycle-path
-Provide support for a virtual learning centre, lunch club and youth club.
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| Develops/Manages Property: | Own 4 ex-railway houses, the 100 hectare Tyndrum Community Woodland and co-manages 10 hectares of woodland in Crianlarich with the Forestry Commission. Manages the Tyndrum Village Hall. |
| Other: | |
| Main Achievements: | • Development of a shared vision for the future via a rigorous community consultation process
• Provision of low cost affordable rental housing by buying and renovating four ex-railway houses.
• Two community woodlands have been planted and managed and Tyndrum woodland has been bought for the community.
• Creation of local play-parks and a new recreation area
• The Trust has won several awards for its work. For example, highly commended in Calor Gas Community of the Year awards; received a BURA award for outstanding contribution to regeneration – runner up to Liverpool City Council!!)
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What Next |
| Biggest Challenge: | Dealing with the bureaucracy/complex and lengthy processes re approvals and compliance. Also working with a range of different organisations, each with its own objectives, way of working and timescale of decision making has been a challenge. “It is similar to being at the hub of a bicycle wheel with each spoke radiating out to a different organization and when the tension changes in one, they all have to be readjusted!” |
| Lessons Learned: | • Democratic decision making - decide and agree what you are trying to achieve as a community
• ?Delegate- carry the work forward on a broad front and not rely upon one or two individuals
• ?Dedication- you’ve got to have a passion for it
• Determination- provides motivation to overcome obstacles
• ?Demonstration- you need to be seen to be getting somewhere- ‘scalps on the belt’
• Loans are more straightforward than grants
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| Aspirations: | The ongoing regenerated of Strathfillan, brought about through increased local control and influence over local land, resource use and housing in order to create opportunities for locals and visitors alike. Specifically:
• More local health services and facilities
• More community activities and learning opportunities
• More affordable housing for local people
• Increased leisure and recreational opportunities for visitors and locals
• ?Improving the natural and physical environment and making the area more attractive
• Boosting the local economy
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Contact |
| Name: | Joyce Russell |
| Title: | Development Officer |
| Address Line 1: | SCDT Office, Tyndrum Village Hall |
| Address Line 2: | FK20 8SA |
| City: | Tyndrum |
| County: | |
| Telephone: | 01838 400545 |
| Fax: | 01838 400545 |
| Email: | strathfillancdt@btconnect.com |
| Website URL: | |
| District: | |
