WIREDGOV

A community bid to purchase a three thousand acre crofting estate near to the village of Helmsdale in East Sutherland has recently (17 FEBRUARY) received a welcome cash boost of £273,025 from the Scottish Land Fund.

The Garbh Allt Community Initiative – a new organisation set up to pursue a community buyout of the West Helmsdale Crofting Estate – have been in talks with the current owner, Sutherland Estates for some time. The estate, which comprises the townships of Marrel, West Helmsdale, Gartymore and Portgower, has over 20 sites of historical interest. Securing the estate’s future will allow for the development of business opportunities and will create a stream of income into the community.

Welcoming the funding, which will also allow the group to employ a part time Development Officer, Anne Fraser, Chairperson, of The Garbh Allt Community Initiative, said: “The Initiative is absolutely delighted with this grant award.  The buying of the estate has been a long term goal of our community and seeing the first big step towards this happening is just great!  The Land League founders originated in this community and their descendants are now part of the initiative to buy back their land.  We are really proud that this is a community buy out, with everyone living here taking part.  We are now looking forward to working with Sutherland Estates to tie up the details as soon as possible to enable us to start our exciting development programme.”

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham, said: "This is a significant phase in the history of the area, and I am pleased that the Scottish Government can support the ambitions that this community has for their local area.  
 
“This sale is a good example of just what can be achieved through negotiated sales between landlords and community groups, and I would encourage more landowners to look into the possibilities for similar sales to community groups in the future.”

Announcing the awards which are part of a wider £2,128,943 million package to 11 groups across the country (a full list of awards is available here), John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair, recently said: “From a three thousand acre crofting estate in Sutherland to areas of neglected urban land in Glasgow, today’s awards show the range of community land initiatives that the Scottish Land Fund can support. The community buyout of the West Helmsdale Crofting Estate will bring many benefits for local people empowering them to develop local assets for economic, social and environmental benefit.”

Ailsa Raeburn, Head of Community Assets for HIE, said: “The awards made by the Committee cover a really interesting range of projects across Scotland. The scale and geographic spread demonstrate the level of interest we are seeing across the country from communities of all types and sizes that recognise the importance of owning local land and buildings and how this can benefit their local area.”

The Scottish Land Fund is keen to support more applications from across Scotland and particularly within urban areas. Groups considering applying should contact the Big Lottery Fund to discuss their idea at advicescotland@biglotteryfund.org.uk or by phoning 0300 123 7110.

Notes to editors

• The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2016. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the Big Lottery 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. 
• The SLF Committee was appointed following the normal procedures for public appointments. 
• The BIG Lottery Fund distributes lottery funding to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. It also uses its expertise in grant-giving to distribute non-Lottery funding. Full details of the BIG Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk. BIG Lottery Fund Public Enquiries Line call: 0300 123 7110