Deirdre Forsyth Here We Are, Cairndow

What will it look like in 25 years ? Cairndow

Pretty isn’t it ? Look again….. What is here, who is here and what goes on here??

The Issues Facing Cairndow in 1998 – when Here We Are was first thought of No opportunities for further education. Lack of centre to encourage tourists to stop and learn about Cairndow. Lack of knowledge of local history. Lack of access to IT skills. Lack of affordable housing Insufficient workers to fill jobs opportunities in Cairndow. Lack of access to Argyll an Bute Council information and services. Lack of awareness for community sustainability. Lack of revenue for community sustainability.

Response “by understanding where you’ve come from, you can better appreciate where you are now and, importantly, where you are heading and what you can do to influence that”. Christina Noble

Response The Here We Are Centre itself – as a resource Argyll College Learning Centre The film “To see ourselves as others see us” Establishment of Argyll and Bute Council Servicepoint Lobbying for new houses Our Houses: Their Stories The aquarium

Our Aquarium

Argyll College At work

Response Renewable Energy Our Power – biomass wood chipping plant Audit of village houses and recommendations Information point with Alienergy Micro hydro plant

Shed Completed

Chipper in action

Boiler Opening at Lakeland Smolts

Merk Burn Hydro Scheme

Gregor’s winning presentation Merk Burn Hydro Scheme at Senscot, Dragons Den

Establish Favourable Conditions (maximising local resources) Tap into Existing Networks (to deliver information via Community) invest in public space and infrastructure which, support opportunities for social interaction connect with local social entrepreneurs and ‘anchor organisations’ value mutual trust and informal reciprocity (i.e. friendship) provide access to information and opportunities to influence decision making Extend Existing & Build New Networks (for all the community’s communities) construct shared futures form new networks and sub-networks through collective activities facilitate bridging and linking to increase chances for successful change A Social Capital Approach

Village Hall Launch Our Houses: Their Stories project

Village Hall – Wedding exhibition

Social Capital: Extended networks can extend well being.

Here We Are Successes Built a quality community centre which engages the community and visitors and reached out to over 100,000 visitors, giving them an insight into the lives of the Cairndow community Accessed over £1,000,000 investment into the community Impacted housing issues in Cairndow’s landownership and land use project raised in Leader funded film comparing Cairndow with Innishowen (Donegal, Ireland) entitled ‘To See Ourselves As Others See Us’ Launched Scotland’s first community owned biomass plant, opened by Minister for Energy Jim Mather Created 14 jobs and sustained 5 Campaigned successfully for a ‘ghost island’ on the road into the Centre Worked in collaboration with Argyll College to provide a learning centre within the HWA centre used so far by 80 students. 'Hard to Reach' students now have access to PCs, the internet and video conferencing.

Here We Are Successes Become a service point for Argyll & Bute Council Provided a meeting facility for hire at the rear of the centre Produced regular newsletters on news and events and provided a web based information service Engaged with the School of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh University and the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments Produced a map for ramblers with detailed local information Encouraged and supported a 3 month study visit by Margret Bjornsdottie and her daughters. Margret conducted a survey in 2007 about HWA and is currently setting up an HWA in Iceland

Monthly Staff meeting

HWA successes The second HWA in the world opened April 2009 in Iceland

Scottish Government: Enterprising third sector action plan Recognises importance of third sector in helping Scottish Government achieve sustainable economic growth. To help the creation of the right conditions in which an enterprising third sector, including social enterprise can thrive. Enabling the third sector to play full role in development, design and delivery of policy and services in Scotland. With the support of Argyll & Bute Council Here We Are is a prime example of this initiative and we wish to continue this and take it to the next level which will require funding support. Key aim – Become self sustaining and support/grow/sustain Community

HWA Chair John MacDonald and our aquariumist Dom Adams Working at the Tinkers Heart

Thank You