1. “Doing Regeneration in Hard Times”
Rachael McCormack
Director, Strengthening Communities
Highlands and Islands Enterprise

2. Highlands and Islands Enterprise: Purpose
“to generate sustainable economic growth in every part of the Highlands and Islands”
Kilfinan Community Forest

3. Highlands and Islands Enterprise: Priorities
Supporting businesses and social enterprises to shape
and realise their growth aspirations
Strengthening communities and fragile areas
Developing growth sectors, particularly distinctive
regional opportunities
Creating the conditions for a competitive and low-carbon region

4. Community Land Statistics
Scottish community land ownership:
c. 500,000 acres of land
50 acquisitions
more than:
National Trust for Scotland
John Muir Trust and
RSPB combined
2/3 of the Western Isles population…

5. Community Asset Ownership
149 HIE assisted community purchases
Community-led organisations own and manage land and buildings for the benefit of their community
HIE has assisted communities to purchase more than 330,000 acres of land
Support from a few hundred pounds to £2 million, with an average of just under £48,000
Covesea LIghthouse

6. Community Asset Ownership
Machrihanish Airbase Community Company
Sealladh na Beinne Moire

7. What does good community-led regeneration look like?
Sustainable development
Income generation
Active involvement
Transformed communities

8. How do we help build stronger, resilient communities?
Community Account Management
Creating strong anchor organisations
Community development plans
Income-generation
Delivering results
Tarbert, Isle of Harris

9. How do we help build stronger, resilient communities?
North Harris Trust: case study
2003
By 2013…..
62,000 acre estate
8 units of social housing built
Population halved
Community recycling site
Shortage of housing
8 miles of path refurbishment
Lack of employment opportunities
81,000 native trees planted
School closures
Biodiesel manufacture
Jetty refurbishment

10. How do we help build stronger, resilient communities?
North Harris Trust: case study
Future?
Celebrating 10 years of success!!
Conservation planning
Income-generating renewable energy: wind, hydro
Stimulating new business, including new industrial units
Much, much more

11. Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust

12. How do we unlock the creativity & passion within communities?
Being as creative in our support to communities as they are with their aspirations.
Canisbay Primary School
ATLAS

13. Oban Phoenix Cinema

14. Fostering & encouraging community-led solutions
Influencing policy and legislation
Enabling capacity building
Gaelic development
Small grants to large investments
Community assets ownership
Community Broadband Scotland
Social impact recording / reporting
Long-term relationships with our communities

15. Thank you.