NewsletterTHE LATEST NEWS FROM HUNTLY & DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TRUST

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TRUST SECURES CORE FUNDING FOR TWO YEARS TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

WHAT’S INSIDE• HDDT secures core funding

for a healthy future

• Greenmyres consultation process begins

• Find out about the HDDT’s Huntly Sports Initiative

• Welcome to our latest board member additions

• Climate Challenge FundOn 6th March 2014, HDDT concluded the purchase of Greenmyres Farm for the AB54 Community and has commenced the public consultation process.

In March, Huntly & District Development Trust were delighted to receive the news of the successful award of over £80,000 of funding by the Scottish Government via DTAS (Development Trusts Association Scotland). The funds provided are to go towards covering core costs over the coming 2 years and allows the Trust to focus on delivering sustainable projects in the AB54 community.

The funding comes at the end of what has been a period of uncertainty with the Trust after the partnership with Grampian Housing Association came to an end. Core funding is required to sustain the personnel within the Trust and ensures that HDDT delivers successful projects in the area.

As experienced by HDDT, one of the most common problems amongst other community development trusts is how to fund core staffing. By providing funds to allow selected Trusts the organisational capacity to deliver projects, the Scottish Government has recognised this dilemma and as a result has invested in the longer term development of the communities.

It is an issue which DTAS had consistently raised with the Scottish Government (and other funders) particularly since the launch of the Scottish Government’s new Regeneration Strategy in December, 2011. Partly as a result of DTAS efforts, the Scottish Government have brought forward a programme of support for community anchor organisations - and HDDT has been selected as one such organisation for support.

This programme of support tests the benefit of direct investment in development trusts and other community anchor organisations. If successful, it could lead to increased levels of funding being made available on a more permanent basis.

As such, it is crucial that being one of those community organisations selected who was in an appropriate stage in the development process that we are able to demonstrate ‘impact’ within the funding period. This means for Huntly and the AB54 area a drive by the Trust over the next 2 years to implement and deliver successful and sustainable projects that will make a difference.

The Scottish Government has given a vote of confidence in Huntly & District Development

Trust to deliver successful and sustainable projects in the AB54 community.

the community-led regeneration network

What are development trusts...? These are independent local organisations which are community owned, led and managed. They aim to tackle a wide range of social, economic, environmental and cultural issues. As well as being actively involved in partnerships with the public, private and voluntary sectors, they aim to increase self-sufficiency by generating income through enterprise and the ownership of assets.

“The formation, existence and development of democratic, inclusive and competent community groups is key to community empowerment. These are the groups who provide the focus for community led action. They are around for the long term and have strong ties into the wider community. They will take many forms: development trusts; community based housing associations; community councils; registered tenant organisations; community forums.”Scottish Government and COSLA, Community Empowerment Action Plan, 2009

Communities taking control...It’s happened without any great fanfare, but all of a sudden they are everywhere. Right across Scotland, local people have come together to set up development trusts: organisations which harness the energy, creativity and commitment within their communities to tackle the real problems they face. From Unst in Shetland to Creetown in Galloway, in urban and in rural areas, these community-owned and community-led organisations are quite literally seizing the initiative and doing it for themselves. Throughout the country, development trusts are enabling communities to make their own plans and aspirations a reality and with very impressive results...

Community-led to unlock local creativityThis unique approach to building vibrant, sustainable communities recognises the importance of local people themselves establishing and prioritising their own objectives from the outset. A development trust can unlock what is often untapped potential within the community to progress a wide range of projects to meet these priorities. From developing renewable energy projects to creating community hubs/centres, and from running employment initiatives to managing local woodlands, communities are finding that a development trust provides the perfect vehicle to enable them to generate solutions to economic, social, cultural and environmental concerns.

Enterprise and ownership of assets creates resilienceThe acquisition of assets and the development of enterprise activities are at the heart of this approach. Funding opportunities and legislative changes have enabled over 200 community organisations to gain control of land and buildings in the last few years. Development trusts use these assets and run enterprises to generate income and so increase self-sufficiency. This gives them a degree of control and independence, enabling them to meet the community’s priorities and act as a representative

voice for their area. In this way they can become community anchor organisations which support local people through both good times and bad.

DTA Scotland: a powerful voice for stronger communitiesAs a result of this groundswell within communities, and the ‘can-do’ attitude that goes with it, the development trust movement has become one of the fastest growing networks of community-based organisations in Scotland. Ian Cooke, Director of DTA Scotland, continues:

“We formed in 2003 and now have 129 members: with our sister organisations in England and Wales, we’re a network of over 450. This depth of membership, our shared values and sense of mutuality, and our partnerships with other community networks, all give real credibility to our work at a national level. Increasingly, we’re finding that politicians, policy-makers and other movers and shakers recognise the powerful role that development trusts play as community anchor organisations, and that they can contribute significantly to the wellbeing of our society.”

‘...the development trust movement has become one of the fastest growing networks of community-based organisations in Scotland.’

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www.dtascot.org.uk

DEvELOPMEnT TruSTS ASSOCiATiOn SCOTLAnD

GREENMYRES FARMJust why has the Trust bought a farm?

With 63 acres of land, outbuildings and a fishing lake, Greenmyres Farm gives endless opportunities to develop the site for community use.

Helping People GrowCommunity farming is a growing movement throughout the UK, it combines care of the land with care of people and there is a growing body of evidence that it can deliver great personal, social and economic benefits for everyone involved.

Roots to WorkDeveloping employability through community food-growing and agriculture projects

The process of growing food and caring for animals, builds skills and experience that are transferable and helpful for gaining employment. Agriculture processes are hands-on and accessible for people with or without strong academic credentials.

Participation can also alleviate anxiety and improve health conditions, to the extent that those who were previously unable to find work can begin to do so.

The advantages for community agriculture projects are also partly due to the community-based context of the work, which helps people to work with others and to find out about opportunities.

The Greenmyres Project hopes to provide an opportunity to re-engage

Community farms: • Utilise the whole or part of a farm.

Be they commercial agricultural units, smallholdings or community farms.

• Provide health, social or educational care services for one or a range of vulnerable groups of people. Includes people with mental health problems, people suffering from mild to moderate depression, adults and children with learning disabilities, children with autism, those with a drug or alcohol addiction history, disaffected young people.

• Provide a supervised, structured programme of farming-related

activities, including animal husbandry (livestock, small animals, poultry), crop and vegetable production, woodland management etc.

• Provide services on a regular basis for participants, where clients/participants attend the farm regularly as part of a structured care, rehabilitation, therapeutic or educational programme.

• Can be commissioned to provide community farming services by referral agencies such as social services, health care trusts, community mental health teams, education authorities, probation services, etc.

HDDT achieved a fundamental milestone in March this year when we took ownership of our first community asset at Greenmyres Farm with the help of a grant from the Scottish Land Fund.

But why has the Trust taken on such a project? As we start the public consultation process in May on the project development plan for the farm, we

thought we’d give you just a few examples presented so far that perhaps goes part of the way to explaining why Greenmyres can deliver so much for the AB54 community.

Example 1 Example 2

The Trust has initially leased out the farmhouse and some of the land to generate income whilst the consultation and planning stages of the project are in progress.

One of the options put forward is the construction and installation of a single

community wind turbine placed on Greenmyres but sits alongside the

existing Dummuie Wind Farm

participants in structured learning processes.

One example would be to deliver formal technical training, for example in horticulture working in partnership with other organisations. The aim would be to engage a broad section of the community and integrate and encourage marginalised individuals because the tasks are accessible to people, with or without formal qualifications.

This helps those individuals to gain confidence and a level of social support that can all contribute to developing skills for work, and can demonstrate suitability to employers.

The Greenmyres Project looks to build links with employers and potential employers of participants, thus providing opportunities for participants in the project to gain awareness and experience of different employers, and can even create new opportunities for work experience, volunteering and employment.

Greenmyres gives us a blank canvas to create, develop and deliver such opportunities.

EnterpriseDeveloping a sustainable and entrepreneurial environment from the land

At the end of the day, Greenmyres, from a financial position, needs to stand on its own 2 feet to deliver a sustainable future. The HDDT board have taken great strides to ensure that the Project is generating income from day 1 and already the Trust has leased out the farmhouse and some of the grazing land to third parties.

Part of the consultation process is to generate ideas from groups and individuals who can look at using the facilities to develop economic benefits to the community whilst delivering on the chosen social objectives.

One such area is the installation of a community wind turbine to sit alongside the existing Dummuie Wind Farm with all profits being returned to the community to deliver further area projects. Another example whould be the setting up and providing a community vegetable box scheme. The opportunities are endless, let us know your ideas and thoughts.

Example 3

Giving your views

The following ideas have already been suggested but please don’t be limited to these...

Huntly & District Development TrustBrander BuildingThe Square, HuntlyAB54 8BR01466 799416info@huntlydevelopmenttrust.orgwww.huntlydevelopmenttrust.orgRegistered Scottish Charity SC 043353

Short term income generation

HGV operating centre/trailer

parkingHouse and fields rentals

Coarse fishing

Storage units

SportNOW Bike shack

Cycle tracks

Cross Country Ski-ers track

to link into SUSTRANS

bike tracksSpace for rifle club

Space for archery club

Gymkhana, horse trekking

Agricultural

Rare breeds

Organic certification

Ethical fresh flowers

in polytunnels

Wool for insulation

Environmental general

ApiaryBird watching

(bird feeders at café)

Wildlife/Nature area with

webcam shared with F.C.

School involvement

with planting at pond

Green burial site

Forestry

Coppiced willow

Commercial forestry

Xmas trees

Xmas trees grown in pots

Native trees

Transport

and getting to farm

Community bus to farm

Footpath to farm

Recycling

Wormery to utilise waste

Wood recycling

- wood products

Tourism/visitor attractions

Eco lodge similar to C.A.T.

CaféViewing tower on turbine

Caravan site

Camping for scouts

Training

Drystane dyking

CraftsSpace for local wood turners

Pottery

Miscellaneous

Storage units

Email usGo onlineWrite to usCall us

...and tell us your ideas

So far quite a number of organisations have come forward with lots of ideas and projects for the farm, have your say and get your ideas into the Trust to make best use of this community asset.

Sharon Scapens

Sharon has a degree in psychology and a post graduate diploma in Community Learning. She worked for six years as a CLD worker for Aberdeenshire Council organising various youth groups and established the Huntly Youth Forum.

The HYF provided a platform for young people to give their views and led directly to Cooper Park improvements and the establishment of a Youth Café. Sharon was subsequently employed as a Local Development Officer for a Community Development Trust.

She has lived in the North East of Scotland for 33 years, has several years’ experience of screen printing, is a keen photographer and holds a basic bee keeper’s certificate. Sharon is currently volunteering for Advocacy North East.

Mary Scott

Mary moved to Huntly from Aberdeen in October 2012 after she retired from her career in energy efficiency and renewable energy advice. She has been involved in several community projects including a sustainability project in Banchory and the insulation offer by A.R. Hepburn and Scottish Hydro.

This project provided free loft and cavity wall insulation for homes in the Huntly area at the end of 2012 and was a joint initiative with Gordon Rural Action where she continues to be a volunteer.

Having undertaken the initial report into options for a Huntly car club, Mary is involved with local woodland activities as well as developing the Greenmyres Farm project and has an allotment at Glamourhaugh.

MEET OUR LATEST BOARD RECRUITSLate in 2013, Huntly & District Development Trust ran a recruitment drive to strengthen our volunteer board after some members stood down due to retirement or work commitments. The recruitment programme was promoted via the Huntly Express and Knock News and attracted a number of candidates from which the following members have joined the team.

Fraser MacDonald

Fraser was born and raised in Perth, and moved to Huntly in September 2013. He has a degree in Fine Art and and MLitt in Museum & Gallery Studies.

Fraser works as a visual artist, curator and freelance project coordinator for arts organisations. He has a passion for involving people within ambitious arts projects.

He is currently Collection Coordinator and Programme Curator for the Grampian Hospitals Art Trust, and Project Coordinator for Grays School of Art.

His interests are sports, particularly cycling and football and he also plays in a band, The Deliberate Crumbs.

PLANNING FUTURE GROWTHHaving recently secured core funding support from the Scottish Government, members of the HDDT board held a Strategy Day to map out a strategic plan for the Trust in the coming years.

Coming from a period of focusing on sourcing funds and securing the long term financial security of the Trust, the recent awards have now allowed the board to focus more on ensuring the delivery of sustainable projects in the area. The strategy event was facilitated by DTAS and greatly assisted in developing a clear and focused pathway for the future of the Trust.

The Trust would like to thank David Nicholls, who recently stood down from the HDDT board, for his many years of support, guidance and assistance. David, a founding director of the Trust, has been heavily involved in the delivery of a number of HDDT projects over the years and has been a great ambassador for the Trust.

This small area of the NE Scotland has become renowned for producing and developing top quality sportsmen and women across many sports. Only recently, four Huntly based athletes competed at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia and took on the best of the world for TeamGB.

But getting to the top takes years of hard work, dedication and commitment not only from the athletes themselves but also their supporting network of coaches, volunteers, families and friends. However, many sports clubs and organisations work in isolation, and the issues on funding, improving facilities, sustaining membership and volunteers levels is a continual battle.

Huntly & District Development Trust is launching a Sports Initative to gather the Clubs and Organisations of the AB54 area together to work closer towards promoting, developing and delivering sports in the area.

Our aim is to encourage more people to become involved through participation in sport in the area and to work with the clubs and organisations to build a stronger platform.

If you’re involved in a sports club/organisation or a physical activity within the AB54 area, we‘d like to hear from you. Help Huntly & District Development Trust shape the future of sport and physical activity participation in Huntly and the surrounding AB54 district.

Join us for a Sports’ Forum on the 20th May at Huntly Golf Club and also find out more about Community Sports Hubs and how we can all work better together in developing an even stronger, fitter and winning Team Huntly.

The action starts at 7pm.

The “H” FactorStriving to support the next

generation of Huntly sporting heros?

Swimming, rugby, football, cycling and cross country skiing are just some of the sports that make Huntly a vibrant place for physical activity.

tourist use as well as promoting alternative methods of communication and utilisation of public transport to minimise the need to use cars.

Part of the fund will be utilised in the creation of a full time position to create, build and develop the Green Travel Hub and to grow it into a sustainable operation by the end of the 2 years.

The Trust is looking to work with local businesses and others within the AB54 community to maximise the wider opportunities from such a scheme.

Green for go on Travel HubLike the new environmentally friendly London buses, funding awards to deliver projects to the AB54 area seem to come in multiples. In April, the Trust were informed that our application for support from the Climate Challenge Fund had been successful and HDDT had been awarded £171,327 to deliver a series of Green travel initatives in the area.

The project will look at developing sustainable travel in the AB54 area. The Trust is looking at the introduction of an electric bikes and low emission vehicles rental scheme for local and

Electric bikes may become a common site out and around the Huntly and AB54 area

The scheme will complement Aberdeenshire Council’s recent award of £690,000 by the sustainable transport charity SUSTRANS. Included within this award, £80,000 has been allocated to support and develop safer walking and cycling paths and routes within the AB54 area.

The Council’s application submission of the bid was supported by HDDT personnel. The ground work done by the Trust and others, a number of cycle related initiatives really helped to secure the funds. Huntly Bike Week and Network for Wellbeing’s Bike Shack Project were just two of the projects which helped to demonstrate an enthusiasm for cycling in the area.

Both the HDDT and Aberdeenshire Council believe there are multiple benefits to be gained by promoting more sustainable travel, including economic growth through tourism and leisure, an improved environment through reduced congestion and pollution and better health both through reduced pollution and increased levels of activity.

Over the next few months, the Trust will consult with local groups and individuals on rolling out the Green Travel Hub initiatives to the local community.

If you’d like to find out more or get involved in rolling out the scheme, please get in touch with us here at the Trust.

BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR CULTURAL GROUP

Huntly and the AB54 area has a fantastic history of geology, archaeology, culture and genealogy. However, it’s shouldn’t be just filed away in old books, photographs and newspapers but given an opportunity to relive the experiences and memories through the introduction of workshops, talks, exhibitions and utilisation of the latest on-line technology.

Huntly & District Development Trust is currently consulting with a number of individuals and organisations about

the development of an historic cultural strategy to capture and display Huntly’s past and to maximise the awareness of the area in developing tourism, social development and education for the future.

So far, participants have attended archaeology lectures and workshops which examined the finds from test pits digs carried out in Huntly in the summer of 2013. A similar project is ongoing in Rhynie with a pop up cafe, museum and activities.

Over the past few months, an online Facebook group “Huntly Histories” has rapidly expanded from a standing start to now over 600 members from all over the world. The members of the group are posting a fantastic collection of photographs, stories, videos and memories on Huntly and the AB54 area and the interaction on the site is growing day by day.

HDDT hopes to further support these and other groups and activities in the development of an overall strategy.

To join “Huntly Histories” go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/249743761840981/

There has never been a busier time for Huntly & District Development Trust with so many community projects and opportunities.

Huntly Cultural Fund - we’re looking forward to bring you more news on Huntly Cultural Fund successes as the various groups deliver their projects and feed back - look out for it in our next newsletter later in the year.

Town Centre Regeneration - The Trust is currently engaging with a number of organisations and individuals as well Aberdeenshire Council into opportunities to revitalise the Huntly town centre. This is a long term strategy and the Trust would welcome input from the community as to thoughts and ideas for sustainable re-generation and stimulation of the area.

Walking & Cycling - Walking and Cycling development spans a number of initiatives and projects that the Trust is involved with and our aim is to develop a network of pathways and routes in the area to encourage tourism as well as a healthy and active community. Working groups are beavering away on project delivery and we look forward to bring further news in a future edition of the newsletter.

After the successful construction of the wooden shelter in the Clashindarroch

Forest as part of the Finland Transnational Exchange Project, the project team is

currently constructing a similar shelter on Battlehill for use by the community

Tell us what else is the Trust engaged in?

Get Involved.Huntly & District Development Trust can

only be successful with the support of

it’s members, volunteers and supporters.

If you’d like to get involved in some of

the projects listed in this newsletter or

just want to find out more on developing

community projects in the AB54 area, we’d

love to hear from you.

For further information go to the Huntly &

District Development Trust web site, give

us a call or simply pop into the Brander

Building for a chat.

Brander Building, The Square, Huntly, AB54 8BR Tel: +44 01466 799416 Email HDT@huntly.net www.huntlydevelopmenttrust.orgCompany Registered in Scotland SC358964Registered Scottish Charity SC043353