The inextricable link between economic and community development in the Highlands and Islands was recognised in the HIDB’s founding legislation. Building confidence, encouraging ambition and supporting innovative ways to deliver services, generate income and ensure local control of assets and decision making have been central to success over the past 50-years.
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Young people are at the forefront of the HIDB’s work and, in their first annual report, they acknowledge the work done by Inverliever Lodge Trust to bring young people from urban areas to the Highlands, potentially encouraging them to see the area as a future place to live. The Board commissions a report to gain further insights into a potential youth agenda.
See HIDB's first Annual Report 1966
See Youth Activities in the Highlands and Islands report 1966
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The money spent on social projects rises dramatically, from £3,345 in 1966 to £20,298 this year. The organisations eligible for help are usually in the voluntary sector, tourism and publicity/information services.
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Bringing communities together
Economic development is progressing at a lightning pace, but the HIDB recognises that it also has an important social role to play.
Having noted that none of the staff were employed to address the HIDB’s social role, Bob Storey, former Development Officer for Zetland County Council, is employed as a consultant on community development and sociological aspects of development.
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The social and cultural development of the region is beginning to flourish. Grants totalling £74,000 are approved for 77 organisations, more than treble the sum approved in 1967.
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A focus on social economic development
After some years of focus on bringing lucrative manufacturing to the region, the Board’s social role is under scrutiny, and an expanded budget for ‘non-economic’ grants is approved. The budget also includes support for Gaelic.
'Two Men of Tiree', filmed in 1974 demonstrates how the Board has put its social support into practice. -
The Board contributes £150,000 to the creation of a theatre and cultural centre at Inverness. Eden Court will go on to be one of the UK's most successful theatres.
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The Board commissions a study to explore the economic and social effects of centralised education on rural areas. This is in response to growing parental concerns about the impact on school pupils of having to leave their homes to access comprehensive seconday education (which was introduced in Scotland in 1965). The study is especially keen to explore the extent to which level and location of education impacts on out-migration. It concludes that the expections and aspirations of parents and pupils are influenced by a broader range of social and economic factors, but that pupils have an early expectation of the need to leave their local communities to access job opportunities.
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The Board publishes its Land Development strategy. This includes land reform proposals which would offer landowners, tenants and crofters more powers over how to use land to their own economic advantage.
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The HIDB focuses efforts on the region's 'fragile areas' - places with little employment or economic growth. These include islands such as Islay and Jura, and work begins to study what particular problems isolated island communities are facing.
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Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 1976
Crofters are given a right to buy their crofts through the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 1976.
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The Co-Chomunn Scheme
Having met with the development agency at the Irish Gaeltacht and heard more about their work managing a wide range of community development, the Board is inspired to launch a co-operative, or Co-chomunn, scheme, offering information and financial aid for the establishment of community co-operatives, initially in the Western Isles.
The conditions for funding will depend on sound programmes of action, and the Board will match fund local funds and provide financial support for co-operative managers for the first few years. Four co-operatives are set up the following year in Ness, Pairc, Eriskay and Vatersay, all in the Outer Hebrides.
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John McEwen's groundbreaking book 'Who owns Scotland' is published.
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Self-help TV transmitters
Acharacle, in Ardnamurchan, secures the first licence for a community-owned television relay, thanks to the determined efforts of its local butcher in challenging Home Office Policy.
This leads to a programme of licensing for 'self-help' TV relay transmitters, originally being used illegally by small communities to access public service broadcasting. These self-help schemes are generally funded by the local community, and tend to cover relatively small areas.
The HIDB provides support to a number of groups installing relays, the costs of which can range from £1,000 to £8,000 depending on distance and height between premises and the masts.
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Fèis movement begins
The first Fèis takes place on the Isle of Barra (Fèis Bharraigh), with the aim of promoting and developing Gaelic language, music and culture among young people. It is established following local concerns about the decline in these traditions amidst a lack of provision in the formal education sector.
The annual Gaelic arts, music and culture event lays down the path for many more Fèisean around Scotland, each community led and tailored to local needs.
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GENERATING COMMUNITY ENERGY
This year sees communities working together in a powerful way, with HIDB investing in the UK's first community based wind power scheme. This pioneering project takes place on Fair Isle, Shetland, and not only harnesses the natural resources of the region, but puts local people firmly in charge of their energy costs.
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Còr na Gàidhlig report published in 1982 leads to the formation of a series of Gaelic policy initiatives within the HIDB, including the creation of An Comunn Gàidhealach.
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The Board introduces a village hall scheme, designed to help communities make use of existing facilities to provide all-weather attractions for tourists, and also to accommodate social and recreational pursuits. Almost £10,000 is divided amongst 30 schemes.
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KEEPING GAELIC ALIVE
A new body called Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG) is launched to co-ordinate new Gaelic related initiatives. The language is part of the region's heritage and has an important role to play in both social and economic development.
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Fort William welcomes a new tourist information centre and cinema complex with the backing of the HIDB. The first film shown in the cinema, the Walt Disney animated fantasy adventure film The Black Cauldron, is sold-out. The complex is leased and later sold to a local tourism operator.
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The Scottish Crofters Union is set up to promote and protect the interests of crofters in the region and help crofting communities to thrive.
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SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE
The Association of Community Enterprises in the Highlands and Islands - ACE-HI is established. This is a support body for community enterprises, offering help and advice, and sharing skills and knowledge throughout different communities across the region.
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a warmer shetland
A community electricity scheme is constructed on the island of Foula, Shetland which is not connected to any mainland electricity grid system. It comprises a 3.3kV island grid linking diesel generators, a wind turbine and a hydroelectricity scheme to the island’s properties.
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A New Media Industry
The 1990 Broadcasting Act comes into effect, establishing a £9.6m Gaelic Television Fund. This acts as a catalyst for the independent production sector in Scotland, and creates high quality media outlets in the Highlands and Islands as well as developing the Gaelic media industry in the region.
Gaelic communities are also set to benefit, as new opportunities open up in a sector that proves attractive to young Gaelic speakers.
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The Scottish Office consults the public on the disposal of the Government's crofting estates. The HIDB and the Scottish Crofters Union act quickly, commissioning a study to assess the prospect of community ownership on sites in Skye and Raasay.
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HI-ARTS
Hi-Arts (Highlands and Islands Arts Ltd) is set-up to promote and develop home grown arts in the region, and aims to increase access to arts and heritage, nurture artistic talent, and enhance economic opportunity for both professional artists and community groups operating in this arena.
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HI Light Year of the Arts is launched with over 4000 events planned across the region.
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Fèisean nan Gàidheal is established as the independent umbrella association for the Fèis movement, offering member organisations across Scotland a range of services including grant-aid, training, insurance and instrument loans. The organisation also supports a youth music initiative programme, an educational theatre company (Meanbh-chuileag), an annual music festival (Blas), and a series of ceilidh trails run by individual fèisean. These initiatives have helped transform the Gaelic cultural music scene in the region and beyond.
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The newly formed HIE shows its commitment to community arts with a ground breaking conference on the Social and Economic Impact of the Arts in the Highlands and Islands.
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Landing a victory for highland communities
The North Lochinver Estate is purchased by the Assynt Crofters Trust for £300,000. This is the first in a new era of community land buy outs in the Highlands and Islands, paving the way for community land ownership and development.
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HIE’s community development functions are devolved to LECs (Local Enterprise Companies) as HIE's social development team is disbanded.
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The Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 is passed, and is now the primary legislation that governs crofting in the region.
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle is formed through the merger of Inverness Caledonian and Inverness Thistle, and enters the Scottish Football league along with Ross County.
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HIE partners with the Crofter's Commission to establish the Crofting Trust Advisory Service (CTAS). This organisation provides financial help and advice to crofters who are considering taking over Government estates.
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Since their conception, the HIDB and HIE have become known for their visionary decisions, and a willingness to take risks and create opportunities. This year, they acquire Orbost Estate in Skye. They hope to develop the estate for the benefit of the local community on Skye, creating new homes and smallholdings.
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POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Over 30 years after the ‘Highland Problem’ was first identified, the first legislation enabling community ownership of land is passed – The Transfer of Crofting Estates (Scotland) Act 1997. This has the potential to give communities more autonomy than ever before.
Brian Wilson, the Minister of State, announces that HIE will set up a dedicated Community Land Unit to support community land ownership.
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Exciting times for Eigg
The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust takes over ownership of Eigg. They are helped with a sizeable private donation and financial assistance from HIE, Highland Council and The Scottish Wildlife Trust.
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The Land Registration Act 1997 establishes a new land register which maps properties by title boundaries.
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Movies Hit the Road
The Screen Machine, Scotland's first mobile cinema begins its tour of the Highlands and Islands. This articulated unit has a trailer that expands to provide a 102 seat, self-contained cinema. It brings the latest film releases to over 40 communities in some of the most rural parts of the region. The venture is run by HI-Arts, before being taken over by Regional Screen Scotland.
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The John McEwan Memorial Lecture on Land Tenure in Scotland is delivered by the Right Honourable Donald Dewar, Secretary of State for Scotland. His speech, Land Reform for the 21st Century explores how the politics of land reform can best deliver lasting change, while commanding public support and meeting the needs of the time.
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Initiative at the Edge launched
Initiative at the Edge is launched, a partnership programme involving several communities in the region. With the help of a local development officer, community groups are given the power to identify their needs and suggest possible projects that would help them in the future. Essentially, the initiative aims to overcome the difficulties which some remote communities have in accessing support from the main public sector agencies and others.
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HIE's Community Land Purchase Fund assists The Knoydart Foundation to acquire Knoydart Estate.
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The Scottish Office's Land Reform Policy Group, established in 1997, publishes its recommendations for land reform measures, for potential implementation by the new Scottish Parliament.
Land Reform Policy Group - recommendations for action report
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The new Scottish Parliament enacts the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc (Scotland) Act 2000 as one of its first pieces of new legislation. This effectively removes the land tenure loophole that has existed in Scotland in various forms, since around the 12th century, creating a simpler system for land ownership.
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National Lottery’s Scottish Land Fund
The National Lottery’s Scottish Land Fund is established and HIE is given responsibility for administering this £15m Scotland-wide grant programme.
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Energising the region
HIE's Community Energy Unit (CEU) is established, with the aim of helping communities to benefit from renewable energy projects. With a budget of £1.6m, the unit provides assitance with feasability studies and the acquisition of equipment. The demand is strong and the CEU is quickly working with over 30 communities.
Two years on, the CEU evolves into the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company (HICEC) as it becomes a subsidiary of HIE. HICEC provides free advice, grant funding and finance for renewable energy projects developed by community groups to benefit their community.
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The UK Government publishes an official definition of social enterprise which is also adopted in Scotland - "a business with primarily social objectives, whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or community rather than mainly being paid to shareholders".
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The Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust acquires the island of Gigha with support from HIE and the Lottery's (New Opportunities Fund) Scottish Land Fund.
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The Communications Act 2003 establishes "The Gaelic Media Service" (formerly CTG then CCG, and precursor to MG Alba) to decide on the future development of Gaelic Broadcasting services. It also introduces legal recognition of community radio stations as a distinct third tier of radio alongside BBC Radio and commercial radio.
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The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 is passed by the Scottish Parliament. This will enable community organisations to apply to the Scottish Executive to register an interest in acquiring the land they live on, as well as property on the land, and the right to buy it when it comes on the market.
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Screen Machine - Take Two
HI-Arts commissions its second mobile cinema - Screen Machine - Take Two. Meanwhile, the Fèis movement celebrates 25 years, and Eden Court Theatre temporarily closes for renovation.
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Equal respect for Gaelic
The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 is passed by the Scottish Parliament, and seeks to secure the status of Gaelic as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language.
The Act establishes Bòrd na Gàidhlig as a public body, and it sets up its headquarters in Inverness. Bòrd na Gàidhlig is tasked with increasing the numbers of Gaelic speakers, encouraging its use and understanding, and facilitating access to the Gaelic language and culture across Scotland and beyond.
The Act also stipulates that Bòrd na Gàidhlig prepares a National Gaelic Language Plan every five years, and provides the the Bòrd with the authority to ask public bodies to prepare and implement Gaelic language plans.
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a first for scottish social enterprise
Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone (HISEZ) becomes the first registered Community Interest Company in Scotland, showing how working with communities can make real change happen.
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Strong communities continue to take charge of their land. The Pairc Trust in Lewis is the first community group to get ministerial approval under the Crofting Right To Buy legislation. Meanwhile, the Assynt Foundation purchases the 44,400 acre Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estates using the new Community Right to Buy legislation.
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GROWING BETTER COMMUNITIES
HIE secures responsibility for administering the Big Lottery’s Growing Community Assets Programme. This replaces the National Lottery's Land Fund, and will distribute £50m over 3 years to both urban and rural communities.
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North West Mull Community Woodland Company acquires Langamull and West Ardhu Woodland, and becomes the first community dedicated to creating woodland crofts.
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The Scottish Government announces that it will take direct responsibility for the main national arts companies, including Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, the RSNO and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The Arts Council is replaced by Creative Scotland.
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More community land is acquired in the form of a 56,000 acre crofting estate in North Lewis by the Galson Estate Trust, with help from HIE.
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The landscape of crofting continues to change, with the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2007, which enables the creation of new crofts for the first time within the Crofting Counties.
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Highland 2007 is a year of celebration of Highland culture, and leads to the formation of the Council led Highland Culture Strategic Board. This includes representatives from HIE, Scottish Government, Highland Council, Creative Scotland, Event Scotland and Eden Court, and aims to develop the cultural and creative industries in the region.
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Eden Court reopens after extensive redevelopment.
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community-led development
Following HIE's refocus in the wake of the Scottish Government's review of the enterprise networks and the subsequent launch of the Government's Economic Strategy, HIE introduces a new community account management approach, in its work with fragile communities.
This approach promotes community-led develoment through HIE's Growth at the Edge programme. This innovative model encourages communities to develop and implement plans for growth. In 2010, HIE commits almost £1.5million over three years to its Growth at the Edge initiative, with funding matched by local authorities and the EU. 30 new local development officers will be employed to work with community organisations to support the implementation of local growth plans and help revitalise these fragile economies.
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BBC Alba is launched
Scotland's first dedicated Gaelic language digital television channel, BBC Alba, is launched to a new rendition of the Runrig song, Alba.
The service is jointly owned by the BBC and MG Alba, and the channel is the first to be delivered under a BBC licence by a partnership.
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Community Energy Scotland is established as an independent Scottish charity, evolving from the HIE subsidiary, the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company (HICEC). Now with a national remit, the organisation aims to 'build confidence, resilience and wealth at community level in Scotland through sustainable energy development'.
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The Shucksmith Report is the final report from the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, and emphasises the relevance of crofting communities in future economic development.
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HIE publishes its first organisational Gaelic Plan. This is also the first Gaelic Plan of its kind published in Scotland.
HIE illustrates its commitment to the development and promotion of a bilingual Highlands and Islands by seeking to enhance the visibility and use of the language in its activities and services. This includes using Gaelic in its marketing, publications and website. The plan also focuses on promoting the business benefits of Gaelic in its sectoral work, particularly in the creative industries, and in the tourism sector.
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The Social Enterprise Academy opens their Inverness office, reflecting the developing needs of the social economy.
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HIE extends its support of Community Renewables Energy projects to include larger projects which may generate a bigger income for the region. The contract is delivered by Community Energy Scotland on HIE’s behalf.
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The Crofting Reform (Scotland Act) 2010 is passed, and the Crofters Commission’s development functions are transferred to HIE. It will now be named the ‘Crofting Commission’, and members of the Board will include a majority of elected crofters. Meanwhile, Register for Scotland announces plans to establish a map-based register of crofts.
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A triumph for community owned land
With support from HIE, Community Land Scotland is established to support the fast-growing community land ownership sector. In the same year, West Harris Trust buys 17,850 acres of Scottish Government crofting estate land, the first ever use of the Transfer of Crofting Estates (Scotland) Act 1997.
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To celebrate the next 20 years of communities and culture in the Highlands, a major conference called ‘Old Maps and New’ takes place, organised by HIE and the newly created Creative Scotland. It marks the centenary of celebrated poet Norman MacCaig, who was born in Sutherland.
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Sleat Community Trust purchases the 1087 acre Tormore Forest in South Skye. As well as providing local woodfuel supply from the forest, they plan to improve access for walkers and cyclists.
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Rumster Forest in Caithness is purchased by a community development company and managed by a team of local directors. The new owners investigate renewable energy production, and a network of local paths to increase public access. However, securing funds to progress these plans is proving challenging.
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The 'Just Enterprise' programme is launched by the Scottish Government, to provide support to the third sector in Scotland. HIE contributes £300,000 of the initial £3m budget.
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CONNECTING THE PERIPHERIES
HIE is chosen by the Scottish Government to manage Community Broadband Scotland (CBS), a key element of the Scottish Government’s Digital Strategy. CBS underpins the next generation broadband programme, supporting those communities that will not be reached to develop their own community-led solutions to deliver improved connectivity.
As part of the CBS pilot, three communities in the Highlands and Islands - Applecross, Colonsay and Tomintoul & Glenlivet – are chosen, along with three others elsewhere in Scotland, to benefit from a £5m fund that will help bring next generation broadband to hard-to-reach rural areas. Members of local communities will work with assigned broadband experts to develop ideas for improving internet access for local businesses and residents.
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The Scottish Government launches its new £6m Scottish Land fund, which is delivered by HIE in partnership with the Big Lottery Fund across the whole of rural Scotland. In 2014, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces that the fund will be increased to £10m in the next two years.
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HIE launches ‘Maximising Community Assets', a programme of support which helps to develop the skills and knowledge of people actively involved in community ownership.
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communities flying high
The long awaited community buyout of the former RAF Machrihanish air base is confirmed. Now owned by The Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC), this is one of the more complex community buy-outs to date, and involves assistance from HIE, Scottish Government, Scottish Water and the Ministry of Defence.
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TòMaS, an innovative Gaelic translation service is launched, developed by the University of the Highlands and Islands. It is the first ever translation tool for Gaelic, and will speed up the translation process and ensure greater consistency across texts.
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The lsland of Scalpay moves into community ownership, having been gifted to the community by the landowner. The title transfers to the North Harris Trust.
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‘HIE Ambitious for Culture’ is published. This is the organisation's first Culture Policy framework, which sets out its strategy to develop and support cultural activities in the region.
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more land ownership by 2020
First Minister Alex Salmond announces a new target to transfer an additional 500,000 acres of land in Scotland by 2020.
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Community owned Raasay House re-opens
Community owned Raasay House re-opens following a multi million pound restoration, with the return of the Raasay Outdoor Centre Ltd.
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HIE’s establishes a £3.85m three year Community Capacity Building programme, replacing its Growth at the Edge initiative. Aimed at supporting communities with aspirations for growth, it provides Local Development Officer support, Specialist intervention, and Social Enterprise growth.
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HI-Enterprise in Schools is launched. Delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy, it aims to help young entrepreneurs to set up their own social enterprises.
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It is a big year for Scotland internationally, hosting the Year of Homecoming, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.
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HIE develops global social enterprise links, as they address the Social Enterprise World Forum in South Korea.
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working for the common good
The independent Land reform Review Group publishes its report, ‘The Land of Scotland and The Common Good'. This group was established in 2012, to assess the current state of land reform in Scotland.
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The Collaborative Creative Communities programme is launched, to promote growth and foster greater resilience amongst cultural organisations, utilising creative hubs and outreach work. This nationally unique approach will build skills in the social enterprise sector. HIE invests £900,000 in the project.
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Community Empowerment Act
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 receives Royal Assent. The legislation is intended to give communities more powers to take on land and buildings to develop local amenities, and to have a say on how their services are delivered.
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The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill is introduced to the Scottish Parliament.
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Community ownership continues to grow. The Carloway Estate Trust (Urras Oighreachd Charlabhaigh) purchases the 11,400 acre crofting estate on the west side of Lewis, with support from HIE.
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HIE hosts the Scottish Social Enterprise Summit in Inverness; the first event of its kind to be held in the region. The two-day event, which includes region-wide study tours, celebrates 50 years of HIE, and its work in supporting businesses and communities.
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The Social Enterprise in Scotland Census identifies over 5,000 social enterprises operating in Scotland, with 22% located in the Highlands and Islands.
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A BOOST FOR RURAL BROADBAND
A new funding scheme to support rural broadband is announced by the First Minister as part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2014-2020. The broadband grant scheme is a £9m fund to support community-led broadband projects in the hardest to reach broadband areas and will be administered by Community Broadband Scotland.
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In response to a partnership study, Ar Stòras Gàidhlig, HIE launches a new Gaelic project, providing initial investment of £250,000 to support the development of ideas that will enhance the economic and social use of the language.
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New £10m port opens in Lochboisdale
Community landowner Stòras Uibhist completes the £10m Lochboisdale port of entry redevelopment, officially opened by Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
Two causeways and two breakwaters are completed as part of the project, along with a road along Rubha Bhuailt to Gasaigh Island. There is also a new fishery pier, a slipway, pontoon berths and facilities for fishermen and leisure sailors.
This major regeneration project, the largest ever undertaken by a community landowner, has transformed commercial and community facilities at Lochboisdale, South Uist.
Communities
At 2015
There are
350 community energy
Schemes in the Highlands & Islands
7,315
employed in social enterprises
Across
1,118
Organisations
Generating
c.£130.8m
Since 1965
364,000
acres of land have transferred into community ownership
95%
of all community owned land in Scotland is in the Highlands and Islands