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Project Proposals: Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

Total budget £0

The Harbour and ASH

Lighting Up the Shore Station - a sustainable Hub for Tiree

2025-05-27  •  No comments  •  Hynish Trust  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

1  We would like to refurbish Alan Stevenson House (ASH) to offer a locally inspired restaurant, bar with 6 ensuite rooms (1 disabled).  We would like to upgrade the Harbour with pontoons and seating/viewpoints to take in the wonderful natural environment and encourage people to come by boat to the site in the summer months.  Morton Boyd Hall (MBH) is an excellent multi purpose facility that just needs some upgrading and could complment any activities going on at the site.    The site at Hynish, with its heritage and special quality of place, has the opportunity to develop its local hospitality and develop something of a Hub for the southern end of the island.  Capturing tourism and events spend, alongside island/day visitor spend would provide a revenue stream.

2  The Skerryvore Shore Station was transferred to the Tiree community in January 25.  The transition has taken 3 years.  There are 3 income streams - Housing, Heritage and Business -  that will ensure it is a sustainable community organisation going forward.  We have been reviewing the use of our 20+ A listed buildings to ensure they are fit for purpose and revenue earning where possible.   ASH was first rebuilt in 1990 as a hostel type accomodation for groups with special needs.  it was only used for a few weeks in the summer months and was always a overhead for the charity.  MBH had been used to house the exhibition/museum but originally had been rebuilt as a multi purpose hall.  The harbour stands strong against the incredible tides and weather.  It is a viewpoint for sealife and birds.  The community when asked what they would like to see at the site in our survey and subsequent community events were clear that Business should be a priority.   84% said that they wanted a restaurant/cafe, quality accomodation and event space all year round.  They also wanted the Harbour preserved.  So our community mandate was clear.  We have piloted the restaurant and rooms over the past 2 years and now believe that it could definately work if we had a good standard of accomodation to offer and a multi purpose space for events.  We have moved the exhbition to another building to free up Morton Boyd Hall so that we have a this multi purpose facility.  We will then be able to work with community groups to put on a variety of events and functions during the year.  We will also be able to provide permanent employment for locals.

3  We can already see from our pilot that our community is very positive about the fact we have a local family working at ASH and have created year round employment for locals.  We have trialled a number of community events over last winter and they proved to be very popular.  The Tiree people just love the shore station and feel a strong sense of guardianship.  The pilot has also showed us that we could have a reasonable income stream from this.  We now have some facts and figures to base our projections on which gives us confidence this is the right way forward.  All the buildings at Hynish need to work and complement each other to ensure the "place" is kept in alignment.  The pilot has demonstrated that the restaurant/rooms/bar and events do contribute greatly to this.  The project would enhance the employment opportunities; keep a family with 3 children living on Tiree as they have jobs; provide the much needed income stream to ensure sustainability; reduce running costs; make the buildings all more energy efficient and in line with our aim to lower the carbon footprint and provice a place for people and business to floutish.

4  The project will start early in 2026 and be completed by November 2026.

No supports
Photograph of the Rockfield Garden

Creating a Community Growing Space in Oban Town Centre

2025-06-02  •  No comments  •  Oban Communities Trust  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

This project meets RCGF criteria: address vacant / derelict land as well as supporting locally developed, place-based regeneration projects that involve local communities, helping to tackle inequalities and improving the economic, social and physical environment of deprived, disadvantaged and fragile remote communities across Scotland. It is community led, and will result in strong regeneration outcomes.

The Rockfield Garden is leased and run by Oban Communities Trust, a Community Benefit Society run by and for its members and the wider community. 

We are transforming a disused, previously cultivated food production area into a vibrant and inclusive community growing space, but need funding to realise our vision. This project is rooted in a growing community movement: over the past year, more than 1,100 volunteer hours have been contributed at The Rockfield Garden. The momentum is clear—and this garden will be a living, growing symbol of community action.

The space, located behind The Rockfield Centre, was previously used to grow fruit, vegetables, and flowers for the former McTavish's Kitchens, but has since lain derelict.

What will your project do? Over the last 12 months a 25+ band of volunteers have spend over 1000 hours on Phase 1, preparing the space for cultivation. We are now seeking funding for Phase 2, which will initiate food production and support both experienced and novice growers, fostering strong community involvement.

  • Installing fencing and handrails to ensure safety and accessibility
  • Building raised beds and flexible growing spaces for communal and individual use
  • Constructing a weatherproof meeting shelter and a secure tool shed.
  • Providing tools, gardening equipment, seeds, compost, and plants.
  • Developing a community composting system to promote circular growing practices.
  • Installing bee hives, chicken coops, and a community orchard
  • Offering a varied programme of community engagement and educational growing activities, including informal social gardening drop-ins, volunteer action days, and community education.

Why is your project needed? Oban currently has no community growing provision, and local residents lack accessible opportunities to grow, learn, and contribute. As a rural town we are also heavily reliant on imported food, reducing local food resilience and creating disproportionately high food mile loadings. This project will:

  • Provide the community with growing space, tools, and support to grow food locally.
  • Encourage healthier lifestyles and increased social connection through shared, hands-on activity
  • Respond to the pressing need for increased food resilience in the face of climate change and supply chain vulnerabilities.
  • Help diversify the town’s food sources, reducing reliance on imported produce and associated transport emissions.
  • Create a learning hub to build knowledge and practical skills in sustainable food growing, composting, and ecological gardening
  • Offer a mix of communal and some individually managed plots, providing flexibility to suit different needs and abilities.
  • Enhance community cohesion and empowerment through participation, ownership, and shared outcomes.
  • Contribute to the Rockfield Centre's mission to reduce its carbon footprint and provide wholesome, healthy, affordable community meals.

What positive changes will your project bring about? The Rockfield Garden will deliver wide-ranging benefits across environmental, social, and educational areas:

  • Environmental Impact: With an estimated growing area of 1,400m², there is potential to produce 2,000–3,000kg of fruit and vegetables annually. This local production could reduce food miles and cut an estimated 3–4 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year.
  • Food Resilience: In light of climate change and global food supply threats, local food production is a vital adaptation strategy. Growing food locally in Oban will contribute to community-level food security and resilience.
  • Health and Wellbeing: Access to growing spaces and outdoor activities supports mental and physical wellbeing. Gardening fosters regular physical activity, better nutrition, and emotional connection to nature.
  • Learning and Empowerment: Hands-on education will equip participants with valuable skills in food production, sustainability, and ecological stewardship.
  • Community Cohesion: The project will bring together people of all ages and backgrounds, strengthening social bonds, reducing isolation, and building a sense of place and purpose.
  • Sustainability: By incorporating composting and circular practices, such as seed saving, the garden will serve as a practical example of sustainable community living. By transforming this underused land into a thriving garden, we’re not just growing food—we’re growing community, resilience, and shared futures.

How long will your project run for? This is a long-term project that is ticking along in Phase 1, but requires substantial funding to move to Phase 2. Once funded, we anticipate c. 1 year to do the required structural works. We anticipate the total works requiring c. 70k, including staff time, but would gladly accept smaller amounts of funding which would allow us to complete the project in a modular fashion.

No supports
Youngster enjoying the ride.

"On your Bike", Tayinloan Youth Club

2025-04-29  •  No comments  •  Tayinloan Youth Club  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

1. First and foremost, we want to keep our children safe while they enjoy being outdoors. The A83 runs the entire length of West Kintyre and as all the villages are spurs from this extremely fast and dangerous road, there is just nowhere safe for children to ride their bikes. To address this, we wish to install a pump track at Tayinloan

2. We feel it is needed because the main A83 is getting busier, and is one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland. Children and adults of all ages are now taking up more and more physical exercise and cycling has become very popular indeed.  We wish to offer a safe enclosed area where they can learn and ride in safety.

3. The project could bring many positive benefits.  Pump track riding not only provides a physical workout, but also promotes good mental well-being. It’s not just about the physical challenge – although that’s definitely a big part of the appeal. Spending time outdoors, surrounded by nature, has a way of melting away stress and lifting spirits. Pump track riding can actually help sharpen the mind and improve cognitive function. It is a way to encourage youngsters to leave their screens for a while and enjoy outdoor activities and social interaction.

These are just some of the positive changes for those participating in the sport. However there are many others, such as helping with social isolation which has become a big problem in these post Covid times.

At the pump track, generations come together, no matter their age! From little ones with their parents or grandparents to teenagers and young adults, everyone can enjoy fun and friendship, making it a true community hub. The little ones learn how to ride and gain confidence, while the more experienced riders practice their skills. Parents can have a great time too, as they watch their children gain confidence and make friends

4. Once the planning has been approved (hopefully within 6 months of application) and the funding secured, the pump track can be installed in 6 weeks.

We will work with Velosolutions, who are world leaders in this technology.

We will also liaise with schools and youth clubs.

We will work with Argyll and Bute Councillors

No supports
Tiree Rural Centre - the site for a new community-owned vet practice

Tiree & Coll Community Vet Practice Project

2025-05-30  •  No comments  •  Tiree Rural Development Ltd  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

What do we want to do?

This project seeks to transform an existing community space at the Tiree Rural Centre – previously used as a café – into a community-owned vet practice serving the islands of Coll and Tiree. The Rural Centre hosts the island’s cattle and sheep market along with an exhibition showing all aspects of crofting and wildlife on Tiree. It plays a leading role in preserving Tiree’s rich crofting heritage and, together with its central location on the island, is well-placed to host a community vet practice. This represents a significant investment and regeneration project for both Tiree and Coll, and would contribute positively to local economies, which revolve around crofting.

This project is led by a consortium of island stakeholders which includes Tiree Rural Development (which manage the Rural Centre), Tiree Community Development Trust, various crofters and community representatives, and the current vet. This steering group provides strategic oversight and represents a community-led approach focused on safeguarding a key island service and a shared belief that something must be done before it is too late.

To that end, the Tiree Community Development Trust commissioned a feasibility study to investigate renovating the available, currently vacant space at the Rural Centre into a vet practice. With a full design and accurate costs now in place, the consortium are now in a position to commence a build phase of the project, and are actively seeking funding to make this important project a reality.

Why is our project needed?

A vet is absolutely critical to both Tiree and Coll. Without an island vet, crofting largely becomes untenable, as crofters need access to veterinary services to keep animals and ensure their welfare. Crucially, Tiree’s culture, history, economy, and its unique machair landscape are all strongly linked to crofting. In addition to running their crofts, crofters often hold multiple jobs and community roles, and are essential to island life. 

As crofting is the island’s primary industry, the loss of a vet would have dire consequences for the local economy. This would likely lead to emigration and a decline in the numbers of families living on the island. Even a few families leaving would have a significant impact on services, and could spark the further closure of lifeline services such as the school, GP surgery, and local businesses – a gradual process often seen in other small Scottish islands once the population falls below a critical point. Once these key services are lost, we know from experience and research that they rarely return. This is due to the high cost of running services on islands, the challenges of setting up, and the dwindling economic returns and economies of scale. Remote islands are places where market failure is the norm, not the exception. The group recognises that the vet practice is one such service that the island cannot afford to lose. 

Moreover, many residents keep small animals and pets; the operational and cost implications of relying on a mainland vet service for Tiree and Coll residents are significant, in some instances prohibitive. The vet also plays a central role in protecting the island’s unique wildlife and marine life, regularly attending call-outs to help stranded dolphins and seals, for example.

With our current vet looking to retire in the near future, we are keen to minimise barriers that an incoming vet faces. In the past, it has been difficult to recruit and retain vet capacity, and recent shortages in the sector, combined with a low financial return of investing in an island-based vet practice, have made this challenge more acute. Additionally, the current vet operates out of a small and temporary space which is unlikely to meet future RCVS standards and does not fully meet the dynamic needs of an island vet. A high-quality, affordable, and long-term practice ensures that the prospect of moving to Tiree to take over the practice becomes much more attractive and financially viable.

What positive changes will our project bring about?

This project provides key benefits to crofters and the wider community on both Tiree and Coll:

  • A bespoke, compliant, and modern vet practice will make it easier to attract an incoming vet to the island, and retain them once they have arrived.
  • It improves the standard of care and contributes positively to animal welfare, as well as providing a better space for a vet to operate out of.
  • Securing an appropriate practice space for Tiree and Coll safeguards the entire crofting sector, the island’s primary industry.
  • Security of tenure for the vet, as well as a stable rental income for a community group dedicated to improving conditions for crofters and wildlife on Tiree.
  • Making better use of existing assets, and optimising design to factor in environmental improvements.
  • Tiree and Coll pet owners are guaranteed access to veterinary care without having to rely on mainland services, which can be difficult and expensive to access – especially during emergencies.
  • The project contributes to the wider regeneration of Tiree’s existing community-owned assets, and will play a key role in Tiree Rural Centre’s future.
  • A lifeline island service is maintained, contributing to the overall viability of Tiree’s small, unique, and thriving community.

How long will our project run for?

The project will start on: 01/03/2026

The project will run for : 12 months

No supports
Timber Pier

Inveraray Pier- A neglected Pearl of a Great Town

2025-05-31  •  No comments  •  Inspire Inveraray  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

Inveraray Pier has been in a cycle of neglectful private ownership for over 20 years, and closed to the community, visitors and marine traffic for 10 years. In July 2023 Inspire Inveraray secured funding to purchase the pier on behalf of the community and has since successfully restored and opened the stone part of the pier to the public, however the timber pier remains closed and is in desperate need of restoration. 

The objective of the project is the restoration and opening of the existing timber peir. The heritage of the timber pier is at the heart of the community, and was identified as a priority in a recent community consultation. The timber pier is in extremely poor condition and ,without restoration, the risk of loss of a valuable local asset is inevitable.

Restoration works will commence as soon as funding has been achieved, ideally starting in October 2025.

The community ownership of the pier has given a sense of pride and achievement to local people who are now keen to help and get involved to get the timber part of the pier restored. This is the opportunity for the local community to manage a valuable local asset and to complete the full restoration of the pier including the timber part. Reopening the pier has connected local communities and is building confidence in the achievability and benefits of community asset ownership.

The pier is the gateway to Inveraray and for the past 10 years had been an eye sore in the town. Restoring the timber part of the pier will help increase the number of visitors to the town by boat, creating an opportunity to generate an income that can be reinvested into community projects.

The pier will be a flat and open accessible space encouraging activities such as water sports, community events and gatherings amongst the local community. Fully restoring the timber part will allow more vessels to moor in Inveraray, serving as a safe transfer platform for cargo and passengers.

Once fully restored, Heritage boards will be commissioned for placement on the pier to provide historical background for local people and visitors visiting Inveraray and its treasured pier.

No supports
Gateway Garden.jpg

South Kintyre Growing Project

2025-05-29  •  No comments  •  South Kintyre Development Trust  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

SKDT already operates the gateway garden (under licence from ACHA), as well as the putting green and herb garden (under licence from ABC) and the Robert Black Memorial Helipad (owner operator).

SKDT has well developed plans in place for these areas, which we would obviously like to see being well used by the community.

The creation of the Gateway Garden over the last 18 months has provided opportunities for food growing, education and intergenerational activity which are identified actions in the Campbeltown Community Action Plan (2022 – 2027). The Growing Project will also go some way towards developing local resilience and food security.

The initial redevelopment of the Gateway Garden, which is in a prominent location at the entrance to the town, has given impetus to other volunteers and potential gardeners to come forward.

Unfortunately, the limited size of the current garden area has restricted the number of growing plots available. The Growing Project would allow us to identify other suitable growing areas which we can develop in a gradual and progressive way, The, now ceased, Campbeltown Community Garden has donated their remaining plant and equipment to SKDT, now in storage, which will give us a head start in developing new growing spaces.

We also have a large selection of lawnmowers, gardening tools, hoses and other items which we can use for this project. However we will still need to acquire additional equipment and sundries (gloves, boots, compost, fertiliser etc) to allow us to proceed.

We will look to access additional funding to develop the project further via local funding through e.g. Common Good Fund, MACC and Campbeltown Community Windfarm Fund.

The main focus of this expansive project will be to attract, retain and train volunteers to get their hands dirty and get digging, weeding and planting.

As well as our own volunteers, there is another group of volunteers who have been looking after the bus terminal area. We will work alongside and support both of these groups. We will access additional training and advice from a network of community gardens throughout Scotland.

We would also continue and expand our work with the local schools on developing their own gardens and teaching kids the benefits of growing your own food. This would also allow for some important intergenerational activities which improve the lives of young and old.

We will also support and lobby for the provision of allotments for people to grow their own produce.

No supports
Design of Mull Theatre Extension

An Tobar and Mull Theatre: Theatre Development and Early Years Facility

2025-05-23  •  No comments  •  An Tobar and Mull Theatre  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

Who are we?

An Tobar and Mull Theatre (AT&MT) is a vibrant multi-arts centre on the Isle of Mull and the only producing theatre in the Hebrides. As a hub for artistic excellence, cultural expression, and community connection, we play a vital role in our island's creative and social ecology. We aspire to be an island voice holding space for island experience in global culture at a time when the voices of rural communities are drowned out. Through our wide-ranging programme of theatre, visual arts, creative learning, and music, we serve: 

  • Local and visiting artists, providing space, time, and collaborative opportunities to experiment and grow. 
  • All school-age children on Mull, providing arts engagement and curriculum enrichment. 
  • Young people, creating pathways in the creative industries and amplifying youth voice through the arts. 
  • Older adults, including those living with dementia and other long-term conditions, supporting wellbeing and inclusion.

AT&MT has been recognised as a leader in community-based arts practice by the Federation of Scottish Theatre and as an essential part of local infrastructure by the Mull and Iona Community Trust.  The value of our community outreach, arts provision, and advocacy for rural communities is reflected in the thoughtful feedback we continue to receive from our local community:

“Engaging directly with one’s local community and peers is a valuable experience as it provides opportunity to share ideas and experiences and reinforces connectivity across our islands. I feel that this type of outreach work [AT&MT’s community outreach programme] is fundamental to a thriving cultural ecology on Mull and Iona” – Studio Cèilidh participant

“Because of Mull’s geography and lack of public transport many youngsters have difficulty accessing creative activities [...] The work has been taken to them through schools and location theatre. This ensures equality of access.” – Long-term Community Members

What do we want to do and why?

To secure our future and deepen our impact, we are launching an ambitious development project that responds directly to the needs of our island community. At the heart of this project is the purchase of the land beneath Mull Theatre and extension of the building to include dedicated creative workshop spaces for artists and visiting practitioners and an on-site crèche and early years facility to support families and broaden access to the arts. 

This project is essential to: 

  • Protect the future of Mull's only professional theatre and the only producing theatre in the Hebrides. Currently operating under a lease, securing ownership of our site will give us long-term stability and the confidence to plan boldly.
  • Address a critical shortage in early years childcare. Mull faces a well-documented lack of affordable and accessible childcare. This project offers a creative, community-centred solution that support parents and caregivers to participate fully in island life and the creative sector. 
  • Nurture the next generation of artists and islanders. The crèche and workshop spaces will be designed with care, learning, discovery, and cultural enrichment at their heart. 
  • Grow the island's creative ecology and promote the artistic excellence of Argyll and Bute on a national and international level. New workshop spaces will allow us to host more artists-in-residence and facilitate peer exchange. It will also offer affordable rehearsal and creation space for local and visiting artists, and extend our ability to deliver training, workshops, and events that connect Mull and Argyll and Bute to the wider cultural landscape of Scotland and beyond. 
  • Strengthen community wellbeing. As we emerge from the social and economic challenges of recent years, this development supports community recovery through creativity, care, and collaboration.

Who are our partners?  

We will work in partnership with: 

  • Local early years creative learning practitioners and educators, ensuring the crèche is child-centred, safe, and rooted in best practice. 
  • Forestry and Land Scotland, to navigate our land purchase and ensure the building extension is designed with care and attention to our beautiful natural surroundings. 
  • Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT), to ensure the facility is bespoke and meets the needs of our island community.
  • Our Community Advisory Group, to ensure that local voices and lived experience remains at the heart of the project. 

We believe that access to the arts, like access to care, should not depend on geography. This project is about more than bricks and mortar, it's about building a future where creativity, care, and community thrive side-by-side. With the support of our partners and funders, we're excited to take this next step in our journey, ensuring that AT&MT remains a place where island voices are heard, nurtured, and celebrated for generations to come. 

No supports
Re_Store Opening Photo.JPG

Oban Re_Store - Sustainability and Development

2025-05-30  •  No comments  •  Connecting Communities Collective  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

After a successful first year of operation, the Connecting Communities Collective wants to continue to develop and improve our offerings to the community. Re_Store is more than a charity shop- alongside selling affordable food, clothing, books, toys and homewares, we promote sustainability and work to reduce waste. We deliver workshops and events to enable people to learn the skills to repair and upcycle clothing and accessories. We also run a Rescued Food Project,  saving short date food from landfill, while offering access to affordable food. We programme events to promote sustainability, share our work and to celebrate our community.

The shop aims to alleviate the impacts of poverty, specifically by reducing food and textile waste and improving skills. While doing this, we have created a social and community hub- a welcoming, safe, creative and encouraging place that helps to alleviate social isolation and promotes community cohesion. We are keen to develop our workshop programme to engage more of the local community. After a successful pilot event in March 2025, we want to run another community fashion show in 2026 to promote sustainability and celebrate the work of Re_Store and the Connecting Communities Collective.

In partnership with a new community-led organisation- the Oban and District Development Trust, the Connecting Communities Collective is working towards the community buyout of the shop building at 113 George St., Oban. This will ensure the security of the shop for the future, along with keeping income within the local economy.  Our plans for the sustainability and development of the Re_Store building and the programme of activities are based on the principles of Community Wealth Building.

Why this project is needed: 

We have proven that our project is needed by running successfully and smashing projections for sales and uptake in our first year of operation. Feedback from participants and beneficiaries has been incredibly positive and we have evidence via feedback and evaluations that we are having a positive impact on the local community. 

Please see the attached document for the full Project Proposal (due to issues with formatting, this wasn't possible to upload)

No supports
WEbsite image 13 .jpg

MACPool Activity Hub: Sustainability

2025-05-22  •  No comments  •  Mid Argyll Community Enterprises Limited  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

MACPool Activity Hub is a local community hub settled within the rural area of Lochgilphead. We currently service the area of Mid Argyll, where the population is approximately 6,000 people. On an average week, we will provide services such as specialised swimming sessions, fitness classes and Learn to Swim lessons, where over 500 regular participants will attend the Activity Hub.

MACPool Activity Hub works closely with rural school with promoting Water Safety Sessions and scheduled blocks of weekly lessons to pupils. The main Learn to Swim program caters to more than 220 participants from a 25 mile radius on a weekly basis, with ages ranging from 4-75 years old.

We offer a range of programs designed to specialise in different needs such as our Toddler Time sessions to classes such as HyrdoMobility, a senior exercise class, focusing on water-based exercises to strengthen the core and increase stability.

In collaboration with RMFitness and the NHS Living Well Program, MACPool Activity Hub has been assisting with the rehabilitation within the senior community, providing a bespoke area to re-build confidence, both in and out of the water. 

We also host Additional Support Needs (ASN) and Young Carer sessions in partnership with the Mid Argyll Youth Development Services (MAYDS), providing a safe space for those in the community who may not otherwise have access to such spaces. 

In accordance with our sustainability principles, MACPool Activity Hub is a part of the Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) scheme. Therefore, the Hub uses a biomass boiler that is fuelled by woodchips to produce the necessary heating for the swimming pool and hot water systems. MACPool Activity Hub is also a part of the Feed In Tariff (FIT) scheme and have over 100 solar panels, which generate renewable electricity.

During previous winters, however, the quality of the fuel source has declined, causing our boilers to malfunction. It is essential that our boilers remain fully operational to comply with regulations concerning water and air temperatures. When we do not meet these regulations, we are forced to close the pool, cancelling valuable swimming lessons, fitness classes and pre-programmed sessions, thus losing credibility and revenue.

Our vision is to expand on the foundations of what we have created so far, improving integral community bonds, while seeking other connections to become a cornerstone of the community. To sustain our efforts, we aim to secure funding for a secondary heating source and to upgrade the storage silo, to allow us to change over from woodchips to wood pellets. This will enable us to remain in the RHI scheme while continuing to develop our programs and timetable, while also fostering partnerships that align with the needs of the community. 

No supports
LOGO

Lorn and Oban Reuse Initiative - Renewals and Expansion Project

2025-05-30  •  1 comment  •  The GRAB Trust  •  Regeneration Capital Grant Fund

What we want to do - Lorn and Oban Reuse Initiative (LORI) is our long-standing furniture reuse project based in Oban, serving communities for over 15 years. The project, which aims to achieve a Zero Waste society, diverts furniture, household goods and electricals etc. into reuse and before [these] unwanted items enter the waste hierarchy. In the last 12 months, LORI has supported over 11500 customers including businesses, individuals and families. Those in poverty and personal crisis, those displaced by war in Ukraine and communities challenged by the ongoing cost of living crisis. “Such a fantastic way to reduce wasting perfectly good products. Furniture is top quality and the staff I met were friendly, welcoming and incredibly helpful.” CustomerThis is an exciting period for our charity, as we are planning a major expansion of our work to enable us to better support the growing number of people who come to us for help. Our plans are well advanced including planning consent and building warrant for the proposed improvements and renewals to increase available floor space to meet the growing demand for reuse goods. GRAB has set aside reserves to contribute to the cost of these improvements.Under this grant we propose to move forward rapidly with the project. Available match funding already secured will support project management and admin resources and back LORI during any disruption to trade while improvements take place. Under this grant, captal funds will be deployed to prepare groundworks and the foundations to accommodate new modular buildings, the purchase of new buildings to replace derelict and delapidated units and much-needed welfare facilities. And extensive refurbishment to an existing building.    Why the project is needed - In Argyll and Bute, landfill accounts for around half of the Council’s annual production of Carbon Dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e). (Source: Argyll and Bute Council Decarbonisation Plan 2021). Positive changes will the project bring about - Planet – Tackling the climate emergency, LORI reduces landfill; 45% of greenhouse gases come from products we use and purchase. Saving valuable resources from landfill, LORI reduces the communities’ carbon footprint and cuts emissions.  In Oban and Lorn approx. 858 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste is produced each year.  Currently just over 10% or 86 tonnes is diverted through reuse by The GRAB Trust.  People – supporting local people and creating jobs, LORI supports communities to utilise existing resources, LORI has steadily increased volumes diverted from landfill each year; diverting over 450 tonnes from landfill in the last 8 years. The initiative sustains 7 jobs and 12 regular volunteers.  Pounds – Strengthening the circular economy we offer low cost, high quality furniture and homewares to everyone as a sustainable, low cost alternative to buying new.  LORI supports the Circular Economy by keeping existing resources in use for longer and our not-for-profit community enterprise now recirculates over £120,000 in our communities annually. Reducing the tax burden, LORI decreases landfill tax, saving local taxpayers over £8,000 annually. Place – engaging and empowering communities LORI is a place where ideas flourish. We support community groups and partners in the third sector. We help businesses like cafes, hotels and Air B&B furnish their premises.  We help communities to share and to learn new skills; reusing and repairing is a creative way to try new things, gain useful skills, appreciate what we already have and find new uses to make the most of it.  GRAB is part of Circular Communities Scotland Share and Repair Network and LORI is a source for tools for makers and craftsmen - keeping traditions alive.Our renewals project at LORI will ensure communities are supported for years to come - increase available floorspace by 80%, introduce welfare facilities for staff and volunteers and extend product lines – the new provision of running water at the site will open up the possibility of testing white goods (washing machines & dishwashers) for example. With increased floorspace LORI will better serve the growing demand for reuse, further reduce landfill and offer increased support to the circular economy in Oban and Lorn.   

No supports