Foreword from our Chair
Thank you for taking the time to read our account of the past 12 months. It's been another busy and exciting period for Coigach with new opportunities presenting themselves, and a significant milestone reached with the development of our plans for ten new affordable homes at Achagarry. There’s plenty more besides, as this report explores. None of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of CCDC’s staff team, the tireless efforts of our Board of volunteer directors, and the wider support of you, our membership.
I hope you enjoy reading the report.
Vision for Coigach
Coigach will be a thriving community, made up of people of all ages, where the school roll is rising. We are building a more diverse, more sustainable economy.
Strategic Objectives
Housing
In 2024 CCDC’s affordable housing project developed from the acquisition of the former Hydroponicum site to a project with its own identity, developing through communityconsultationtothedesignof10newHomesforCoigach.
Achagarry (Ach a Garraidh) - Field or place of the garden, was submitted for planning permission in September of 2024. The name recognises the legacy of the former Hydroponicumandwaschoseninconsultationwiththelocalcommunity.
Planning Spring 2025 Building 2025 - 2026
Ready Spring 2027
After acquiring the site with financial assistance from the Scottish Land Fund and support from Communities Housing Trust, Catoe/Brown were appointed as architects. The team started to develop the design in consultation with the communityandtheCCDCboard.
Once the site concept was agreed the design developed to arrive at 10 new affordable homes, a mix of two and three bedroomed properties, arranged as a terrace, cottage flat block of four and two semi detached three bed houses. The latter two are envisaged being homes for discounted sale with a rural housing burden; the other homes will be for social rent
CCDC hopes to develop further housing projects as new developments are realised acrossCoigach.
Infrastructure
InFebruarywemetwithOldDornieHarbourusers whoaskedCCDCtosupporttheirneedsby workingwiththeCommunityCounciltofindout whethertheHighlandCouncilwouldallowsome upgradestofacilitiesorconsideracommunity assettransfer.
InSeptemberwemetwithHighlandCouncil Officers,ScottishSeaFarmsandSummerIsles Enterprisesattheharbour todiscuss requirements.
ThishasresultedinSummerIslesEnterprises pullingtogetheranapplicationtoimprovethe slipwaynexttothepierandtoarevivaloftalks withHighlandCouncilonafuturecommunity assettransferorlease.
The Achiltibuie Community Garden
This year CCDC were given the opportunity to run a pilot community growing project along at the Achiltibuie Garden site.
There have been weekly volunteer sessions, andlarger community gatherings, which included a Climate Festival event on a beautiful, sunny afternoon in September where folk had the chance to have an al fresco head massage, watch cooking demonstrations and indulge in Steve’s famous paella.
Thanks to our two community gardeners, Steve and Cathy, to the team of volunteers and to expert help from Tanera, progress has been huge and much has been grown. The old raised beds have been rebuilt and refilled; the hydroponic system is up and running again; a new water tank and a composting loo have been installed; a community hub has been created and an honesty box has been established at the roadside. We will be running events over the winter and planning what to grow next year.
Charitable Giving 35
Coigach Community Fund hassupportedpeopleinour communitysincetheturbinestartedgeneratingin2017. Thisyear,aswellassupportinglocalhouseholdswiththe EnergyGrant,thereisnowanEnergyImprovementGrant (formakinglong-termimprovementstoyourenergy efficiency).
WehaverecentlyaddedaGrantforNon-constitutedGroups whichcanhelppilotprojectsorideasgetofftheground.So far,CCDChasfundedaone-daycreativewritingworkshop andhelpedagroupofvolunteersbuymaterials&suppliesfor thespooktacularHalloweenpartylastmonth.
WehavealsowelcomedtwonewbabiesinCoigachthisyear!
Beneficiaries
“This is wonderful for X as it gives him a rare opportunity to mix with a sizeable group of children his age (something he misses out on at school) and is a good change from constantly kicking a ball around. He has learnt more creative thinking, and his diction and confidence has really improved” L
“[CCDC]...enabled us to purchase two new boat trailers. The new trailers are fully roadworthy, allowing us to be mobile and to represent the Coigach club at regattas, championships and challenges….. We are delighted with their performance and look forward to travelling with them”.
LM
“Earlier this year I received help from the community fund to go towards a laptop for my studies in Indian head massage and now sound healing. I am extremely grateful for the needed help and feel very lucky to qualify”. J
“..funding provided by CCDC to support living costs while studying has made a substantial difference to myself financially… I am currently studying Marine Engineering at City of Glasgow Nautical college and as part of my training I am spending 4 months onboard a passenger vessel. The funding provided to me has made a significant difference during my time onboard and at college by contributing to my living costs.”
“...We were able to restart Fèis an Iar Thuath and bring music tutors over to Achiltibuie to teach and complete the day with a ceilidh. We are so grateful to CCDC for the help in making it happen and can’t wait to do it again!” AW
Myself in the engine room of the Regal Princess where I am carrying out my training as the practical element of my course
Coigach Community Rowing
Managing our Assets
Aftercarefullyconsideringallouroptionsandtryingoutvariousbusiness ideas,lastyearwetookthedecisionto sell the Smokehouse.
InOctober2024weclosedadealwithSummerIslesEnterprisesandsoldthe sitefor£200,000,freeingupsomemuchneededcapitaltohelpwiththe buildingcostsofAchagarry.
Background:In2012thepreviousowners,SummerIslesSeafoods, announcedtheirintentiontoclosethesmokehouseandmoveoperationsto theirInvergordonbase,CCDCtookthedecisiontobuythebuildinginthe hopesofsalvagingsomeofthe12jobsthathadexistedtheir. Itprovedtobe morecomplicatedthanhopedbutwegainedcommunityownershipin2013 thankstotheScottishLandFundandalocalfundraisingcampaignthat garneredmanygenerousdonations. Overtheyearsithasbeenhometoa laundry,artstudio,andhasbeenusefulasastoragefacilityforlocal fishermen.ForthelastfewyearsitwastheshoresidebaseforScottishSea FarmswhonowhavetheirownpremisesatOldDornie. ArticleinTheHerald.
InJune Badentarbat Estate wasputupforthe sale,forthefirsttimeinover60years.CCDCwere approachedbyIanWacewithanoffertohelpfund thepurchaseoftheestateforthecommunity.A verywellattendedpublicmeetingwasheldlater thatmonth,atwhichthosepresent–inpersonand online–votedoverwhelminglyinfavourof communityownership.Afteranintense4months ofnegotiationsandduediligencethesale completedinlateOctoberwiththecommunity, throughCCDC,nowowningapproximately90%of theestate(thelandundercroftingtenure)andthe remainder(non-croftedportion)ownedby SummerIslesEnterprisesLtd.Wehavearranged foraQ&Asessiontobeheldnextweek,andare gratefultorepresentativesfromtheCrofting Commission,CommunityLandScotlandandHIE whowillbetravellingtoCoigachfortheeventto sharethebenefitoftheirexperiencesand knowledge.
TheCommunitiesHousingTrust continuetomanagethetenanciesin our School House flats. Thisyearwecarriedoutavaluationon thebuildingandcontinuedtoinsureit.
Governance, Operations and Staff
Forthepastyearwehavebeentryingoutanewgovernancestructure. Eachofthefollowingworkinggroupshas delegatedresponsibilityfordifferentareasofgovernanceandreportstotheBoard. Groupsmeetasoftenastheyneed to.
CCDC Board
WereviewedhoweverythingwasworkinginSeptemberanddecidedtoreducethenumberoffullboardbusiness meetingsto6peryear,with6morecreativeprogrammegroupmeetingsinbetween. Alldirectorsattend programmegroupmeetingswhilstthereisaleaddirectorforeachoftheothergroupswhomeetswithstaffand othervolunteerstoprovidedirectionandsupport.
Badentarbat Working Group
BecomingaCroftingLandlordhappenedquitesuddenlythisyearandsoCCDCis respondingbyaddinganEstateBusinessWorkingGroup.
ThetermsofreferenceandcompositionarenotyetfinalisedbutitwilldealwithallCrofting relatedmatterssuchasCroftrents,titlesandcommercialactivitiessuchasmineral extractionandleases.
Governance, Operations and Staff
Lastyearwesetouttocarryoutsomeconsultationtohelpdevisean investmentplanforthewindturbineandcontinuetodevelopour housingproject.
Wealsosetourselvessomeobjectives,whichyoucanseeoverthepage. Althoughwehaven’tfinishedeverythingyet,wehavemadegood progressandhaveaddedBadentarbetEstateacquisitionintothemix too!
Staff Management
Weareallgettingusedtohavingamuch biggerteamthisyear!
WehavewelcomedAmyasournew Administrator,HeatherasFinance OfficerandbetweenMayandtheendof October,SteveandCathyjoinedusas communitygardeners.
Seorascontinuestoprovideconsultancy supportforhousingandamongmany projectsJuliamanagesourgrants schemesandAnnMarieleadsthe AchiltibuieGarden. LauraholdstheteamtogetherasCEO, supportedbytheManagementworking group.
Operational Team
Community Gardeners
Husband
Heather
Plans
Considering the three pillars of sustainability (economic, social, and ecological) three new Strategic Objectives to help deliver CCDC’s vision have been adopted from 2024. These will replace and simplify the eight previousobjectives.
CCDC will deliver internal Objectives through it’s working groups.
Coigach’s Priorities
We asked the community to prioritise the many projects that have been put forward over the lastfewyears.
118 individuals took part, 40 of these were aged under 41. We weighted the results in favour of the younger generation by multiplying their scoresby1.2.
Thisproducedtheresultsyouseeontheright.
Any projects with an average score above 8 are consideredtoppriority.
These are: Workshop units, Playgrounds, a Monthly Skip, Bike trails/ Footpaths and a Gym. CCDC shall consider the options for these prioritiesthisyear.
Please note that housing and a cafe are not included as these projects are already going ahead.
Plans 2024 - 2025
Coigach’s environment is incredibly special. National and international designations protect it. The land, sea and sky have a strong impact on us, providing the conditions in which we live. However, as residents of the peninsula, our daily actions and decisions also have an impact on our environment. To ensure future generations can thrive here, we must make decisions that leave Coigach's environment betterthanwefoundit.
To help us make good decisions, CCDC will:
- Reviewouractivitiesanddraftanenvironmentalpolicy
- Planandmeasureprojectimpactusingenvironmentalindicators
Current projects that will have a positive influence on Coigach’s Land and Sea:
- AchiltibuieGarden
- MaintainingandpromotingtheEnergyReductionGrantscheme - BadentarbetEstateCommunityBuy-out
Future projects we will implement:
Plans 2024 - 2025
At the heart of every thriving community are individuals and families who are able to access fullandproductiveemployment and decent working opportunities. This requires the infrastructure such as somewhere affordable to live, broadband internet, premises and office space or toolsandequipment. It also requires opportunities for education and skills development and recognition that economic conditions in remoteruralareasaredifferent tocitiesandurbanareas.
According to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation Coigach is considered to be in the bottom 10% of Scottish communities in terms of access to services due to its geographical location. This leads to a lack of private investment and development as the cost of improving or creating new infrastructure does not generate enough return.
CCDC will work to mitigate this disadvantage in the following ways:
- CompliancewithitsownFairWorkFirstpolicies
- Offeringemploymentopportunities
- RentingofficespacefromCoigachCommunityHalltosharecosts
- Offeringfreeprintingtolocalpeople
- ImplementingourHousingStrategy
- WorkingwiththeNorthWest2045collectiveonsharedeconomic,infrastructureandchildcarechallenges
- BeingthecatalystforHighlandsandIslandsEnterprisetosupportlocalbusinesses
Current projects that will have a positive influence on Coigach’s Working Life:
- Building10affordablehousesatAchagarry
- WorkingwithHighlandCouncilandlocalbusinessestoimproveOldDornieHarbour
- Maintainingandpromotingthefollowinggrantstooffsetcosts:
- DonaldMacleodMemorialEducationandTraining
- SupportingChildrenandYoungPeople
- Non-constitutedgroupsgrant
- EnergyGrant
Future projects we will scope out: Workshopunitsforlightindustry/craftspeopleetc`
Plans 2024 - 2025
People make a thriving community. CCDC recognises that supporting individual and collective Health and Wellbeing is of vital importance if Coigach is to thrive. This includes mental and physical health and wellbeing in all walks of life. Not having good access to services has a heavy impact on our community, and so it falls to individuals and family members and us as a community of people to support one another. Human wellbeing is also closely linked to our sense of place, communityandheritage.
CCDC can support good health and wellbeing by:
- Supporting community groups that provide social and active opportunities
- Supportingcommunitygroupsthatsafeguardandpromoteheritage
- Working with the North West 2045 collective on shared community transportandhealthcareprovisionchallenges
Current projects that will have a positive influence on Coigach’s Health and Wellbeing:
- VolunteerdaysandsocialeventsatAchiltibuieGarden
- Maintaining and promoting the Wellbeing, and Community groups grantschemes
Future projects we will scope out:
Supporting our work…
Thebestwayyoucansupportourworkisbybecomingamember. CCDCandthe workofitsBoardandStaffwouldn’texistwithoutyou! External funders such as the National Lottery or Scottish Land Fund need to see that thereisstronglocalsupportforthedevelopmentcompany. Thewaytheydothisisthroughaskinghowmanyresidentsaremembers.
…becoming a member
You can help attract investment into Coigach for housing, community gardens, a cafe and more by signing up asamember.
Beyond that, there is no obligation to attend meetings, but you can use membership to vote at members meetings and serve on the Board of Directors.
Formavailablehere
Our Trustees
Richard Williams Iain
Scott
Rich has been a Director of CCDC since 2017, and Chair since 2021. He is an advocate for community partnership projects. His major contributions have been the groundwork for the Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership Scheme and more recently through the John Muir Trust as their partnerships lead for the North West Highlands. Rich lives in Achvraie with his young family.
Iain is a Chartered Management
Accountant, with an MBA and is a Chartered Director. Iain worked for the three largest construction companies in Scotland and has been responsible for up to 7,500 staff in his career. Since 2004, Iain primarily works with small companies to raise funds and grow. Iain has a home in Achiltibuie and has been a director of CCDC for 10 years.
Ben is CCDC Vice chair. He was raised in Coigach and was for many years a self-employed fisherman creel fishing in local waters for shellfish and was a key member of the pier users group. He now runs his own contracting and haulage company. Ben was one of the first directors of CCDC in 2010. In his “spare” time, Ben keeps highland cattle on his croft, has built his own family home and is a member of the local retained firefighter team.
Ben Walton
Alison Urquhart
Alison is a qualified building services engineer. She has worked with community organisations developing social enterprise initiatives and for CCDC as development officer for the former Achiltibuie Smokehouse building. She completed a housing options' appraisal for CCDC, and worked as Powerdown Officer for Lochbroom, promoting and developing community renewable energy schemes.
Julie Edwards
On Wednesdays Julie runs the local library, other days she is the administrator for the Community Hall, and is a director of Achiltibuie Garden which grows and supplies fresh produce. Julie’s own business includes catering for events and functions. Julie is also a member of Coigach Community Council and undertakes local fundraising for several national charities.
Sheila was brought up on the family croft in Achnahaird, and worked in Edinburgh as a business studies teacher and in London as head of a school business studies department. Sheila and her husband David later owned and ran a successful hotel business in Strathpeffer before returning to Coigach with their young family. Finally retiring from teaching at Ullapool High School in 2016, Sheila has been a trustee since 2019.
Sheila Green
Our Trustees
Iain grew up locally in the village of Altandhu and currently works on a prawn creel fishing boat out of the local harbour. He is one of our newest trustees and is a member of CCDC’s Grants committee. He became a trustee so that he can help with projects within the local community for its benefit.
Dan lives in Coigach with his young family and is one of CCDC’s newest Directors. He currently sits on the Programme working group.
Robin’s works for Summer Isles Enterprises as Land and Community Manager and manages all aspects of work to do with the land, livestock and community on the Isle of Tanera Mor. On the mainland he has the use of a croft where he and his wife raise their own livestock. Robin is an enthusiastic member of the Coigach Coastal Rowing team. His grandfather, Robert Irvine ran the set up the Hydroponocum and ran the Summer Isles Hotel. Robin has a PhD in Social Anthropology, specialising in human, animal and landscape relationships.
Robin Irvine
Dan Walton
Our affiliations
