Who we are
Sleat Community Trust was formed in 2003 to support sustainable development in the Sleat (pronounced 'slate') Peninsula on the Isle of Skye. This area, known as the 'garden of Skye' has been one of the fastest-growing rural areas of Scotland, with extensive community and educational developments and a lively and growing population. The trust has over 440 individual members, with over 40 people being involved in the various groups. Over 70 per cent of the local population are members of the trust.
The principal objectives of the trust are to promote the area for the benefit of the inhabitants. This includes areas such as education, poverty, leisure and social facilities, development of local businesses and the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. This is achieved through several sub-groups of the trust, which include:
- transport
- forestry
- tourism
- sports
- housing
- environment
The trust also has two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Sleat Community Trading and Sleat Renewables Limited.
What we do
The objectives of Sleat Community Trust are to:
- communicate clearly and regularly with our membership and the community;
- identify the key developments which will make Sleat an even better place to live;
- maximise the community benefit from possible renewable energy projects in our area;
- secure the maximum amount of external funding to achieve some or all of the business plan objectives, avoiding any conflict with the traditional role of Highland/Community Council; and
- make use of all public/private association resources and if necessary, external professional advice to achieve their objectives.
The achievements of Sleat Community Trust vary from asset ownership to developing renewable energy sources.
In 2007, the trust purchased its first asset, The Skye Ferry Filling Station, and established the Sleat Community Trading Company to manage this.
Since then it has gone on to develop the site, with a petrol station and on-site shop, which now includes the local Post Office, as well as providing a site for tourist information. It has leased the garage element of the business and has tenancy for the adjoining house.
Sleat Renewables Limited was established in 2007 with the aim of taking forward a number of renewables project, for the community. Currently, Sleat Renewables Ltd is working on three projects:
- a Community Wind Energy Development which is exploring the opportunity for a community owned wind turbine;
- a Biomass Supply Company which supplies woodchips to the local college;
- Clean Sleat - which is a carbon reduction project.
What next?
The trust is currently exploring the possibility of purchasing an area of local forestry at Tormore, estimated to be around 1,000 acres and which is currently owned by the Forestry Commission Scotland. It is hoped that this will generate employment and provide sustained income to the community, through the sale of timber products. The trust is also planning to improve the land by introducing open spaces and biodiversity, as well as recreational facilities for children and families.
The trust has received £99,000 from the Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund to increase awareness of climate change issues and reduce carbon emissions by 33 per cent over two years. The Clean Sleat project has already been active in the key areas of waste, transport, energy and food.
Clean Sleat activities include educational events to share information, expansion of a fledgling wood fuel business to supply more homes and businesses in the community with renewable fuel for heating and encouraging people to look at alternative transport methods. Residents are being given advice on the installation of micro-renewable technologies in their homes and a recent event has seen individuals building their own solar panels.
Consumption of locally-produced food has been promoted and a free-to-hire cultivator is available to help people grow their own fruit and vegetables. Many home energy audits have been carried out which are completed with a full infra-red camera survey. Advice is also given on home insulation and energy reduction products and techniques.
In addition, the trust also lobbies officials to improve local transport services, recently introducing a subsidised taxi scheme for residents and has successfully petitioned for better home and business recycling facilities.
Contact details
If you would like to know more about Sleat Community Trust, please contact:
Email: blue1.skye@btinternet.com
Websites: www.sleatcommunitytrust.co.uk and www.cleansleat.co.uk