Sleat Community Trust [SCT] hosted this year’s Highland and Islands’ Community Energy Company [HICEC] Conference. The conference was held at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig [SMO], Scotland’s Gaelic College, in Sleat between 15-17 October and was deemed an appropriate venue in more ways than one.
While many were sunning themselves abroad during the October break, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig was buzzing with community trust animateurs, each of whom was working towards a clearer vision for renewable energy projects and sustainable development within their respective communities.
The aim of the conference was to bring together practitioners from Community Trusts from the north and west coasts of Scotland, with an opportunity for both knowledge transfer and networking amongst like-minded practitioners.
Over 120 delegates descended on the College and were warmly and bilingually welcomed by SCT Vice-Chair Nicola Thomson and Chair of HICEC, Lorne MacLeod. Duncan MacInnes, Chairman of SCT introduced Sleat and turned the perception of ourseves on its head with an upside-down map. “We need to be able to see our potential from our point of view” he said, “not from the standard southern misconception of our communities.” SCT also produced a special edition of its newsletter to give a broad illustration of all the exciting projects currently underway within the Trust.
The conference then kicked off with an interesting and encouraging presentation from Alan Hobbett, Senior Manager of Social Housing with Dunfermline Building Society, who played and continues to play an essentialrole in the regeneration of Gigha as a community-owned island.
Four parallel sessions followed, on topics such as mobilising the community, project development and negotiating grant schemes. Afternoon sessions looked at carbon neutral communities, investment for community benefit, negotiating the planning system and finance pitfalls and possibilities. Session leaders were well informed with experience in each field or were being used as part of a case study to illustrate the points. The achievement of Carbon Neutrality needs national leadership and community innovation. While energy efficiency might not be a ‘sexy’subject it can be financially and educationally rewarding for commuites and individuals. When Investing for Community Benefit, communities need to be prepared to work together and not be afraid of the concept of debt.
Late afternoon saw the delegates congregate once again to summarise what had been learned throughout the day. It was interesting to discover that there are 423 development trusts currently in the UK with £430 million of assets and a total income of £240 million. In addition, 5,000 staff are directly employed with development trusts and well over 15,000 volunteers are helping to lead the way in creating sustainable environments for our communities.
SCT’s role in organising the conference started back in June 2007. Much of the administration was carried out by Henry Mains, Trust Secretary, who also sought out all available accommodation in the area for delegates unable to stay at the College itself. SCT cooperated with SMO Facilities staff to ensure the best available resources for the conference from suitable conference rooms, to ICT requirements to catering, all of which were of a high standard. The College minibus was hired out and Henry was able to taxi people to and from as the local taxi firm were as it happened on holiday that week. SCT also took care of the entertainment side of the conference. Through the Chairman’s invovlement in the Skye Festival, a lively cèilidhon the second evening with some excellent local musicianssaw everyone up and dancing.
The benefits to Sleat and to the Trust due to this conference have been numerous. Not only did it boost figures for local B&Bs and hotels for this time or year, it also raised the profile of Sleat Community Trust. “We are very proud to be able to show off the area in which we live and demonstrate its suitability to so many of the potential energy resources tht the area boasts, fitting in well the conference themes” said SCT Chairman, Duncan MacInnes.
In addition, the College was a very suitable venue where along with its new centre for creative and cultural industries, Fàs, the infrastructure for a biomass boiler system is currently being installed, which will heat the new and current campus as well as any future buildings in the pipeline. This is just one local example of the Community Trust working with local businesses to benefit the community as a whole, as the project itself will provide local green jobs.
Day two of the conference began with a presentation from Ken Brady, Energy Saving Trust about The Potential for Combined Heat and Power. John Booth then presented the astonishing community involvement in the complex electricifation of Eiggthrough renewable energy sources. A wide range of technical surgeries was then made available to the delegates including biomass, small hydro, wind projects, heat pumps and bio-fuel. An open forum continued into the afternoon where practitioners were able to voice their own views and seek answers from colleagues to many of the issues that they have come up against. John Watt led a useful and positve open discussion about the role and efficacy of HICEC in supporting and measuring the social and environmental benefits of community projects.
Broadcaster and journalist, Mike Stephen, closed the conference with a view of the Wider Picture. His impressive and stimulating speech focused on issues of global warming and role of communities. However small we are, he assured the conference, the most effective way of addressing these major issues is through activity on the ground. For all of us, it is question of survival, at a communityand environmental level. Collectively we can provide is a common vision.
The conference, overall, had been a great success with lots of networking opportunities as well as a fine opportunity for knowledge transfer on the current hot issues related to renewable energy within communities.
The Sleat Community Trust is grateful to HICEC for allowing them the opportunity to host this important conference, and look forward to working together in the future as well as with the many others involved in community trust work all along the West coast of Scotland.