Community Anchor Organisations
Much of the community sector is made up of informal, often unconstituted and unfunded activity. Largely sitting under the radar of the local authority and other public bodies, this mass of local activity nonetheless generates the vitally important ‘social glue’ on which our society depends. Alongside this rich texture of informal community life, often there will be a number of more formal and constituted voluntary organisations, many of whom will have specific interests such as running the community transport service, a local food growing project or the locally based credit union and so on.
In addition to all this formal and informal community activity, there is now a substantial body of evidence to support the view that those communities that are most effective in being able to self organise and respond to whatever challenges they might face, all have something in common. And that is the presence of a particular type of organisation (sometimes more than one, working in partnership) which sits under the control and ownership of local people. These organisations are typically well respected within the community and are considered to offer a degree of local leadership on behalf of others when representing the interests of that community to external stakeholders. These organisations may also own a range of community assets (land and buildings) and possess the means to generate their own independent income stream. Typically they play a supportive and nurturing role in relation to much of the informal local activity outlined above.
These organisations have come to be known as Community Anchor Organisations. A term first coined in 2004 in a UK Home Office report – Firm Foundations – SCA has consistently advocated for this concept to be incorporated into the developing national policy discourse around community empowerment and the renewal of local democracy.
Examples of Community Anchor Organisations
Birse Community Trust (BCT)
Birse covers over 125sq. km on Deeside in the north-east of Scotland. The parish (district) has four main parts: the three scattered rural communities of Finzean, Ballogie and Birse and the largely uninhabited Forest of Birse, which covers over a quarter of the parish’s total area. The parish has around 330 households, with half of the population living in Finzean …
Blantyre Miners Welfare Charitable Society
After 90 years of working for the community, Blantyre Miners Welfare Charitable Society’s latest challenge is to turn its recently completed, state-of-the-art Community Resource Centre into a successful, sustainable and income-generating enterprise; one that can continue to support its wide range of community activities.
Cassiltoun Housing Association
Cassiltoun Housing Association started life as the Castlemilk East Housing Co-operative in 1984, when nine tenants in the Ballantay area decided to do something about the appalling conditions they were living in. With the support of Glasgow City Council, 90 of the Council’s houses were eventually transferred to ‘the co-op’, the first such housing stock transfer in Glasgow. Today Cassiltoun …
Coalburn Miners Welfare Charitable Society
From the 1850s, Coalburn developed as a railway settlement associated with the local coal mines. With the closure of the last colliery in 1968 and the railway closure in 1971, the village suffered from unemployment and isolation and the population declined significantly. The Coalburn Miners’ Charitable Society, which is at the heart of the community with many of the town’s …
Community Central Hall (CCH)
A former regeneration area, with strong industrial links, Greater Maryhill has seen a renaissance in recent years. However the community still has a poor health record, and suffers from youth gang territorialism. A diverse community, with many cultures living alongside each other, Maryhill still has the spirit of “old” Glasgow and the friendly community feel within the City Centre. Community …
Community Links (South Lanarkshire)
Community Links is an independent Lanarkshire-based Community Anchor organisation. Established in 2002, Community Links has a proven track record and passion for working with, encouraging and supporting communities to co-produce sustainable and meaningful involvement, participation and community-owned change. We are a value-based organisation, and this is reflected in how we deliver our services and interact with the communities we serve.
Comrie Development Trust (CDT)
Comrie Development Trust, set up in 2006, is a charitable organisation owned and managed by local people living within the boundary of Comrie and District area – Strathearn. The aim of the Development Trust is to promote the sustainable development of the village for the benefit of local people, groups and businesses. In September 2007, the CDT purchased Cultybraggan – …
Connect Community Trust
Established in September 2003 the organisation evolved through the drive of the local housing provider and the need to focus on regeneration and service development for the community as a whole. Connect is a catalyst and key partner for activities that address a wide range of local people’s needs including training, education, social needs, financial literacy, health, wellbeing and employment. …
Creetown Initiative Ltd (CI)
In 2000 a group of local people came together to address the need for affordable housing in the Creetown area. This led to the setting up in 2004 of the Creetown Initiative to address local needs and the delivery of a range of regeneration projects to support the local economy including: environmental, renewables, sport and healthy living, community facilities, art …
Ferguslie Park Housing Association
Ferguslie Park Housing Association, a community-based Housing Association, is the largest social landlord in Ferguslie Park with some 784 properties. In October 2006 the Association became the new owners and managers of the Tannahill Community Centre. This Centre is the hub of Ferguslie Park and is home to a wealth of community facilities including a health centre, nursery, post office, …
Glenboig Development Trust
Glenboig village is located 3 miles to the north of Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire. Its quiet rural setting belies a significant industrial heritage which included world renowned fireclay brickworks, coal mining and significant rail links.
Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT)
The Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) was formed in 2001 as a direct result of the foot and mouth outbreak which severely knocked the area. The main aim of the trust has been to transform the derelict Victorian Kells Primary School into a centre for community, cultural and business activities. Within three months the local community had contributed enough …
Glenuig Community Association
The commitment of local people to music and culture led during 1980s to, first, the Glenuig Music Festival, and then the establishment of the Glenuig Community Association. The Association has now delivered the purpose-built Glenuig Hall to house its extensive arts programme and other community’s activities. It’s now branching out into other social enterprises, and using its activities and the …
Greener Kirkcaldy
Greener Kirkcaldy is a community-led charity and development trust working in Kirkcaldy and throughout Fife. It would like to see a future where everyone is able to heat their home affordably, eat well, and tread more lightly on our planet. The charity works towards that by delivering projects to meet the needs of local people: tackling fuel and food poverty, …
Huntly & District Development Trust
The community of Huntly and District established Huntly & District Development Trust (HDDT) in 2009 as a follow up to the Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership (ATP), which aimed to help towns in the shire become better places to live, work and visit. Located on the periphery of Aberdeenshire, Huntly missed out on the oil and gas boom enjoyed by Aberdeen and …
Inverclyde Community Development Trust – known locally as ‘The Trust’
The Trust was established in 1996, following previous work by local organisations from the late 80’s to support people made unemployed by the shipyard closures. Its Mission: to create jobs; remove obstacles; provide services. It has grown into a community enterprise that employs over 100 local people, with a turnover of £3 million, and provides training, care and regeneration services …
Iomairt Chille Chomain
In summer 2001, 18 hectares of land on the outskirts of Port Charlotte on the Isle of Islay was put on the open market. The land consisted of a football pitch that was well used, highly valued and maintained by the local football team. The possible loss of this facility galvanised residents to research the possibility of the community purchasing …
Kirkshaws Neighbourhood Centre
The community of Kirkshaws is located at the southern edge of Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire. Kirkshaws Neighbourhood Centre (KNC) was established in 1989 with support from Urban Aid funding to convert an ‘old housing stock’ 3 storey tenement into a community facility. Over the years there have been significant changes in the areas physical appearance, in particular through improvements to …
Knoydart Foundation
The Foundation was established in 1997 and with the help of many supporters bought out the remains of the Knoydart estate in 1999.Since then it has created significant assets for the whole community and we have 11 properties which are rented out at affordable rents, support community development, operate a ranger service and provide support for tourists and visitors, run …
Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust
Since 2011, KoSDT has been helping the local communities, organisations and businesses of Ardgay and Creich to access opportunities, whilst bringing in millions of pounds in investment. The trust has run many ambitious projects that provide valuable employment and training opportunities while generating long-term sustainable benefits. Key examples include rebuilding the burned-down Falls of Shin tourist attraction, and buying out …
Lochcarron Community Development Company (LCDC)
LCDC was formed in 2009 in order to revitalise the Lochcarron community to ensure the long term economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability of the Lochcarron community. They acquired and revitalised the 96 hectare Kirkton Wood that lies behind the west coast Highland village to create a thriving community woodland, complete with small business units, a wood-fuel business and a …
Machrihanish Airbase Community Company
Established in March 2008, MACC was formed by a group of people who shared the same passion and determination to see the airbase facilities used for the benefit of the Kintyre community. Coming from all walks of life, the group included the site’s former Works Service Manager, local business people and other members of the community. Embarking on one of …
Muirkirk Enterprise Group
Muirkirk Enterprise Group originated in 2000 as an offshoot from the Muirkirk Community Council with the aim of regenerating Muirkirk. The ongoing aim is to provide sustainable regeneration to the whole village community, and to create pride, respect and hope for the village for generations to come. MEG has gone on to design and develop a large number of projects …
Neilston Development Trust
The trust has its roots in a community project, “Neilston: Space to Live”, that was set up by residents in 2004 to work for spatial and cultural renewal in Neilston. In November 2005, the closure of the only bank in Neilston was announced. After an unsuccessful community campaign against the closure, the community decided to invoke the Community Right to …
Newlands Community Development Trust
When in 2003 Newlands Primary School was threatened with closure, a parents group worked to convince the Council to save the school. The group was also concerned for the wellbeing of their rural community: isolation, distance from facilities and services, and a lack of employment opportunities, all impact significantly on the quality of life there. In 2007 the Trust was …
Out of the Blue Arts & Education Trust
Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust is based in the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh. Our vision is that Edinburgh becomes a creative, participative city in which everyone is able to access the spaces and resources they require to pursue their own creativity, no matter who they are and what form it may …
Pearce Institute (PI)
Govan was the centre of world shipbuilding during the industrial revolution, but subsequent closure of the shipyards lead to unemployment, a high crime rate, derelict land and a decimated business community. A grass roots kick-back against that decline has led to community-based regeneration of the area and the Pearce Institute (locally known as the PI) has been at the heart …
Princess Royal Sports and Community Trust
The Princess Royal Sports & Community Trust was set up in 1997 to provide sport and leisure activities, both at its centre and through its outreach work. The Trust owns the stadium building it operates from and it provides facilities for physical recreation and leisure time activity, including a multi-gym, astro-turf sports pitches, and out-of-school childcare. The Trust also delivers …
Renton Community Development Trust
The Renton Community Development Trust (the Trust) was established in 2004 to develop further the regeneration progress already being made in the village of Renton and to look at ways of developing the skills that exist in the community to ensure its long-term sustainability and viability. The strategy is to move away from grant dependency and encourage enterprise and community …
Sleat Community Trust
When proposals to build a wind-farm in Sleat fell through, the Trust remained intact and now, through the Sleat Community Plan, focuses on the priorities identified by the local people and puts in place actions and projects to progress sustainable community development. In addition to owning and operating the Skye Ferry Filling Station and Tormore Forest, Sleat Community Trust also: …
South West Arts & Music Project
A forward-thinking community development trust, registered charity and SQA-approved organisation that took a dilapidated building within the community and redeveloped it into a dynamic creative media centre. SWAMP uses accredited training, outreach, film, music, digital technologies, gardening and other creative arts to support local residents – especially young people – to enable social change. The trust is proving that the …
The Boyndie Trust Ltd.
The Boyndie Trust was established in 1999 by a group of local people to ensure the broad-based regeneration of the area, including the employability and well-being of people who are disadvantaged in the labour market. The Trust owns and has converted a beautiful red-brick Victorian school building into a visitor centre which attracts 35,000 visitors a year. The centre boasts …
The GalGael Trust
As the tide went out on the shipbuilding history of Govan, many families in the community were left without work and meaning. Modern Govan has been left high and dry by this post-industrial legacy; roots are being lost, values are becoming blurred, and the fast-flowing current of modern life is leaving many behind. GalGael was founded in 1997 and has …
The Langholm Initiative
Born out of the decline of the textile industry in the area, which by the 1990s had left many unemployed and morale low, the Initiative has worked with local business, the community and regional partners to support economic and community regeneration. The results are impressive: a thriving local High St; extensive business support; sustainable tourism; and environmental and cultural developments. …
The Stove Network
The Stove Network brings together people who believe in the value of arts and culture and want to be involved in or support making creativity part of the place they live. Its membership consists of a diverse group of artists and other active citizens, including café-owners, wild food chefs, video artists, DJs, local businesses and retirees. The Stove has run …
Twechar Community Action
A former mining and quarrying village, Twechar is one of Scotland’s 15% most deprived areas. Twechar Community Action was formed in 2001 as a response to the closure of the Local Aurthority owned recreation centre in Twechar. Twechar Community Action transformed the centre into the Twechar Healthy Living and Enterprise Centre – a community hub which houses a full time …
West Harris Trust
The West Harris Trust is a community charity that was established to create and improve the housing and employment opportunities, and promote renewable energy and sustainable development in the west of the island. The trust has proven that a long history of declining population and limited opportunities can be turned around by local people being able to determine the priorities …
West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd Craft and Design Town Project (WKCIL)
The loss of large-scale manufacturing jobs in West Kilbride resulted in above average unemployment. The high street lost many traditional retail outlets replaced by empty and unkempt shops. West Kilbride began to suffer from vandalism, a poor image and a lack of services. The West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd Craft and Design Town Project (WKCIL) drove the strategy of a …
West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative
The Co-operative was formed in 1989 by local tenants determined to challenge the social deprivation on their estate. With support from government and their staff team, they set about a community-led regeneration: the results are high-quality housing and services for their community, and a restored sense of local pride in the area. Other benefits include a Community Resource Centre which …
Westray Development Trust
Westray is the largest of Orkney’s North Isles that until the mid 90’s was characterized by depopulation, a decline in traditional industries (agriculture and fishing), a limited range of employment opportunities and geographical remoteness that was adversely affecting the cost of living and the provision of services. The development trust was established in 1998 in response to these challenges. Many …
WHALE Arts Agency
When construction of Edinburgh’s Wester Hailes began in the late 1960’s, poor planning, lack of service provision and sub-standard housing brought the community together in a series of campaigns. While regeneration has meant that much of the initial housing stock, including 18 ‘high flats’, have been demolished, such significant physical changes impacted on the community’s social and cultural resiliance. Initiated …
Woolfords, Auchengray and Tarbrax Improvement Foundation (WAT IF?)
The WAT IF? area covers the three rural villages of Woolfords, Auchengray and Tarbrax, along with several small hamlets and outlying settlements. 90% of the area is in South Lanarkshire, with 10% in West Lothian, covering the small hamlet of Cobbinshaw. The Trust was formed in 2012 to ensure that community benefit funds from the various windfarm developments in the …
South Seeds
South Seeds is based in the heart of Glasgow’s southside on the high street. It supports residents to live more sustainable lives in one of Scotland’s most densely populated areas. The Southside Tool Library is very popular with over 500 items on its inventory. Each year South Seeds offers residents the opportunity to adopt-a-raised bed in its community garden. South …