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January 19, 2021
Placing trust in our young people
Rural communities, particularly the most remote ones, face the perennial threat of depopulation and it is the young, mainly for reasons of employment and a lack of affordable housing, who feel most acutely the need to leave. But given half a chance, many would stay which perhaps explains why so many young people are taking the lead in developing projects which might just make that possible. On Raasay, the challenge of leading the development of two hydro schemes and a major community share offer has been handed to the island’s youth team.
Raasay Community Renewables, notable for its young management committee, has a target of £650,000, with aims to install two turbines with a combined output of 127kW. Their share offer also aims to pay 4% interest to shareholders.
Situated between the Applecross peninsula and the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Raasay (Eilean Ratharsair in Gaelic) is home to 170 people and a rich variety of wildlife and plants. Its name means ‘Isle of the Roe Deer’.
In September 2020, the community set up Raasay Community Renewables Ltd (RCR), a Community Benefit Society (FCA registration number 8459) to develop sustainable energy infrastructure projects that will contribute to supporting the local population and environment.
They invite you to buy shares in their community owned hydro-electric generation schemes which harnesses the combined potential of two run of river hydros – the 99KW Inverarish Burn Hydro and the 38KW Mine Burn Hydro. This is a fantastic opportunity to invest in social and environmental causes and see a financial return for your support in the years to come.
For more information and a short video on Raasay Community Renewables
…..and just across the water, on the Isle of Skye there’s another hydro scheme that is seeking investors. Sleat Hydro, has raised £60,000 towards a target of £235,000. Their share offer, which closes at the end of January, aims to offer investors 4% interest for their support of the 34kW installation. For more information visit their website.
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