The Sunart Community Company is a registered charity. It serves the interests and aspirations of all the community across Sunart.
Since our foundation in 2007, the Sunart Community Company has grown and diversified, becoming involved in a large number of different projects that have contributed to the improvement of our community, its economy, society and culture.
How the Sunart Community Company works
The Sunart Community has a Board up of Directors, who are also registered as Charity Trustees. These are all voluntary positions and comprise nine elected Directors, plus representatives from the Sunart Community Council, the Angling Association and up to three co-opted members of the local community.
Additionally, any member of the local community, who is registered on the electoral role, can become an Ordinary Member. Membership is free and simply shows a commitment to the future of the community in which we all live or work. It also gives you the opportunity to become actively involved in any of the exciting and diverse projects and initiatives that the Sunart Community Company is working on.
How the Sunart Community Company is structured
The Board of Directors meet approximately once a month and are responsible for the long-term vision and strategy, and the day-to-day operation of the charity and its current projects.
Each key project, such as the development of Longrigg Woodland or the creation of a Community Hub, is normally set up as a working group, comprising one or more Directors together with other community organisations or volunteers from the Sunart area. Depending on the needs of the project, subject-matter experts may also be involved.
At present, there are seven different project areas, each at deferents ages of maturity:
- Oakwood Tourism & Crafts
- Dualchas Heritage Group
- Paths Network
- Longrigg Woodland
- Loch Development
- Social Group
- Men’s Shed
Fund raising and allocation
The funds to allow each project to be developed come from several sources:
- Sunart Community Renewables
- Fund-raising activities
- Fund and grant applications to one of the many charity, lottery or local and national government bodies.
Sunart Community Renewables was originally established by the Sunart Community Company and is run operated as a separate body. The company currently manages the hydro scheme, which uses one of our natural resources to generate electricity. This is sold at a profit to Scottish Power. Once operating costs are covered all remaining profits, which in wet years can be considerable, are transferred to the Sunart Community Company.
Over the years, the Directors of The Sunart Community Company has been extremely successful in winning grant allocations from a wide range of sources. Collectively, these funds have been key to the development of major projects such as the acquisition of Longrigg Woodlands and have also supported a number of employment opportunities for people in the local community.
Sunart Community Benefit Fund
Although the Sunart Community Company manages the funds generated from different activities, it is the independent Sunart Benefit Fund that is largely responsible for determining how available funds should be allocated.
This body is made up from volunteers from across the Sunart community and meets several time year to consider applications. These applications for funds can be made by any member of the community and might be for something as simple as new kit for a sports team, or involve a much large and longer-term development project.