Lochalsh Community Action Plan

After a lot of hard work and many ideas and comments from the community of Lochalsh, we have written our Lochalsh Community Action Plan.

It sets out the priorities that we need to collectively take action on to bring transformational change to Lochalsh. It is a guiding document for everyone who cares about the future of Lochalsh. It helps organisations and public agencies to plan our work and guides how we can work in partnership with others to achieve our aims. It is for:

Community trusts, Community Councils, Community organisations
The Community Planning Partnership, Public agencies, Regional and national organisations.

What is the Lochalsh Collaboration?

Started in 2019, open to all seven community councils, community trusts and other organisations
Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust (KLCT) received funding in early 2020 to run the project on behalf of the Lochalsh Collaboration
April 2020, Susan Walker was appointed Community Development Officer for the project. The first 4 months were spent only on Covid community support.
January 2021 onwards a series of Virtual Roadshows in community council areas.

Lochalsh Community Survey

March 2021 – a 34 question Community Survey was launched – hand delivered to every household in Lochalsh (2,600 people) and available online in English and Gaelic
May 2021 – almost 600 responses received, including almost 4,000 written comments
June 2021 onwards – responses analysed, with input from a Scottish Government analyst, results published in a series of articles in the community newsletter
April 2022 – results collated and written up as a full and summary report
June 2022 – a Lochalsh Collaboration writing group wrote the Lochalsh Community Action Plan
The plan was sent out to all community councils, community trusts and other organisations to sign off on.

Using priorities to develop projects

KLCT has used the priorities in the community survey and action plan to secure funding for:

Developing a community transport scheme using a new electric 9-seater minibus
A project to promote local businesses and local buying
A reuse shop and new permanent premises for the community fridge
A community grower and a new community garden on the Plock
Working on potential housing projects

Two new local community trusts have been set up since the project started. There are now five other community trusts in Lochalsh as well as KLCT who are working actively to deliver projects in their local areas that address a number of priorities: