Future planning gets underway in Cairnryan
People living in Cairnryan in Wigtownshire are being invited to help shape the future of their community.
Cairnryan is a small village in southwest Scotland with an estimated population of 146. In 2018, Cairnryan Community Council established the Cairnryan Community Fund to distribute two local wind farms funds.
The Cairnryan Community Fund fund supports community-led activity in Cairnryan with an emphasis on rural regeneration and sustainability.
To help determine where the funding is awarded, a volunteer panel of Cairnryan residents support the fund. However, the panel recognised that many grants are awarded on a reactive basis and felt a more strategic approach to grantmaking could have a longer-lasting impact on the local area.
In November 2021, the panel went to tender to find a consultancy to work with local residents to create a Community Action Plan. By creating a plan, the residents can be actively involved in shaping the future of their area. And the panel will have a greater understanding of the community's aspirations and priorities on how the funds should be spent.
Creetown Initiative Ltd, a social enterprise practising development trust and consultancy service, has been appointed, and their research will commence in April. Every household will receive a paper questionnaire in June that has been designed in consultation with the Cairnryan Community Panel.
Following the collation of completed questionnaires, Creetown Initiative welcomes a conversation at that time with any community members who want to talk about their experiences, opinions of living in Cairnryan, good and bad, and what improvements they would like to see in the village. There will also be a drop-in event in the community hall for community members to come along to chat and ask any questions they might have about the Community Action Plan process.
“We are delighted to be working with the Cairnryan Community Panel. It’s such a lovely small coastal community, and I’m sure everyone who drives that road enjoys taking in the views across the Loch, wondering about the history of the pier and enjoying the beautiful planters along the shoreline. We look forward to helping the community create a Community Action Plan which they own and can be used to maximise the opportunity provided by community benefit funds and identify priority activities and projects for the coming five years.”
Chris Ward, Creetown Initiative’s Manager
“I am excited at the launch of the Community Action Plan as this will help capture the aspirations and priorities of the residents of Cairnryan community on how the fund should be spent going forward. I would encourage all residents to take the time to complete the questionnaires that will be popping through your letterboxes in the very near future as this will help to mould a strategic plan on how the fund should be spent in future years.”
Kenny Cairnie, one of the panel members who will be working with Creetown Initiatiave to progress the Community Action Plan for Cairnryan
Foundation Scotland, Scotland's community foundation, administers The Cairnryan Community Fund. The Foundation supports local communities right across Scotland to distribute income generated from onshore wind farms, ensuring grantmaking is driven by the local decision making and meets the priorities of each community.