Community Anchor Organisations
Background
An examination of the characteristics of strong and independent communities shows that they possess the ability to unite - and `hold together` - usually around some local organisation which they own. For some reason - in certain areas - the local community sector, the fragmented array of small voluntary groups, invest authority in a local umbrella vehicle to champion their collective interests. There are no examples of sustained community empowerment without some such locally embedded organisation, although in some areas this leadership role is achieved by two or more groups acting together. In theory structures like the Scottish `Community Planning Partnerships` could strengthen communities by linking them to decision making - but experience has shown that, without reference to some independent local organisation, community representatives are too isolated to be effective.
Community empowerment policy in England is led jointly by the Office of the Third Sector (The Cabinet Office) and the Dept. of Communities and Local Government (DCLG). They have both endorsed the importance of community led vehicles like development trusts for building strong and independent communities. They have jointly adopted the term `Community Anchor Organisation` (CAO) as a generic category for such vehicles - to give new emphasis to their significance.
1n March 2009, Scottish Government and COSLA jointly launched the Scottish Community Empowerment Action Plan. This plan endorsed the concept of 'community anchor' as a key feature of when genuine community empowerment takes place. It is therefore important to be clear what this term means.
Anchor definition
The first use of the term Anchor Organisation was in the government report Firm Foundations, which was published by the Home Office in 2004 when David Blunkett was Home Secretary. This radical document is the government's official framework for community capacity building and it states: "We are calling them `community anchor organisations` because of the solid foundation they give to a wide variety of self help and capacity building activities in local communities and because of their roots within their communities." In 2005, the Home Office funded the Community Alliance to develop the `Anchor` concept and to promote the model around England. The Community Alliance website carries information, historical and current.
In June this year (2007) the Dept. of Communities and Local Government published a draft of its Third Sector Strategy in which CAOs feature prominently. The Strategy refers to the `Firm Foundations` origin of the term `Anchors` but also offers a carefully developed definition of what it is intended to signify.
"Working with the Office of the Third Sector, we are exploring the increasing potential of approaches involving `community anchor` organisations. These are independent community led organisations with multi-purpose functions, which provide a focal point for local communities and community organisations, and for community services. They often own and manage community assets, and support small community organisations to reach out across the community."
Anchor Examples
Alness Initiative
Alness expanded rapidly during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s as a result of major industrial development, in particular the establishment a local aluminium smelter and oil fabrication yard at Nigg Due to the subsequent closure of the smelter and the decline in the oil fabrication industry, by 1995 Alness was in economic meltdown and suffered severe deprivation.
Balornock East Residents Association (BERA)
Residents from Balornock East, an area of multiple deprivation in North Glasgow, established the Association in 1979 to represent their interests and it now provides a hub, café and range of holistic services. The Association is moving towards community ownership of a new, sustainable centre and in the process aims to increase its income.
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 275 households, with half of the population living in Finzean and half in Ballogie and Birse.
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
In the 1950s displaced people from inner city slum clearances were moved to Castlemilk. Poor initial planning lead to isolation and a lack of basic amenities. Unemployment grew due to decline of local industries and poverty/social problems ensued. A locally driven housing stock transfer to Cassiltoun Housing Association (prev. Castlemilk East Co-Op) initiated the beginnings of both a physical and social regeneration of the area which continued with the restoration of Castlemilk Stables. Cassiltoun Housing Association and the Cassiltoun Trust are key community anchors as both are vehicles for change within the community and the Stables are a nationally recognised focal point for the area.
Both the Association and the Trust work in partnership with other agencies who contribute to the regeneration of Castlemilk.
Coalburn Miners Welfare Charitable Society
Since 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.
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 alongside each other Maryhill still has the spirit of “old” Glasgow and the friendly community feel within the City Centre.
Community Links
Community Links works with communities across South Lanarkshire, particularly the most deprived, to support ‘community inspired regeneration’. Through the Community Matters newspaper, consultations, events, volunteer development and IT support, it builds community capacity. The challenge now, to sustain this work in times of financial uncertainty. (Oct 2009)
Comrie Development Trust (CDT)
Comrie is a highly motivated community with at least 56 local organisations active in the village. Comrie is the name given by the Scots invaders of the 7th century and is derived from the Gaelic Conruith meaning ‘flowing together’ as our village sits where the three rivers of the Earn, Ruchill and Leadnock meet. In the 21st century it is a place where ancient rivers are meeting new ideas through our new Development Trust.
Creetown Initiative Ltd (CI)
A scenic coastal village and popular tourist area. Creetown’s traditional sources of industry were mining and fishing, but these have now largely been replaced by tourism. Creetown’s demographics are changing as young people leave for the cities and retirees move to the area. This has highlighted the need for more and improved services to respond to the needs of an aging population.
Ferguslie Park Housing Association
Ferguslie Park is a regeneration area that has been rated as the most deprived area in Scotland in the latest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. It has a mix of housing tenures which includes Council, Housing Association, private rental and owner occupier. Ferguslie Park Housing Association is the largest social landlord in Ferguslie Park.
Fintry Development Trust
Fintry is a small, thriving rural community within easy commuting distance to Glasgow and Stirling. As well as traditional farming businesses, the village is home to many professionals. There is no mains gas supply to the village but electricity is available to all households from the National grid. However the bulk of domestic heating is through the use of combustion of fossil hydrocarbons: either heating oil or LPG. These are increasingly expensive forms of heating…thus the move to developing renewable energy.
Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT)
The Glenkens is named from the River Ken that runs through the valley before it flows into the River Dee and down to the sea. The Glenkens enjoys magnificent scenery in an unspoilt, remote part of Scotland. But rural isolation has created challenges. The Glenkens economy is heavily reliant on tourism, forestry and agriculture and has suffered from the setbacks to these sectors in recent years. The area has one of the lowest levels of pay in Scotland and a poor transport infrastructure, all of which poses significant challenges in terms of the long-term sustainability of the area.
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 income generated to invest in the community’s future.
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 to community and business across Inverclyde. However, it remains firmly rooted in the community, and to working to meeting the needs and aspirations of local people.
Iomairt Chille Chomain
The island of Islay is 25 miles in length and around 20 miles wide at most. It is famous for its abundance of wildlife, beautiful scenery and its whisky distilleries. Islay is also a good stock rearing island with many crofts and farms. Tourism is a growing industry. The island is easily accessible with up to 3 return flights and ferry crossings per day.
Knoydart Foundation
This year is the tenth anniversary (1999) of the Knoydart Foundation’s buying of the Knoydart Estate. Since then it has created significant assets for the whole community by developing housing, conservation and tourism services, and by improving the hydro-electric scheme. The Foundation has become largely financially self-sufficient, and is now looking towards its next series of developments.
Linthouse Urban Village
Linthouse in Greater Govan suffered decline and reduced employment opportunities following the decrease in shipbuilding and heavy engineering along the Clyde. This decline was accelerated by the building of the Clyde Tunnel in the 1960s which physically split the community in two. The siting of a sewage treatment plant in the area and the opening of the nearby Braehead shopping centre as a major retail outlet placed pressure on the remaining shops in the area.
Muirkirk Enterprise Group
Muirkirk is a rural village set in the border of East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. At one time Muirkirk was a hive of industry with coalmining, rail connections and ironworks. But the end of the mine industry resulted in widespread unemployment and the village suffered from relatively high levels of poverty and Muirkirk was rated as one of the most deprived areas of Scotland by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2003. At that time the village experienced an unemployment rate of 30 per cent. This has now been reduced to 10%.
Neilston Development Trust
Neilston is a, a former mill town that sits on a hill overlooking Glasgow, surrounded by farmland. Due to its position on the urban fringe it has increasingly become a dormitory town. rather than an independent settlement. Neilston’s townscape and sense of self has suffered badly over time and it has its share of social problems with several small but severe pockets of disadvantage.
Newlands Community Development Trust
Isolation, distance from community facilities and services, lack of employment opportunities … a familiar story in rural life? A group of committed local people formed the Newland Community Development Trust in the Scottish Borders to develop a community hub and to make a difference to the quality of life in the area. Now they have the funding in place, the land has been acquired and wider community and Council support has been secured, NCDT can move forward to make this a reality. (Feb 2010)
Pearce Institute (PI)
Traditionally a small fishing and weaving village on the River Clyde, Govan became the centre of world shipbuilding during the industrial revolution. Subsequent closure of the shipyards lead to unemployment, a high crime rate, derelict land and a decimated business community. The last decade has seen a grass roots kick-back against that decline. The key opportunities (and threats) for the future are the transformation of the area into the creative industries/media heart of Scotland. On the one hand, there is optimism, jobs, training and employment. On the other, there is a danger that the roots and heritage of the past will be swept away in the process.
Princess Royal Sports and Community Trust
One of Scotlands most beautiful areas that offers two golf courses of high standard, superb wildlife walks and new marina. Fine georgian architecture in the town has resulted in conservation designation. But traditional fishing and farming industries have been in steady decline for many years.
Renton community anchor organization
Renton is a village with a proud industrial history, renowned for its bleaching and dying industry. In more recent times Renton has suffered from unemployment due to the demise of heavy industry in the surrounding area. At one time Renton was known as 'Little Moscow' because it produced two communist councilors at local elections. Prior to the establishment of the Housing Association, Renton was characterised by poor shopping facilities and council owned housing stock that was in very poor condition In Renton, the anchor role is fulfilled through a collaboration of three organisations: they are the Cordale Housing Association, Renton Development Trust and the Carman Social Inclusion Centre.
Sleat Community Trust
The Sleat (pronounced 'slate') peninsula lies to the southwest of the Isle of Skye in the Highland Council Area. Sleat is so uncharacteristically green and fertile that it's known as 'The Garden of Skye'. Sleat is an entry point to the island - ferries cross from the mainland at Mallaig to Armadale on the southeastern shore of the peninsula. Traditionally, crofting has been more than a small-scale agricultural system, but a way of life. Tourism is replacing traditional industries. Sleat has seen a remarkable boom in development in the last 35 years. Changes of land ownership have resulted in the establishment of a major visitor centre and estate, a second flourishing privately-owned estate and Scotland’s Gaelic College. This has led to a significant increase of jobs in the area
Strathfillan Community Development Trust (SCDT)
Strathfillan is situated in an area of dramatic natural beauty, surrounded by high hills through which runs the River Fillan which is a headwater of the River Tay. Strathfillan is a remote rural community with a rich cultural heritage and is made up of the two main villages of Crianlarich and Tyndrum, with some dispersed settlements between and surrounding the villages. Tourism is now the main industry with other significant employers being agriculture, estate management and public services. Strathfillan has a relatively young population and is characterized by low wages, seasonal jobs and a lack of affordable housing.
The Bambury
The Bambury Centre on the Barrowfield estate in Glasgow was established in 2001 in consultation with local people. The estate’s reputation during the 1990’s was one of poverty and violence: the Bambury has focused on training and employment to relieve poverty; complementing improvements in local housing. The Centre has battled to maintain its income, suffering significant cuts, and is working to tackle this through a creative approach to partnership-working and building ‘self-sufficiency’.
The Boyndie Trust Ltd.
Banffshire Coast is a scattered rural community surrounding the twin towns of Banff and Macduff, where the traditional industries of fishing and farming are declining. Tourism and high quality food production are growing, however, and reskilling of the workforce, together with upgrading of tourism related infrastructure, are of vital importance to foster this economic opportunity. Boyndie Trust, addresses these issues alongside its prime charitable purpose of helping people with special needs to develop their personal and work-related potential, by identifying skills and facilitating relevant training or coaching.
The Fisherrow Trust
The coastal town of Musselburgh is situated on both sides of the River Esk in East Lothian. Fisherrow is the traditional name for the settlement on the west side of the river, whose inhabitants worked in the fishing and associated industries. By the late 1960s the local fishing industry went into decline and disappeared, along with the local paper and wire mills and coal mining at Monktonhall. Musselburgh people now find work with the local council, at three small industrial estates, in local shops, hotels and restaurants and some travel the short distance to Edinburgh. Musselburgh is famous for its racecourse and its golf course, the latter believed to be the oldest in the world.
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 Initiative is now working to develop, both, its asset-base and a stronger social enterprise approach.
Thenew Housing Association Ltd
Thenew Housing Association provides housing and housing services in seven communities in Glasgow. During the ‘noughties’, it has worked with communities to maximise their participation in decision-making through Area Associations and Groups. Local action plans and community hubs have helped to create opportunities and represent community interests. (March 2010)
Twechar Community Action
A former mining and quarrying village, Twechar is one of Scotland’s15% most deprived areas. Twechar Community Action was formed as a response to the closure of the Council owned and operated recreation centre and have been managing and operating the centre since April 2001.
Wellhouse Community Trust (WCT)
Wellhouse is a distinct community of 1100 homes located in the south of Easterhouse to the east of Glasgow. The area was designated as No1 in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2003 and No.12 SIMD 2006. The area has suffered with the factors associated with deprivation such as high unemployment, poor health, low confidence, addiction problems and the additional issue of historic and notorious gang-related problems throughout the area.
West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd Craft and Design Town Project (WKCIL)
The West Kilbride area has suffered from a range of economic problems in recent years, with the loss of large-scale manufacturing jobs leading to above average unemployment. The town lost many traditional retail outlets, partly due to the rise of retail parks and giant supermarkets. With a high street of empty and unkempt shops and a lack of passing trade, West Kilbride was suffering from vandalism, a poor image and a lack of services.
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 … high-quality housing and services for their community, and a restored sense of local pride in the area.
Westray Development Trust
Westray is the largest of Orkney’s North Isles that until recently was characterized by depopulation, a decline in traditional industries (agriculture and fishing), a limited range of employment opportunities and remoteness that was adversely affecting the cost of living and services being provided. Tourism is currently an emerging industry.