Community Business Resource Centre
for Mull and Iona

Mull & Iona Community Trust

The Mull and Iona Community Trust is a Scottish Charity and the only independent, membership-based, island-wide voluntary group developing projects to tackle local needs on the remote Isles of Mull & Iona in the Inner Hebrides. The Community Trust was set up by island residents in 1997 to combat the disadvantages of rural isolation and thereby improving the quality of life for residents of the island communities through community regeneration and capacity building.

The Community Trust serves the populations of Mull, Iona, Ulva and Gometra (400 square miles), all part of the Inner Hebrides island group located off the west coast of Scotland (population 2,821 Census 2001).   As there is no Council for Voluntary Services for the area, the Community Trust performs this function and liaises with over 80 voluntary groups, from village halls, lunch clubs and youth groups to community companies and co-operatives.

Managed by a board of 12 volunteers from across the islands, the Community Trust responds to community needs, tackling the disadvantages of rural isolation by providing capacity building for local volunteers, developing projects, applying for relevant funds and creating jobs on the islands.  Since the Trust was set up  the communities of Mull & Iona have developed a range of different services and is a reflection of the many 1000’s of voluntary hours which residents have committed to making life better on the islands. The Mull & Iona Community Trust has helped unlock support for community projects which has helped create or sustain 14 jobs on the island.

While the Mull and Iona Community Trust works primarily with the islands’ community groups we also have a strong track record of working with statutory organisations where necessary, such as Argyll & Bute Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Network.  We have helped develop several community businesses, project managed lottery-funded initiatives and have been commissioned to carry out local consultations.

For more details about the Trust click on the link to our website www.mict.co.uk