Community Business Resource Centre
for Mull and Iona

The Problems The Centre Will Help to Address

‘The Mull Ward has the third highest level of access deprivation in the whole of Argyll & Bute and therefore one of the highest in Scotland’

(Scottish Centre for Research on Social Justice – Argyll & Bute Deprivation Study 2004)

A number of community-wide consultations have provided details of the wide-ranging problems associated with the remote rural communities of Mull and Iona.  These highlighted several significant economic and social restrictions which include:

• Low wage and seasonal employment and a high dependency on tourism-based activities, compounded by the reduction in employment opportunities in the ‘traditional’ primary industries such as fishing and farming.

• Lack of quality services and facilities to help local people to develop their skills base and reach their potential.

• Few quality services and facilities to support local voluntary groups.

• Lack of accessible social, health and information services and facilities located within the local community.

• Lack of access to professional services such as banks, solicitors, accountants etc.

These issues have resulted in significant levels of deprivation on the islands and ultimately the outward migration of the islands’ young people.

The Benefits The Centre Will Provide

The ways in which the various groups will benefit from the centre include:

• Community groups, charities, local businesses and individuals will have access to good quality training/educational resources and support/advice services which currently do not exist on the islands.

• Local training providers such as Argyll College and Argyll Training will have access to new, dedicated and highly accessible facilities allowing them to expand their service provision to local people.

• Island charities and small, local businesses will have access to high quality accommodation for rent with up-to-date communications technology.

• Individuals who suffer from mental health problems will no longer need to travel to the mainland in order to access dedicated therapy facilities.

• Local and national charities; individual counsellors and therapists; the NHS and the Social Services Department will have access to new, dedicated, ‘fit for purpose’ and highly accessible facilities which will allow them to expand and improve their service provision to local people.

• The provision of increased therapeutic employment opportunities (paid and voluntary) for adults and young people with special needs and disabilities and other local people via the new charity shop operations. 

• All community members will benefit by having greater access to professional advice and services from the public and private sectors.  Less time and money will be spent travelling to the mainland enabling professionals to spend a day on Mull in a meeting room, hosting client surgeries rather than having to travel all over the islands.

• The income generated from rentals and surpluses from an on-site charity shop will be distributed to local good causes and will help establish new social enterprises.

• Improved access to the Community Trust - the current listed accommodation used by these groups in the far north of the island is inadequate, overcrowded, not easily accessible to people living in other areas of the islands and is not compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.

• By hosting meetings and encouraging businesses from the mainland and residents from other parts of the island to utilise the centre there will be secondary spend in the local stores, restaurants and for accommodation providers therefore the centre will increase the diversity of the economic activity in the area.

• In addition to the provision of facilities and resources for the direct benefit of island charities, businesses and individuals the new centre will provide increased long-term capacity for the the Trust, enabling us to expand our service provisions, set up new community projects and develop new Social Enterprises.  

·        

Work Completed To Date

• Phase 1 Site Works- Completion of ground-works for the construction of a non-permanent recycling/storage shed and the provision of portacabin accommodation for staff currently working on the MESS initiative. Ground-works, shed and utility connections are now complete and portacabin on site. 
   

• A comprehensive and far-reaching market research/community engagement and feasibility study now completed which included an Mull & Iona wide postal and telephone survey asking businesses, community groups and individuals about the types of facilities needed on the islands; a survey of businesses and charities based on the mainland, who regularly visit Mull and Iona to meet with clients; an investigation of the development options for the sites (a technical options appraisal) and study visits to other organisations who have developed similar projects.  To view the final feasibility study report (including details of the market research results) click here

   

• Working with Shauna Cameron Architects in Oban and following the completion of market research study the final plans for the building have now received detailed planning approval.  Click here to view the plans.