Breaking the Mold: A Beacon of Community-led Success
GALE Present at Two Major Conferences
Introduction
Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum (GALE) continues to inspire and set the bar high in community-led regeneration, recently presenting at two significant conferences. As a beacon of success, the trust has been celebrated for its immense contribution to their local economy and community development.
The Highland Tourism Conference: Transforming a Community
At the recent Highland Tourism Conference, organised by Visit Scotland at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, GALE Chair Cory Jones unfolded the remarkable 25-year journey of GALE. From humble beginnings with just one employee to a thriving community trust with 25, GALE now injects £350,000 annually into the local economy, working with 39 local producers and suppliers, 27 community bakers, and 6 local charities and community groups. GALE has become a multi-award winning development trust whom others look to for inspiration.
As a recipient of the Highlands and Islands Thistle Celebrating Thriving Communities Award, Jones had been invited to present to conference. He emphasised the importance of such recognition. “These awards not only celebrate success but also provide an opportunity for personal growth and learning. Conference was a great opportunity to showcase GALE’s achievements, connect with like-minded individuals, and form valuable partnerships with other tourism businesses.”
Caitlin McLeod, Regional Development Executive for Visit Scotland, praised GALE for their inspirational story. “I was actually blown away by the response at the end! So many people commented that they loved GALE’s story and shared how inspiring they felt it was.”
Scotland’s Towns Conference: Empowering Local Action
In a separate event, GALE Managing Director, Janet Miles, addressed the Scotland’s Towns Conference at the Apex Hotel, Dundee. The event, organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), focused on ‘Delivering Towns for All’. Miles presentation highlighted the importance of local people taking responsibility for socio-economic and environmental action to make a difference within communities. The night prior to conference, GALE was announced as winner of the Scotland Loves Local Enterprising Communities category.
Miles said, “We are immensely thankful to STP for organising the conference and for asking GALE to share its story of community-led regeneration.”
Joe Fitzpatrick, Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning, who gave a keynote speech stressed the importance of collaboration, stating, “Clearly if we are going to make towns successful we need collaboration between the people who live there, people who work there, and government and local authority all working together.”
Conclusion
GALE’s journey serves as a robust example of the transformative power of community-led regeneration. Their remarkable achievements, recognition, and impact on the local economy and community development demonstrate the potential that lies within communities to drive socio-economic and environmental transformation. As GALE continues to inspire and set the bar high, their story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for other communities seeking to create positive change from within.