Cancellation of Public Meeting
Introduction
For over 30 years, GALE (Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum) has been dedicated to making our area a better place for people of all abilities to live, work, and thrive. Through community ownership of local assets and services, we strive to bring about social, economic, and environmental regeneration. GALE is a community development trust and social enterprise.
GALE has an impressive track record of projects aimed at improving the wellbeing and quality of life in our community. These initiatives have been carried out independently or in collaboration with other organisations. Some notable endeavours include the establishment of befriending and listening programmes to combat social isolation, offering counselling services for mental health support, and managing and maintaining public toilets for the convenience of residents and visitors.
Additionally, GALE has been actively involved in community action planning, conducting housing needs analyses, and providing IT drop-in sessions to enhance digital inclusion. The organisation has also played a vital role in supporting individuals and families facing financial challenges through Pay What You Can, promoting local suppliers and bakers, and creating employment opportunities within the community. Notable community projects GALE has been a part of include the Seed Swap initiative, Poolewe Village Hall renovation, and the preservation of historic landmarks like Laide Chapel. And much more.
These projects exemplify GALE’s dedication to addressing a wide range of community needs and fostering an inclusive and thriving environment for all. The organisation’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and community empowerment is evident in its diverse portfolio of successful endeavours.
One of our most notable achievements is the operation of The GALE Centre, a thriving social and economic hub that has been running for over 10 years. However, due to its overwhelming success, the Centre has reached full capacity. To expand our activities and benefit more people, we have recently completed the purchase of the Shieling. This acquisition will enable us to develop new community projects and services, providing a boost to the local economy of over £340K per annum.
Unfortunately, a scheduled meeting to share ideas and discuss our plans for the Shieling had to be canceled due to safety concerns arising from the bullying behaviours of a small but vocal minority of local residents. However, we are committed to addressing all the questions that were submitted in advance, and this Q&A document serves as a comprehensive resource to provide answers and insights into our plans for the Shieling.
Cory Jones
Chair, GALE Board of Directors
Q & A
Karen Buchanan
What is GALE actually going to do in this building?
The acquisition of the building marks the beginning of our journey towards a fully functional community hub. To ensure that we have ample time to explore and evaluate a wide range of community ideas put forward during the community consultation, we have allocated a two-year period for this purpose. As part of this effort, we will be hiring a full-time Project Development Officer who will be responsible for overseeing and implementing pilot projects. These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
What measures will be taken to gauge the impacts of GALE’s activities on other local businesses who do not benefit from financial support from public finders [sic]?
GALE is committed to ensuring that the impacts of its activities on other local businesses are carefully monitored and evaluated. Concerns over business displacement were addressed during the community consultation process and were reviewed by our funders to their satisfaction. Our Chair also made a statement on this subject on 19th May 2023, further emphasising our commitment to addressing these concerns.
As part of our pilot projects, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of our work, just as we have done extensively for our existing activities. We believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we have implemented measures to track and assess our impact. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Furthermore, GALE welcomes direct communication from any business that has concerns about the suggested pilot projects. We have provided opportunities for individuals and businesses to voice their concerns through public consultation meetings held on 27th February 2023, as well as by requesting further feedback on 7th March 2023. We have been open to further dialogue throughout.
How is GALE going to use its newly acquired building to address some of the real problems this community is facing such as housing, population loss and a decline in vital education and health services?
We will use the building in similar ways to how we use The GALE Centre next door, creating social and economic opportunities for local people and doing what we can to make our area a better place for people of all abilities to live, work and thrive. When it comes to housing we have already built affordable homes for local people in Inverasdale and in 2023 completed a Housing Needs analysis in Gairloch and Loch Ewe which will inform future housing strategies for our area. Health and Education are both statutory provisions and therefore not the responsibility of the local voluntary sector, however we do our part in supporting health and education outcomes through partnerships with statutory providers. We expect to continue this work in the Shieling. We don’t however expect the Shieling to provide the solution to all our local challenges, rather we see it as an opportunity to empower more local people to play their part in tackling our local challenges and realising some of our local aspirations.
Emma Wotherspoon
During the online consultation, I and others contributed ideas related to accommodation for those moving to the area (e.g. three flats for short-medium term rent for health/care staff, teachers, key workers). The rent from these could help support GALE activities and it would also alleviate a major problem in the area. Can this please be reconsidered as part of the suggestions?
As part of our early consultation and feasibility work we included these suggestions in our plan. However architect’s opinion at the feasibility stage advised us that the Shieling building was not ideally suited to conversion into accommodation units and we may be better trying to tackle this issue by other means. We have since conducted a Housing Needs analysis in the area which will inform future housing strategies for our area.
Jenna Pickering
I would like to attend this meeting so as to see what plans are for GALE and how it will impact our small business. You have said you would sell bakery products- only 3 listed , I’d like to know what else
The suggestion, from the community consultation, to create a community bakery is one that we hope to pilot in the first two years of ownership. During the pilot we will be able to explore the demand and feasibility of this suggestion. At this stage it is difficult to know what exactly local people will want to bake or buy but this will become clearer as we move through the pilot phase. Based on our experience of working with community bakers and selling their products over the past 25 years we know that home made cakes, traybakes and scones are very popular locally as well as bread and rolls. We already work with over 20 local bakers and would hope to continue to support them and others by selling their locally baked products.
Steven MacDonald
How are GALE going to identify the key needs of the community that will fit with their acquisition of the Shieling?
We have carried out extensive consultation already to identify local needs and aspirations producing a Community Action Plan to share these findings. We have also conducted consultation specifically on our plans for the Shieling over the past 18 months with our online feedback form remaining open for comments and suggestions throughout the whole acquisition process and remaining open still today.
Over the next two years we plan to conduct a series of pilot projects to try and test the various ideas put forward during the community consultation. It will be the findings of these pilots that will help inform our future work and how we use the Shieling.
Why was their bit [sic] not focused on securing land which could have been more beneficial to young people in the area? (Build housing/rent as crofts etc)
Sadly we can’t do everything and we need to work within our capacity. Local land use and access is an issue that has come up in our Community Action Plan but we cannot do everything at once. We’ll need to leave this one to some other folk with more time and capacity to take forward for the time being.
Would the GALE be open to renting the premises to businesses who are currently already renting other premises in order to help them survive?
Yes, renting space out to others is something we are keen to explore.
Gairloch Community Council
Will GALE relocate the meeting to the community hall if more than 50 people want to attend?
We wish to hold the meeting in the Shieling since it is this building that is the subject of the meeting and we are keen to share the space with local people and welcome them into it as a new community owned space. We don’t therefore intend to relocate to another venue.
Will GALE ensure that none of the activities taking place in the Shieling competes with or otherwise negatively impacts existing businesses in its area of benefit?
GALE is committed to ensuring that the impacts of its activities on other local businesses are carefully monitored and evaluated. Concerns over business displacement were addressed during the community consultation process and were reviewed by the funders to their satisfaction. Our Chair also made a statement on this subject on 19th May 2023, further emphasising our commitment to addressing these concerns.
As part of our pilot projects, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of our work, just as we have done extensively for our existing activities. We believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we have implemented measures to track and assess our impact. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Furthermore, GALE welcomes direct communication from any business that has concerns about the suggested pilot projects. We have provided opportunities for individuals and businesses to voice their concerns through public consultation meetings held on 27th February 2023, as well as by requesting further feedback on 7th March 2023. We have been open to further dialogue throughout.
David Cooper
What are the actual plans for this wonderful business built up by the legendary Donald Crerar
GALE hasn’t purchased the Shieling as a going concern. We therefore expect Donald to wind up his business. GALE has simply purchased the building.
We plan to use the building as a community hub for a range of purposes and projects which we plan to pilot over the first couple of years.
These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
Sophia Bow
how/ why did GALE gazump a commercial bid?
We are unaware of any gazumping. The Shieling was on the open market for almost three years. GALE first enquired about purchasing the Shieling in June 2022 and at the time was told by the vendor that there were no other interested parties. GALE then made its interest in purchasing the Shieling public in December 2022. We publicly announced in October 2023 that we had successfully secured some funding toward the purchase and again in December 2023. By February 2024 we had raised sufficient funds to make an asking price offer. Before submitting this offer we checked with the vendor who confirmed that no other offers had been received or accepted.
Hector MacKenzie
I think these questions will definitely be addressed anyway but as they have been raised directly with me as a journalist, I feel worth flagging them up. Questions have been raised about the use of pubic [sic] money to create a facility which is appears a number of people feel will be to the disadvantage of existing businesses. Is that a legitimate concern and, if so, how will it be addressed?
We find it hugely frustrating that questions and concerns about our work are directed at journalists and in other forums we have no access to. Very few questions are put to us directly and when they are we welcome them and respond promptly.
When it comes to the issue of causing disadvantage to existing businesses GALE wholeheartedly refutes this allegation. Over the past 25 years GALE has been working towards economic regeneration of the Gairloch and Loch Ewe area with many of the existing businesses benefiting from this work. GALE contributes £340K per annum into the local economy, purchasing product from 50 local businesses and suppliers and employing over 20 year round staff. Sadly the appetite for money in a capitalist society can be insatiable and our £340k, though hard earned, is only a drop in the ocean.
Despite this, GALE remains committed to supporting local economic regeneration and ensuring that the impacts of its activities on local businesses are carefully monitored and evaluated. Concerns over business displacement of our work at the Shieling were addressed during the community consultation process and were reviewed by the funders to their satisfaction. Our Chair also made a statement on this subject on 19th May 2023, further emphasising our commitment to addressing these concerns.
As part of our pilot projects, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of our work, just as we have done extensively for our existing activities. We believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we have implemented measures to track and assess our impact. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Furthermore, GALE welcomes direct communication from any business that has concerns about the suggested pilot projects. We have provided opportunities for individuals and businesses to voice their concerns through public consultation meetings held on 27th February 2023, as well as by requesting further feedback on 7th March 2023. We have been open to further dialogue throughout. We encourage everyone to utilise these routes of communication rather than resorting to social media, as we believe direct dialogue is more effective in addressing concerns and finding solutions.
Another question at the moment is to check why this meeting is limited in number to 50 people assuming more may wish to get involved?
We wish to hold the meeting in the Shieling since it is this building that is the subject of the meeting and we are keen to share the space with local people and welcome them into it as a new community owned space. We don’t therefore intend to relocate to another venue.
We have set the number of attendees to 50 as we are comfortable hosting 50 people in the Shieling. Any more will stretch our resources. We also feel that we would struggle to manage a larger number of people and not everyone who wanted to would get the chance to speak. If all 50 people wish to speak for even 2 minutes and receive a response then we would need a longer meeting than most people would tolerate.
The Shieling is a long term project which will develop over many years and there will be plenty of opportunity for meetings in the months and years to come to accommodate all who want to contribute. We also have an online feedback form, monthly Ask GALE sessions, a quality assured Volunteering Progamme with numerous opportunities for participation and an existing community hub open 364 days a year, so plenty of opportunity for people to get involved, learn about our work and share their ideas and input.
Annette MacKenzie
What is your priority in acquiring The Sheiling [sic]?
Our priority in acquiring the Shieling is to expand our work and increase our positive impact in the local community. We want to see more assets and services in community ownership.
Community ownership has the potential to deliver significant benefits locally. It plays an important role in delivering independent resilient communities and boosts community empowerment. We have seen the benefits community ownership brings to our area in the ten years The GALE Centre has been operational. In 2023, GALE brought over £340K to the local economy.
We have a vision to achieve more, but The GALE Centre is operating at, and sometimes beyond, its capacity. Owning The Shieling will allow us to grow and expand our activity, benefitting more people and developing new community projects and services.
We plan to use the building as a community hub for a range of purposes and projects which we plan to pilot over the first couple of years.
These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
Rhona MacKenzie
What are the plans for the Shieling?
We plan to use the building as a community hub for a range of purposes and projects which we plan to pilot over the first couple of years.
These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
Bob Widdows
Will GALE relocate the meeting to the Community Hall if more than 50 people want to attend?
We wish to hold the meeting in the Shieling since it is this building that is the subject of the meeting and we are keen to share the space with local people and welcome them into it as a new community owned space. We don’t therefore intend to relocate to another venue.
Will GALE ensure that none of the activities taking place in the Shieling compete with or otherwise negatively impact existing businesses in its area of benefit.
GALE is committed to ensuring that the impacts of its activities on other local businesses are carefully monitored and evaluated. Concerns over business displacement were addressed during the community consultation process and were reviewed by the funders to their satisfaction. Our Chair also made a statement on this subject on 19th May 2023, further emphasising our commitment to addressing these concerns.
As part of our pilot projects, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of our work, just as we have done extensively for our existing activities. We believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we have implemented measures to track and assess our impact. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Furthermore, GALE welcomes direct communication from any business that has concerns about the suggested pilot projects. We have provided opportunities for individuals and businesses to voice their concerns through public consultation meetings held on 27th February 2023, as well as by requesting further feedback on 7th March 2023. We have been open to further dialogue throughout.
Isla MacKenzie
What are the full plans for the use of The Shieling?
We plan to use the building as a community hub for a range of purposes and projects which we plan to pilot over the first couple of years.
These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
Are you planning on opening in any format for the coming season?
We are already using the Shieling and will continue to do so throughout the summer season. It is currently being used for office accommodation, meeting space, storage and food preparation.
What was the original business plan that was used to acquire the funding required – does that not still stand?
The original plans for the Shieling are summarised on our website and still stand – https://staging.galeactionforum.co.uk/plans-for-the-shieling/
As owners of The Beachcomber, we were surprised to hear that we had been mentioned as being not only consulted but in agreement with the project – this was surprising as we had not attended any such meeting and not were we consulted privately.
The Beachcomber was not mentioned as a consultee in any of our documentation so it is difficult to know what you are referring to. There are a lot of false rumours circulating in the community. We can only assume this is one of them. However we would be happy to look into this for you if you could provide us with the documentation you are referring to.
How many of the businesses that were mentioned in your community consultation email actually did agree with the proposal?
Extensive community consultation has been conducted with feedback taken from individuals and businesses. This feedback formed part of the funding applications and met the threshold required by the funders.
GALE is committed to ensuring that the impacts of its activities on other local businesses are carefully monitored and evaluated. Concerns over business displacement were addressed during the community consultation process and were reviewed by the funders to their satisfaction. Our Chair also made a statement on this subject on 19th May 2023, further emphasising our commitment to addressing these concerns.
As part of our pilot projects, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of our work, just as we have done extensively for our existing activities. We believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we have implemented measures to track and assess our impact. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Furthermore, GALE welcomes direct communication from any business that has concerns about the suggested pilot projects. We have provided opportunities for individuals and businesses to voice their concerns through public consultation meetings held on 27th February 2023, as well as by requesting further feedback on 7th March 2023. We have been open to further dialogue throughout.
It’s hard to ignore the significant backlash that has been on social media over the past few months, from both private citizens within the community and business owners alike.
We find it hugely frustrating that questions and concerns about our work are aired on social media and in other forums that we have no access to. For the record, GALE and many of its staff and volunteers have been barred from various local social media groups and excluded from some ‘public’ meetings others have held about our work. What we have been made aware of however is a disgusting, vitriolic community bullying of our staff, volunteers and organisation as a whole with no evidence to back up the insults and allegations.
Very few questions or concerns are put to us directly and when they are we welcome them and respond promptly.
Emily MacKenzie
I volunteered at the Gale Centre as a teenager and have applied over many years for paid employment here with no response. I also have friends in the area who I grew up with that have applied for jobs at the Gale Centre with no response over the years. We have watched the Gale Centre employ people from outside the area since. I have no problem with people moving to this area, I think that’s fantastic. But why ignore people that have been here their whole life and employ people from outside straight away? It’s been very disheartening to feel like I’ve not been good enough to employ but I’m good enough as a volunteer. I know a lot of other young people that feel like this. I don’t plan to stay in Gairloch as I said at the start it’s been a massive struggle. But to claim that you’re a charitable organisation that supports the local community is a kick in the teeth. It’s very sad as I feel like the Gale Centre could have been an incredible asset to the area changing many peoples lives for the better. I hope in the future you take the young people that currently live here into consideration as there isn’t many left and the ones that are still here are needing as much support and encouragement that they can get.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and concerns regarding your job applications at GALE. We appreciate your interest in our work and the time you spent volunteering with us during your teenage years. It is disheartening to hear that you and your friends, who also grew up in the area, have faced challenges in securing paid employment. It would be sad to lose you from our community.
GALE’s mission is to make our area a better place for people of all abilities to live, work and thrive and as such we try to offer fair opportunities for all including our local young people. When recruiting we recruit purely on merit and do not discriminate on grounds of any protected characteristics neither do we discriminate based on the length of time individuals have lived in the area. It is important to us that the majority of our employees at GALE are local residents, regardless of the duration of their residence. Of our current 20 staff at least a quarter of them are ex Gairloch High School pupils with all but one of our team residing in the Gairloch and Loch Ewe area.
In terms of our work with young people in our area we offer a range of opportunities from supported volunteering and employment, work experience and income generating opportunities. By way of example in the past 12 months four of our community bakers have been aged 16 or under and we have art, craft and baking products on sale in the GALE Centre gift shop from local schools and school children.
We recently introduced an online ordering system for our freshly baked scones. This system has been managed almost entirely by a Gairloch High School pupils who enjoys baking them most mornings before going to school.
We also continue to collaborate with Gairloch High School who we have worked with for over 20 years providing work experience and support for their pupils including weekly term time sessions for pupils with additional support needs and supported employment opportunities for school leavers.
Kirsty McKay
Will there be a community consultation and involvement in developing the use of the space and services provided? If not, please provide a detailed plan of the use of space and services to be provided, and how these decisions were reached
We have carried out extensive consultation already to identify local needs and aspirations producing a Community Action Plan to share these findings. We have also conducted consultation specifically on our plans for the Shieling over the past 18 months with our online feedback form remaining open for comments and suggestions throughout the whole acquisition process and remaining open still today.
Over the next two years we plan to conduct a series of pilot projects to try and test the various ideas put forward during the community consultation. It will be the findings of these pilots that will help inform our future work and how we use the Shieling.
Mary MacKenzie
Interested to know what building is going to be used for.
We plan to use the building as a community hub for a range of purposes and projects which we plan to pilot over the first couple of years.
These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
Alex Gray
In view of the numerous expressions of concern from local businesses, will GALE undertake to use the Shieling only to create or enhance services that are not in competition with existing local providers?
GALE is committed to ensuring that the impacts of its activities on other local businesses are carefully monitored and evaluated. Concerns over business displacement were addressed during the community consultation process and were reviewed by the funders to their satisfaction. Our Chair also made a statement on this subject on 19th May 2023, further emphasising our commitment to addressing these concerns.
As part of our pilot projects, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of our work, just as we have done extensively for our existing activities. We believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we have implemented measures to track and assess our impact. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Furthermore, GALE welcomes direct communication from any business that has concerns about the suggested pilot projects. We have provided opportunities for individuals and businesses to voice their concerns through public consultation meetings held on 27th February 2023, as well as by requesting further feedback on 7th March 2023. We have been open to further dialogue throughout.
Veronica Mullaney
What are you actually offering that is not already available in the area.
We plan to use the building as a community hub for a range of purposes and projects which we plan to pilot over the first couple of years.
These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
We will continue to consult on our activities as the project develops. The pilot phase will give us the opportunity to test ideas and demand for the products and services that these new ideas deliver. During the pilot phase we will consider displacement and additionality alongside the feasibility and viability of the ideas. Local competition and market research will be part of this process.
Kenny Tallach
Interested to know what the plans are for the use of the building.
The acquisition of the building marks the beginning of our journey towards a fully functional community hub. To ensure that we have ample time to explore and evaluate a wide range of community ideas put forward during the community consultation, we have allocated a two-year period for this purpose. As part of this effort, we will be hiring a full-time Project Development Officer who will be responsible for overseeing and implementing pilot projects. These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
Wendy Watson
I would like to know what the plans for the Sheiling [sic] are and how this will benefit local businesses and local people.
We plan to use the building as a community hub for a range of purposes and projects which we plan to pilot over the first couple of years.
These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
In terms of benefits this will bring, we believe that Community ownership of assets and services can bring significant benefits to both local businesses and the people within a community. Since 2012 GALE has demonstrated the benefits to the local economy of a community asset like the GALE Centre. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Owning the Shieling further enhances GALE’s purpose to socially, environmentally and economically regenerate the area through participatory community action and community owned social enterprise.
Gary Watson
I would ask how the proposal to possibly have a bakery at the Sheiling [sic] wouldn’t impact on my business
The suggestion, from the community consultation, to create a community bakery is one that we hope to pilot in the first two years of ownership. We are currently not aware of what products your business bakes but we can explore this with you during the pilot phase of the project when we will also consider displacement and additionality alongside the feasibility and viability of the ideas.
Susan Kirkness
Purpose of building and how it will affect local communities and businesses. What the shieling will be used.for.
We plan to use the building as a community hub for a range of purposes and projects which we plan to pilot over the first couple of years.
These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
Frances Wade
How is buying the Sheiling [sic] benefiting the village
We plan to use the building as a community hub for a range of purposes and projects which we plan to pilot over the first couple of years.
These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
In terms of benefits this will bring, we believe that Community ownership can bring significant benefits to both local businesses and the people within a community. Since 2012 GALE has demonstrated the benefits to the local economy of a community asset like the GALE Centre. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Owning the Shieling further enhances GALE’s purpose to socially, environmentally and economically regenerate the area through participatory community action and community owned social enterprise.
Allan Wade
Why is a charity competing with local businesses
We do not believe we are competing with local businesses and neither do the funders and regulators who support and scrutinise our work. Over the past 25 years GALE has been working towards economic regeneration of the Gairloch and Loch Ewe area with many of the existing businesses benefiting from this work. GALE contributes £340K per annum into the local economy, purchasing product from 50 local businesses and suppliers and employing over 20 year round staff. Sadly the appetite for money in a capitalist society can be insatiable and our £340k, though hard earned, is only a drop in the ocean.
Maisie Lyall
How can Gale justify using public money to pay staff wages?
The paying of staff wages from public funding is a common practice and by no means unique to GALE. We use this funding to deliver our charitable purposes such as paying our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Counsellor and Project Development Officers. The availability of this type of funding is largely determined by government policy and the good will of philanthropic individuals and trusts.
The staff who deliver our daily operations such as managing and operating The GALE Centre are not funded from public funds. These roles are paid for using funds generated from the sale of goods and services mainly in our community café and gift shop.
Kimberley McEly
What assurances do GALE have not displace local businesses with whatever operates from the Sheiling [sic] and exactly how will this be implemented? Can GALE confirm whether or not there will be precise and extensive research into what businesses already exist in the surrounding area to establish the knock on effect of plans for the sheiling [sic]?
GALE is committed to ensuring that the impacts of its activities on other local businesses are carefully monitored and evaluated. Concerns over business displacement were addressed during the community consultation process and were reviewed by the funders to their satisfaction. Our Chair also made a statement on this subject on 19th May 2023, further emphasising our commitment to addressing these concerns.
In terms of your own business we held extensive dialogue with you in May 2023 offering a range of opportunities to promote your products, support you with premises and collaborate with you in other ways. A summary of this offer of support can be found here as a reminder.
As part of our pilot projects, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of our work, just as we have done extensively for our existing activities. We believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we have implemented measures to track and assess our impact. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Furthermore, GALE welcomes direct communication from any business that has concerns about the suggested pilot projects. We have provided opportunities for individuals and businesses to voice their concerns through public consultation meetings held on 27th February 2023, as well as by requesting further feedback on 7th March 2023. We have been open to further dialogue throughout. We encourage everyone to utilise these routes of communication rather than resorting to social media, as we believe direct dialogue is more effective in addressing concerns and finding solutions.
Liz Nicholson
This is a very ambitious plan, and a number of local businesses will be affected by it. I would like to ask why GALE did not make a booking at a larger forum, as it is likely so many people will wish to attend.
We wish to hold the meeting in the Shieling since it is this building that is the subject of the meeting and we are keen to share the space with local people and welcome them into it as a new community owned space. We don’t therefore intend to relocate to another venue.
Sandy MacLeod
How do you think you will benefit the local area in anyway with the acquisition of this property when you have little to no local support?
We believe that Community ownership can bring significant benefits to both local businesses and the people within a community. Since 2012 GALE has demonstrated the benefits to the local economy of a community asset like the GALE Centre. You can find more information about our impact measures on our website GALE in Numbers series.
Owning the Shieling further enhances GALE’s purpose to socially, environmentally and economically regenerate the area through participatory community action and community owned social enterprise.
There is a tremendous amount of support for the work of GALE both locally and from further afield. This is evidenced by the 150 local Gairloch and Loch Ewe residents who annually sign up to support our work as members of GALE. 35 Gairloch and Loch Ewe residents volunteer their time to the work of GALE because they believe in what we do. In the past 12 months these volunteers have contributed 2555.25hrs of their time to helping us make the Gairloch and Loch Ewe area a better place for people of all abilities to live, work and thrive. 20 local people happily contribute baking to our café and 50 Gairloch and Loch Ewe residents sell their products in the GALE Centre shop. We employ a further 23 Gairloch and Loch Ewe residents many of whom also participate in our activities and use our services on their days off because they support our work and believe in what we do.
Almost 30,000 people use the GALE Centre every year with many of our users being local residents.
We see no evidence of there being ‘little to no local support’. However we have collected a sickening amount of evidence of the spreading of slander and misinformation on social media about our organisation and staff by a wilfully ill-informed minority. We have also lost count of the times our staff and volunteers have been disrespected and bullied in the local community and online simply because they work for GALE. Despite this relentless vitriol and abuse our staff and volunteers continue to contribute their time, talents and energy to our work. This is a powerful testament to the depth and richness of the support GALE enjoys.
And can you announce publicly what Janet Miles is getting paid as a salary? Personally I think it’s disgusting, but that’s just my opinion.
Janet Miles our Managing Director was paid an annual salary of £38,143 for the tax year ending 5 April 2024 for her full time position. Her salary is agreed annually by the GALE Board of Directors and is published every year in our annual accounts which are publicly available and emailed directly to every member prior to our AGM.
Alice Nicudaine
Too many to list here, primarily relating to gaining integrity, operating better transparency and resolving lack of trust in the community.
It is difficult to know what more we can do to on this front.
In terms of openness and transparency, the GALE Centre is always open, 7 days a week throughout the year with staff and volunteers happy to chat, we run regular Ask GALE sessions where anyone in the community can ask questions and we publish newsletters, blogs and fortnightly updates in every issue of the Gairloch and District times. We publish an annual report and accounts every year which is sent to all our members and published online and we deliver a full verbal report and presentation to our members on the annual accounts and report at our AGM which is always followed by a question and answer session. Any resident of the Gairloch and Loch Ewe area can become a member of GALE and any member can stand for election to the Board of Directors. GALE is regulated by the Office of Scottish Charity regulators and Companies House plus all our funders scrutinise our accounts and activities and in turn they, as funders are audited and compliant with the Freedom of Information Act.
There is more information on the work of GALE, its Governance and Finance in the public domain than any other local organisation whether that’s another local business, charity or public sector body.
Ed Duncan
How can it ever be correct for Gale to repeatedly request and be given considerable sums of public money when there is no visibility of any recent application of funds in the community. Moreover, that public money would appear to be directly competing with, and disadvantaging local people.
GALE has been successful in securing grant funding from a wide range of funders over its 30 year existence. The impact of our work is clearly visible to those who look for it and our funders are fully satisfied with the work we have done and the value for money we have given in terms of the outcomes delivered. It is this track record and impactful delivery that enables us to continue to secure funding for our work.
We have also been in receipt of and nominated for a number of awards in recent years (SURF, HIT Awards, Scotland Loves Local), publicly recognising our work by experts in the field of community development and regeneration. These individuals and institutions have no difficulty seeing our positive impact in our community and showcasing it nationally.
Our website has a wealth of information about our work in the community tackling health and social issues, addressing the challenges of loneliness and isolation, supporting people through the cost of living crisis, looking for solutions to our housing shortage, identifying and working to meet local needs and aspirations and giving more local people a say over the things that matter to them through the power of community ownership.
In addition we have hugely impacted our local economy, putting more wealth into the hands of local individuals and businesses through our year round economic activity. Selling products in our shop and cafe in support of 50 local artists and craft producers. As you know, you personally have benefitted financially to the tune of over £10,000 as a result of GALE selling your products. With 50 other local businesses like yours also benefiting from these local wealth creating activities we are confident that we have punched well above our weight in terms of our contribution to local economic regeneration. Sadly the appetite for money in a capitalist society can be insatiable and the £340k we contribute to the local economy each year and the £10k to your business, though hard earned, is unlikely to ever be enough for some.
Tom Watson
I am interested in the plans going forward and would like to understand better what options you are considering. Without this information it is hard to detail questions. I would however like to know how need has been established and how this is evidenced. For example, community audit, consultation or from pre-existing studies. Also how inclusive engagement with the community and its various interest groups will be taken forward. It seems to me that it is vital that the exciting opportunity that this facility and investment offers for the community has the support of those it seeks to serve.
The options we are currently considering are outlined on our website here.
The acquisition of the building marks the beginning of our journey towards a fully functional community hub. To ensure that we have ample time to explore and evaluate a wide range of community ideas put forward during the community consultation, we have allocated a two-year period for this purpose. As part of this effort, we will be hiring a full-time Project Development Officer who will be responsible for overseeing and implementing pilot projects. These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
When it comes to how we identified need, this was done through an ongoing consultation with individuals and community groups which culminated in the production of a Community Action Plan and fed into our proposals for the Shieling. Our consultation activity has been outlined on our website and is ongoing. It will continue throughout the pilot phase of the project and beyond.
Elaine Jack
A: How can you have received very large sums of partly public funding money without detailed plan?
A plan for our activities has been submitted as part of our funding applications. These plans involve developing a series of pilot projects over a two year period to try and test the many project ideas put forward by local people during the community consultation phase. These projects will serve as a testing ground for various initiatives aimed at enhancing our community hub. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
Our funders know that we plan to use this comprehensive approach to enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub. They are satisfied with this approach and have awarded funding on that basis.
B: Now the purchase is complete, how much public money funding will the GALE be looking for to realise the still vague plan?
As stated above, we will work through a series of pilot projects, trying and testing out local ideas for the Shieling over a two year period. It won’t be until the completion of the pilot phase that these ideas will be tested and fully costed.
C: Is affordable housing still in the plan anywhere?
As part of our early consultation and feasibility work we included this suggestion in our plan. However architect’s opinion at the feasibility stage advised us that the Shieling building was not ideally suited to conversion into accommodation units and we may be better trying to tackle this issue by other means. We have since conducted a Housing Needs analysis in the area which will inform future housing strategies for our area.
Fraser Wotherspoon
Why are you spending £400,000 of public money on a building that you don’t know what you’re doing with?
There is a clear plan for how we will use the building and this has been publicly stated and well documented on our website for more than 12 months. To state that we do not know what we are doing with the building is therefore incorrect. There are a lot of false rumours circulating in the community. We can only assume this is one of them.
Over the next two years we will use the building to test a series of pilot projects that have been put forward as suggestions from local residents. Some of the projects we hope to undertake include:
- Community Pub: A gathering place where locals can come together and enjoy a drink in a welcoming atmosphere.
- Local Bakery: We have noticed a lack of bread, rolls, and croissants being produced by local businesses. By establishing a bakery, we can provide a much-needed service and support local suppliers.
- Refillery: A sustainable solution that allows community members to bring their empty containers and refill them with everyday essentials, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs.
- Pop-Up Restaurant: Exciting themed evening events that offer unique dining experiences for the community.
- Office Accommodation and Meeting Space: The GALE Centre’s meeting space is already in high demand. By expanding our facilities, we can accommodate more community groups and individuals needing workspace.
- Kitchen Facilities: With a thriving community café, additional kitchen preparation and storage space will greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community.
- Growing Space: Our existing raised beds at The GALE Centre provide fresh produce for the community café and offer valuable learning and volunteering opportunities. Owning The Shieling will allow us to create even more growing space, including a polytunnel to extend the growing season and provide indoor gardening space for volunteers.
This comprehensive approach will enable us to carefully assess the feasibility and impact of each idea as we move forward with the development of our community hub.
