Existing research on community asset ownership typically tends to focus on the outcomes of asset acquisitions from ‘day one’ of the community assuming ownership (or lease in many cases) onwards. Attention is paid to the impacts that the asset will have on the community in terms of local economic development, growing social connections and environmental change. In what ways will the new community digital hub create new jobs for young people? How might a community owned pub create social cohesion where community connections have been lost? Or how can land be used to grow fruit and veg in a environmentally sustainable way?
But, there is less focus on the impacts of processes of asset acquisition and how this may potentially affect the ability of groups and organisations to then sustain and develop an asset. On one hand going through a process together can develop social capital and build community resilience. But on the other hand, processes can be complex, lengthy and drawn out, leaving communities either elated at simply getting through a process or depleted of energy, enthusiasm and finances to continue. For this reason, the Rural Assets project seeks to understand the impacts of processes of asset acquisitions on the empowerment, resilience and wellbeing of rural communities. Our very first online community event took place solely for Scottish rural community members on Tuesday 6th June. The aim of the event was to understand the experiences of communities who had been through an asset acquisition process (whether successful or unsuccessful), those were in the midst of a process, or those who were thinking about going through a process. In particular we sought to discuss the particular barriers and facilitators that rural communities face when going through asset acquisition processes. The varied knowledge and experiences of participants has stuck with me- we could have chatted all day about both the obvious and hidden complexities that rurality adds to the equation, but here are a few key takeaways from the day…. Choice vs threat Opting to engage in taking on a community asset is not always a positive or healthy choice. Hands can be forced by the threat of losing a key service or facility, typically due to public service cuts and withdrawal or market failure of the private sector to provide services, and the effects of such loss can ripple across rural communities. The closure of a local library or village hall can decimate key social infrastructure that binds community members together, and the loss of a school or nursery means families simply may have to leave the area. Jobs are lost, connections severed, travel costs tripled. While impacts can be wide reaching, the burden of doing something about this can often rest on the most active and engaged community groups, who are often already over-worked and running multiple other community development projects. So where are the incentives? How can the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term effort? And how can risk of failure be reduced? Legacy and succession Throughout the event participants kept coming back to the related issues of succession, legacy and sustainability- who is going to sustain the asset, who is going to take places on the board when all others are burnt out? In rural areas where population sizes are smaller, and volunteers are predominantly older and retired, and youth continue to out-migrate, how do community organisations plan for succession? How do we get younger people involved in community development when they have the most to gain from community assets in the future? These were complicated questions without necessarily having any answers. In terms of asset acquisition processes, sustainability and legacy plans are commonly required in applications to funders and to public authorities, with participants having experience of applications being denied without a long-term plan. So how might rural communities demonstrate this? Further, when processes can be long, arduous and stressful, often with a small amount of people working very long hours, who would want to take over? Community consultation Much like succession planning, funders and public authorities (who own assets) want proof of full community consultation and support before considering an asset acquisition application. That private buyers are not subject to the same scrutiny is a source of some frustration. While there may be assumptions that rural communities could be easier to consult due to their simply being les people inhabiting them, this isn’t always the case, especially in very ‘remote’ areas. What if your community is dispersed with inhabitable terrain? What if your population is unreachable digitally, or your broadband poor? In the words of one participant ‘are we supposed to use carrier pigeon or hand-dropped notes for every single update?’ Most importantly, what if your community doesn’t have a space or platform that can be used for large community meetings? What if the asset you seek to acquire is a community hall (that is currently un-useable)? You might have lots of fields and greenspace, but what if you have unpredictable or extreme weather that prevents you meeting outside? Wee coming to realise that such ‘social infrastructure’ is absolutely vital to these processes. The above represents just a snipped of the discussions that we had at the Scottish community event. We are very much looking forward to continuing these conversations with rural communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to see how rurality impacts on processes of asset acquisition in different contexts! For information and advice about community asset acquisition in Scotland please visit: https://dtascommunityownership.org.uk/ Dr Dani Hutcheon
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A love letter to his rural home island from our researcher Kieran Sinclair Orkney’s ancient civilisation has always reimagined itself, to forge a brighter future for the next generation… Born to the wintery archipelago in the North Sea, Orkney will always draw me back home. The wild landscapes change with a gust of wind. Mornings can feel like a new world from the night before, as the island transforms itself from a summer paradise to a stormy fortress. Here, you realise that the natural world belongs to no one. As you walk through the purple heather hills, your eye falls upon an ancient ruin, small and uncommanding, that remind you of the island’s enduring presence throughout time. Be it a Neolithic Settlement, or the remains of World War II naval ruins scattered from coast to bay, you can see that the Orkney Islands have been ever transforming throughout their ancient history. Living amidst the wild and serene lands, it is no wonder Orkney’s small population has bred so many talented artists, writers, and musicians. As a bairn, I was lucky enough to witness the fading legacy of the island’s old custom of storytelling, singing and folklore. The old culture came alive at Hogmanay, where families took to foot and visited their neighbours right across the island to take in another new year. As time passes, the lights in the host houses turn off. Today, folks still go first footing, but the numbers dwindle with every passing year and the songs of old are forgotten. A symptom of our declining population – especially amongst young people. As the population falls smaller, greater problems arise. Youth depopulation is signalled as an acute issue that threatens the future of our island communities. Already, islands such as my own home, are deemed fragile. Ranked in the top 10% most deprived of access to essential services in Scotland, outer islands, like Hoy, need support in confronting these challenges. Orkney has the highest level of fuel poverty, nationally, despite being existing in the North Sea: declared Europe’s heart of renewable energy. Alongside the rest of the country, food bank usage has amplified in recent years, especially during COVID19. Houses are becoming a rarer prospect for the island’s youth. An issue that has only amplified during the pandemic. Such realities are difficult to digest. But, we must confront them head on, in the light of day, because for many, these issues are everyday realities. My own future living on the islands is unknown, as I don’t have secure housing. I am one of the many young people who face the prospect of leaving my home, due to a housing shortage – and lack of affordable homes to meet my income. With people leaving, in search of hope, loneliness enters the lives of many. When my granny looks out from her window, she sees an empty field that stretches toward the still bay, where one fishing boat gently glides without competition. A stark contrast to the vision of army barracks, in their hundreds, camped in her father’s field below the farmhouse, and a pool of naval activity in the restless bay – an everyday vision of her youth. Two worlds apart. Granny is one of many, with a fascinating story to tell. In small communities, it is essential to create and sustain spaces where the community can come together. Luckily, we have a community hall on the island, where brilliant volunteers spare their time to brining folks together over a coffee and a story. For all of the brilliances of these islands, we do a disservice to the people who live here, to wash over the truths that many experience. Today, we have both cause for alarm and celebration. But, if you look back, the history of the islands tells us that we, as islanders, are capable of reimagining our world for the needs of the future generation. Kieran Sinclair We are a friendly team of researchers and community practitioners working on the project ‘Rural Assets: Policy and Practice Insights from the Devolved Nations’, funded by the British Academy and Nuffield Foundation.
Here we hope to share with you what we’ve been up to, how we are doing it, and our own caffeinated thoughts and insights into the topics of rurality, community assets, policy and practice. We are a team from different disciplinary and practical perspectives: law, rural development, community engagement, sustainable practice, the list goes on…but are all interested in looking into the importance of processes of community asset acquisition and the impacts that this might have on the empowerment, resilience and wellbeing of rural communities. We look forward to telling you more about our research, happy reading! |
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