Background

Collieston  is unique among NE Scottish villages in that it has scarcely expanded beyond its Victorian boundaries. Nonetheless its population has expanded to a cosmopolitan mix of around 200 people in the village with a further 100 in the surrounding parish, rising to over 600 during the summer months. They represent a vibrant community with a number of interest groups. In addition, the village plays host to numerous school parties, walking groups, canoe clubs and bird watchers.

Despite Collieston’s popularity, there is no village pub or tearoom. Our village hall in the former primary school is too small for a community of this size. It is very poorly resourced with only basic provision for the disabled. In addition, our village shop and Post Office may close in the near future.

Our proposal is to design and build a new 21st Century Community Centre with social space for up to 150 people and, to develop and establish a sustainable Social Enterprise based around providing respite accommodation, and Life Long Learning facilities including a multimedia local heritage archive.  We are also considering the inclusion in the centre of a retail outlet co-op and Post Office.

The income generated by the subsidiary will be used to meet our financial needs, and any surplus will be considered for disbursement to constituted local groups.

Local need and demand for this facility were established in the course of research facilitated by the award (in 2003) of £6.5k from the Scottish Executive’s Rural Voices: Action Research Competition.  This resulted in a ballot of all residents and householders who voted by a significant majority (142:95) to support a New Build project, based on socially informed architecture, and our objective of establishing a sustainable Social Enterprise.

Wider need and demand for the facilities that we propose to offer have been established via consultation with senior executives in the Care Commission, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Social Services and the Voluntary Sector, including Voluntary Services Aberdeen and the Grampian Autistic Society.

Our community has already created greater capacity and social capital taking the project thus far – establishing need, consulting the community, developing plans from those consultations and agreeing on a way forward.