Welcome to the Strathglass and Affric Community Company the development trust for the communities of Strathglass, Glen Affric and Glen Cannich.

Who We Are

The company was set up in June 2009 and the first thing we did was enable local people to take ownership of the village hall in Cannich. The hall, which was owned by The Highland Council, was threatened with closure but, following a successful transfer to community ownership, the company secured significant grant funding for a major refurbishment.

The works were completed in 2013 and, since then, the hall has become an important community facility. We have a part-time care taker and bookings manager and the hall is used on an almost daily basis by lots of different groups. This includes a contract with NHS Highland for a twice-weekly GP surgery. You can find out more from the hall website at (insert link).

With this experience under its belt the company, which currently has a board of 7 trustees who all live locally, is increasingly being asked to get involved in other community projects. Following advice and from the Just Enterprise programme and with the support of our members we have now become a development trust (and have joined the Development Trusts Association Scotland). This change of business model – our legal structure remains the same – gives us scope to take on new challenges and explore wider issues. We will be doing this, with others, to help shape the future of our local community.

Development Trusts are community organisations which:

  • Are owned and managed by the local community though its membership
  • Aim to achieve sustainable regeneration of a community or address a range of economic, social, environmental and cultural issues within the community.
  • Are independent but seek to work in partnership with other private, public and third sector organisations.
  • Aim to reduce dependency on grant support by generating income through enterprise and ownership of assets. All trading surpluses are principally reinvested in the organisation or the community.

SACC’s Vision

As a Community Development Trust, Strathglass and Affric Community Company (SACC) will help ensure that long-term, sustainable benefits are achieved throughout the Strathglass area by initiating and implementing a range of projects focussed on strengthening and uniting the local community.
Link to Strathglass Community Fund

What We Do

SACC has set up a number of sub groups to look at specific projects. Many community-based organisations operate this way. It spreads the work and means time can be spent in a focused way on a particular issue. SACC’s Articles of Association allow for delegation of certain powers to sub committees. Each group has at least one trustee on it plus non-trustees who are happy to give time and help out. The groups report to the board on a regular basis and have clear terms of reference.