Local community groups encouraged to join islands network to benefit from shared learnings and experiences on climate action
Ten new Community Resource Centres (CRCs) have been established across Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides to provide resources and facilitate knowledge sharing to inspire and support communities in setting up and running their own decarbonisation projects.
The CRCs are part of the Islands Community Action Network (ICAN), launched in September 2024, as part of the UK and Scottish Government funded Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ) programme.
The ICAN network is designed to inspire and empower communities to take climate action by connecting with other island groups and organisations. Members have access to a range of benefits including decarbonisation reference guides, local decarbonisation case studies and a project planning process, which details information to support turning ideas into practical action. Resources are arranged thematically around specific areas such as local food growing, waste, transport and energy.
The centres provide physical resources, online access points and video conferencing equipment within existing community anchor buildings. Local organisations and community groups are welcome to get in touch with their local CRC listed below to make use of the facilities.
Orkney
· Sanday Development Trust, Heilsa Fjold, Sanday, Orkney KW17 2BN https://sandaydt.org
· Rousay, Egilsay, and Wyre Development Trust, The Pier Cabin, Rousay KW17 2PU https://rewdt.org
· Shapinsay Development Trust,The Boathouse, Balfour, Orkney KW17 2DY https://shapinsay.org.uk/sdt/
· Orkney Library & Archive, 44 Junction Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1AG https://orkneylibrary.org.uk
Shetland
· North Yell Development Council, Sellafirth, Yell, Shetland ZE2 9DG www.northyell.co.uk
· Bressay Development Ltd, Speldiburn, Bressay, Shetland ZE2 9EL www.bressay.org
· Hoswick Visitor Centre, Hoswick, Sandwick, Shetland ZE2 9HL https://hoswickvisitorcentre.com
· Brae Rural Energy Hub, Youth & Community Centre, Brae, Shetland ZE2 9QJ www.braeruralenergyhub.com
Outer Hebrides
· Uist Council of Voluntary Organisations (UCVO), 41 Airport Road, Benbecula, Balivanich, Western Isles, HS7 5LA https://ucvo.org.uk
· UHI North, West and Hebrides, Barra Learning Centre, Castlebay, Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides, HS9 5XD www.nwh.uhi.ac.uk/en/about-us/campuses-and-centres/barra/
The ICAN and CRC resources have been developed by Community Energy Scotland (CES) in collaboration with ICAN members and will be continually updated to reflect members’ activities and interests. Monthly online meetings focus on specific topics while an online forum is available for members to share information, and discuss and develop shared interests.
Becky Ford, Islands Community Action Network Development Office at Community Energy Scotland, said:
“We are delighted to be able to make the ICAN online resources available to groups within the island communities through the Community Resource Centres. The host organisations are already delivering practical climate action for their communities and we hope the video conferencing equipment and information resources will help to support and expand their activities locally and as well as facilitate knowledge sharing across the islands.”
Membership of the Islands Community Action Network is open to any community organisation in Orkney, Shetland or the Outer Hebrides interested in decarbonisation and climate action.
A second round of recruitment for organisations to host Community Resource Centres will open in September 2025, with a view to launching these in April 2026.
Community organisations can join the ICAN network via icnz.org/what-we-offer/islands-community-action-network or access the membership form using the following link https://forms.microsoft.com/e/KeKJtyugZ4