Uist and Lewis are recognised for thriving Social Enterprises

Uist and Lewis will be formally announced at an online event, attended by Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary, Aileen Campbell MSP.

Social Enterprise Places are local areas where social enterprise activity is thriving, from neighbourhoods, to villages, towns, islands and both urban and rural communities. Social Enterprise Scotland has been encouraging local areas to recognise themselves as Social Enterprise Places committed to developing and investing in their local areas.

The programme aims to promote, raise awareness, and build markets for social enterprises. While 2021 remains a challenging time for many areas the pandemic has also highlighted the role that social enterprise plays in supporting the community.

Alasdair Nicolson said: “As an advocate of social enterprise and on behalf of Point and Sandwick Trust (PST), I welcome the recognition of Lewis as a Social Enterprise Place. This reflects the past and current development, leadership and entrepreneurship shown not only by Point and Sandwick Trust, but also of the other social enterprise actors, in Uig, Bragor, Carloway, Pairc, Galston and Tolsta, to name a few. As we look beyond the horizon we aim to create stronger communities, through further community led opportunities, and by creating employment and improving infrastructure at local levels. There are now many good examples which other communities can see and Point and Sandwick Trust, for our part, are happy to share as we share from others.”

Thomas Fisher, Director at CoDeL added: “Scotland’s islands have the highest density of social enterprise per head of population. In Uist there are over 50 social and community enterprises, that are existential to the resilience and thriving ability of our island communities.

“We are delighted that Social Enterprise Scotland is recognising the role social and community enterprises have been playing on Uist for four decades in delivering to community needs, building community wealth, and developing our islands as attractive places to live and work. They also generate 10% of all jobs for people under 40 on the islands, enabling young people to return, stay or settle and contribute so much to our island communities.”

The recognition of these communities has also been welcomed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Margaret McSporran, Head of Social Enterprise Development said: “Social enterprises are a vital part of our community and economy in the Highlands and Islands and bring economic and community benefits across the region. They help create employment, improve public services and support some of our hardest to reach individuals. We congratulate Uist and Lewis.”

Alasdair Allan, MSP lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament which reads as follows:

“That the Parliament congratulates Uist and Lewis on being recognised as the first communities within the Social Enterprise Places Scotland scheme; notes that Social Enterprise Places are local areas where social enterprise activity is thriving; understands that the programme was launched in November 2019 and aims to promote, raise awareness and build markets for social enterprises; further understands that Scottish islands have the highest densities of social enterprises per capita in Scotland and generate 10% of all jobs for people under 40 in island areas; notes that social enterprises, which reinvest their profits to create positive change, provide vital services and infrastructure contributing to public life, particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and wishes social enterprise continued success during, and beyond, these challenging times.”