Supporting Arran's communities with specialist skills training, seed library infrastructure to strengthen local food resilience.
Project Description
The Arran Pioneer Project CIC supports a network of established community gardens and growers across the Isle of Arran. This funding will establish a seed library, and provide specialist skills training that builds long-term capacity across the island for current and future growers.
Equipment for seed storage and seed library (including cabinet with drawers and compartments to organise seed packets): £500
Scythes for gardens (total 4 sets from specialist supplier Scythe Cymru): £500
Total: £2,000
Who Will Benefit: Our network includes community members across several gardens, with wider community interest for specialist skills. The skills training will benefit experienced growers and newcomers alike, whilst also building capacity for future projects including woodland crofting. The seed library will serve the entire island's growing community by organising and distributing both purchased seeds (including our current seed stock) and saved heritage varieties.
Why This Deserves Funding: This project demonstrates all three Community Wealth Building themes:
Community Ownership: Our model empowers communities to control local food production and distribution, keeping wealth circulating locally rather than flowing to off-island retailers.
Enterprising Communities: The seed library creates sustainable growing systems - managing both purchased and saved seeds reduces ongoing costs for all gardens whilst varieties can be shared across the network. Skills training builds capacity for future enterprises including our proposed woodland crofting initiatives.
Local Innovation: We're creating a replicable model of skills-sharing and resource management. The seed library and coordinated training programme demonstrates how rural communities can build resilience through knowledge transfer and collaborative infrastructure that supports the entire island's growing community.
Over 5 years, we've worked with our communities to transform disused land into productive spaces that island residents can use to grow their own food. This funding enables us to build skills and systems that make our growing spaces more productive and self-sufficient.
The project builds on proven success - we've previously received support from participatory budgeting and delivered measurable outcomes including increased food security, community connection, and environmental benefits.
Location: Arran faces unique challenges as an island community - high food costs, limited local production, and economic dependence on mainland supply chains. We have helped to set up community gardens across the island's villages, contributing to resilient local food systems. The skills training and seed library address key gaps - preserving traditional knowledge whilst building modern growing capacity that keeps island wealth circulating locally.
Proposed on behalf of: The Arran Pioneer Project CIC
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