Carbon Neutral Islay

26/11/2025

*****As Phase 1 of our Community Buildings Decarbonisation comes to a close, we have delivered solar panels on five community owned buildings which will make a huge difference to the long term sustainability of these projects going forward.
Port Mor
Bruichladdich
Bowmore
McTaggart Leisure
ICCI
and the Rhinns Hall to get solar and heating.

We have also delivered solar lighting for Bowmore and Port Ellen harbours, Port Wemyss Coastal Path and Etrikes for Sidekick, will be fitting LED lighting in ICCI and other buildings plus new double glazing.

Also under the Carbon Neutral Islands project, we have installed an expandable solar array at Castlehill which we will be adding to this year. This generates income for the Islay Energy Community Benefit Fund that record numbers of you are applying to for replacement windows and doors.

This year we are pleased to announce that we have secured more funding for Community Buildings Phase 2 with a further six buildings receiving a range of decarbonisation measures.

Onwards!

21/11/2025

*****The Community Bus*****

Did you know that community groups have free use of this bus?
IDI pledged to try and cover all costs on community transport when it took on the old bus from the Baptist Church. This is a valuable community resource.

If your community group needs transport, we can either provide a driver or use your own. Contact us on Facebook or email [email protected] for info on how to book.

13/11/2025

An Islay special, this week on Landward.
Thursday 13th November at 8.30pm - BBC Scotland
Sunday 16th November at 9.30am - BBC2
Sunday 16th November at 12.00pm - BBC1 Scotland

11/11/2025

Pop along!

22/07/2025

Interested in learning what Scotland really thinks of climate change?

The 'Yale Climate Opinion Maps' for the United Kingdom from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication is a new interactive mapping tool that depicts public climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, policy support, experiences, and attribution beliefs across the UK.

78% of people in Scotland believe climate change is 'extremely, very, or somewhat important' - great news for our members, who support their communities through reuse, repair and recycling activities, to support social & environmental justice.

Explore the map and learn more: https://tinyurl.com/56c3jamx

Follow Yale School of the Environment for more updates.

02/07/2025

📢 JUST PUBLISHED: New study by University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, forecasts the impacts of climate change on the world's coastal ocean to the end of the century.

Done as part of the project Future Coastal Ocean Climates, the study draws on expertise from more than 40 leading institutions across four continents.

Using advanced climate models and high-resolution data, the study projects significant warming in coastal ocean regions by 2100 under high-emission scenarios, with associated changes in salinity and ocean dynamics.

These transformations are expected to have profound consequences for biodiversity, fisheries, coastal communities and the wider climate system.

👉 Read more here: https://ow.ly/LIfU50WhxMu
👉 More info about the Future Coastal Ocean Climates project, hosted by Decade Program CoastPredict: https://ow.ly/T7fW50WhxMv

29/06/2025

Great to see a Carbon Neutral Islands project coming along nicely 😎

17/06/2025

🌟 JOIN THE TEAM: Opportunities at Raasay Development Trust!

Seeking motivated people to support community initiatives and help realise the island's ambitions.

TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE:

1️⃣ LOCAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (0.8 FTE, 12 months)
• Lead project development from RDT’s Five Year Development Plan
• Manage RDT systems and community engagement
• £33,670 pro rata with 5% pension contribution

2️⃣COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER- CARBON NEUTRAL ISLANDS(0.8 FTE, 9 months)
• Implement the Community Climate Action Plan
• Foster community participation and engagement
• £30,940 pro rata with 5% pension contribution

Why Work With Us?
• Flexible hours and generous annual leave
• Meaningful work supporting a vibrant island community
• Mix of home and office-based work
• Both roles have potential for extension

About: Raasay Development Trust manages community assets and delivers the Carbon Neutral islands project on the sublime island off Raasay. See job pack linked below for details.

Apply for either (or both) positions by July 1st: Send your CV and cover letter to [email protected] If you have any questions about either of the roles contact Tom at [email protected]

12/06/2025

URGENT!!!

CARBON NEUTRAL ISLANDS - COMMUNITY BUILDINGS PHASE 2

Carbon Neutral Islands project is looking for local tradesmen to provide quotation’s and participate in a range of measures on community owned buildings across the island.

Subject to funding, the following works will be required -

Supply and fit - Thermally efficient windows and doors.
Draftproofing
Secondary glazing
Insulation- roof insulation, framing out, king span, overboarding and plastering. Painting and decorating.
LED lighting

Please email [email protected] or telephone me on 07975816623

The Phase 1 project is already in progress and will deliver solar panels and battery storage to:-

ICCI Gaelic Centre
MacTaggart Leisure Centre
Bowmore Hall
Rhinns Hall
Bruichladdich Hall
Port Mor
South Islay Pavillion - Battery Storage

This project is ongoing and will roll into more phases on an annual basis.

Thank you!

11/06/2025

11/12/2024

The work in progress of the first Islay solar array next to the community owned wind turbine - and Tom in the foreground for scale!

Funded by Carbon Neutral Islands project, and project managed by Islay Energy Trust, the asset will pass to Islay Community Benefit Society to generate income for the Community Benefit Fund.

25/11/2024

Developing Gaelic to boost Scotland’s economy