n By Morag Livingstone
banking – especially those without access to online banking services. In areas where a mobile branch is stopping Lloyds/ Bank of Scotland do promise more community bankers to provide face-to-face banking support. These facilities will provide a temporary service and sound far from ideal. It also raises questions as to how long these too will last.
The closure of stores and banks in rural locations is thus extremely worrying for the people who live there. Small cash-based businesses who do not have good, or any, internet connectivity are impacted which can result in a loss of employment opportunities. This will likely negatively impact the population demographic, marginalisation and isolation.
Currently the number of older people in rural communities is increasing, while young people are leaving in their droves – because of a lack of jobs, access to agricultural land, reliable public transport, affordable housing, inadequate physical and mental health care, childcare, fuel costs and digital connectivity. Older patients from rural communities will spend longer in hospital as there is no family nearby to support them.
Known for their self-sufficiency and determined character, Scotland’s islanders and highlanders don’t always need to wait for government to develop a plan. In April 2023, on the inner Hebridean island of Lismore, the only store which also served as a post office and social hub was put up for sale. The community recognised the devastating impact this would have on the island’s 170 permanent residents, including a three hour round trip to Oban by ferry for a pint of milk.
The Community Trust conducted a survey to glean the communities’ views and then pulled together a successful campaign which raised enough money to buy the shop and a van, start refurbishment, purchase new stock and employ two islanders. With support from residents, second homeowners, tourists and volunteers they have established a “not-for-profit enterprise owned by the community, operated by the community, for the benefit of the community”.
These values and the objectives set out in the Lismore store prospectus included reducing the average ‘food mile’ round trip; employment; training
25 uniteLANDWORKER Spring 2024
opportunities; community hub; quality suppliers and a reduction in the amount of plastics and non-recyclable products used in the shop.
The Lismore Community Trust told Landworker, “Now the Shop is
community owned, we feel proud of our achievement and all feel a sense of ownership. There are many small businesses and individuals that rely on the post office for postage, banking, electricity top up and so on.
“Island life can be quite lonely and the nice thing about having a Shop is that you know you are going to have a nice natter with whoever is working there and who knows who you might meet – probably someone you haven’t seen for some time. Having a shop will certainly encourage our young people to stay and makes it easier for the elderly to stay here.”
This shift to profit not being the sole goal for rural community businesses could be a way for these communities to reconnect with the younger generation and encourage them to stay. If they want to attract the next generation of workers, larger primarily profit focused businesses should take note.
Morag Livingstone is a filmmaker and author
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