This past year has been another of challenge, progress and achievement in equal measure. Particularly pleasing has been the huge strides made in bringing the Care Centre nearer to fruition. We hope that the building work will be well advanced by the time of the next Annual Report. The significant steps taken in the field of Renewable energies have been another source of encouragement and one where careful planning should start to show considerable fruit soon.

We've been delighted by the appointment of a Youth Development Worker and the news that we will become the first area in Orkney to receive Broadband technology. Both of these issues are things that the Trust have long campaigned for and have worked closely with our neighbours in the Papay Development Trust to achieve.

Along with all the other less visible, but equal important, issues, which are highlighted in this report, it's been another busy and productive year.

It's also the case that no one has been busier than our Development Officer, Sam Harcus. Sam's contribution to these achievements is inestimable and we remain indebted to him. Our key priority for the immediate future is to secure funding for this post with the sole aim of keeping Sam firmly on board. This won't be easy, and we recognise that our involvement as an "Initiative at the Edge" community won't last forever but having a skilled and enthusiastic Development Officer is central to our current projects and future plans.

Our recent review of the original "Development Plan" was a heartening exercise insofar as it showed how much the community have achieved in a comparatively short time. But it also revealed how many more challenges remain. Our task in the year ahead is to turn more of these challenges into achievements.

The news that the Haunschmidt family will soon be leaving us is a blow to everyone in Westray. In the Trust we will lose not only a valued founder member and excellent Treasurer but the person who has done more than anyone in persevering with the Care Centre agenda. We owe a great debt to Shirley and whilst the farewell speeches can be saved for a later date I want at this stage to put on record the Trust's grateful thanks and warmest wishes to her, Hubert and the boys.

Thanks also to all the Trust Directors, our Clerk (Yvonne Rorie) and sub-group members for your help in this past year. And thanks to the people of Westray for your continued support.

Hope to see you at the AGM,

Iain MacDonald
(Chairman)

Last summer, due to the good weather, the visitor numbers were again good. The Tourist Association now has a notice board in the village with details of services and things to do in Westray and Papay. It is sited in the heart of the village outside Seatters Gallery. With help from the Development Trust and the Community Council, the Association has an advert in the Tourist Board brochure this year, which is bringing in enquiries via the web site. Information packs are subsequently sent out to the enquirers.

At the turn of the year I went to see the lighthouse and exhibition centre at Ardnamurchan, a very successful tourist attraction. I went with the intention of seeing whether we can do something similar here. It is unlikely that we can do the same at Noup Head, but we are pursuing other possibilities. The final draft of the tourism marketing plan is now ready for adoption and all members are looking forward to another busy season in 2003. If anyone wants any more information, please feel free contact me on 677786.

Peter Needham

Submitted February 2003-02-28

The Westray Development Trust has been working towards the development of a learning centre on the island working closely with partners including Orkney College and University of the Highlands Millenium Institute to achieve this.

Following some funding disappointments a success. New computer equipment in the shape of laptops based in a mobile charging trolley arrived as the result of successful joint application to SUFI Capital Modernisation Fund made by the Development Trust and Orkney College. This has increased the capacity for learning and means a "classroom" can be established flexibly within the current community school building

In addition on Tues 8th October 2002, Orkney Islands Council at Full Council meeting approved the capital expenditure towards the improvement of community and leisure facilities within Westray Community School. The project scored well under the OIC points system for proposed projects and has been allocated a total of £190,000 to be spent in the year 2004/5. The project requires additional funding which is being sought by OIC from SportScotland. This proposed plan will include a purpose built space for learning and an additional dedicated video conferencing space.

A further successful application was made to the Orkney Childcare Partnership to widen access for open learning students by providing crèche facilities.

A joint project Auk Club Online involving club members, school pupils and the local outreach co-ordinator was devised and run. Auk Club members were supported to access computing equipment and use the internet.

Video conferencing continues to play a vital role in learning, business and community development which in turn puts continued pressure for space on existing community and school facilities.

The attention of the group will refocus on a development plan for the new learning centre and funding requirements to equip and run it.

Jo MacDonald

Members of the Education and Training sub group comprise: Willie McEwen, Allan Forrester, Ronnie Johnson (Orkney College), Jo MacDonald, Yvonne Rorie, David Steele (Community Education), Janette Rendall and Ally Sangster.

Our Industry sub-group has not been quite so active itself this year. We are still active in the background but a lot of industry developments are being worked on by their relative sub-groups, ie- Renewables, Tourism, Arts and Crafts etc.

Agriculture and fishing are still our primary industries and we are looking at ways these industries could be sustained. It is very difficult for young people to get started in these industries and that is worrying for the future. There is so much legislation that is outwith the communities control.

Industry creates jobs and that has to be a kingpin in any viable community.

The Care Centre will generate new jobs of various interests both full and part time to our community and this will create choices that are not here at the moment. It is good to see more of our young people looking for work within our community and we will try to help where we can.

Many of the jobs now require certificated operators but help and training can be organized and supported through various agencies.

Sea transport.
Many of the difficulties of full boats at certain times are still with us. Although frustrating for the people involved it is a good sign for us as a community as it shows our community is alive and busy. We are trying to address these problems through timetabling and we are still looking actively at basing the boat in Westray for a trial period during the summer of 2004. We are in negotiation with Orkney Ferries on the proposed timetables and trying to find ways through some of the difficulties which will arise with this change.

The community here is still firmly behind the concept of basing the boat in Westray. We have had various meetings with Hauliers and other businesses during this last year and have fine tuned the proposed timetable to be as suitable as possible for all the organizations involved although we accept it may not be absolutely perfect for everyone.

The proposed timetable would give us more sailings at better times of day for most industries and builds in flexibility that is not there at the moment. This would give opportunities to remove some of the peak loading problems that are there at present. Orkney Ferries have recently received funding to enable them to reduce the higher (per metre) charges that occur over the 5 metre vehicle length. This should help with some of the increased costs for large vehicles.

Orkney Ferries are also looking at their statistical recording system because at the moment it doesen't record the amounts of overbooking or the sizes of commercial vehicles carried, only the number is recorded. This would not help in determining the size of boat required when it comes time for replacements.

Extra Saturday sailings have also been granted this winter financed from the Rural Transport Fund.

Air Transport.
We have seen significant developments to the Air Service this last year. A Public Service Obligation has been put in place and this has reduced the return fare to Kirkwall from Westray to £15. In addition to this a mini-bus is now in operation from the Airport into Kirkwall. This bus meets all the planes leaving and arriving at the Grimsetter Airport to and from the Isles. This does away with the need to book transport to and from the Airport and costs £3 return. We hope people will support this service.

General.
The OIC are introducing Coast to Coast tickets this summer which will enable visitors to visit three islands by Air or Sea at a reduced cost. We hope this will give a boost to tourism. A Concessionary Travel Scheme has been introduced for the elderly enabling them to have 1 free return journey per month from their island to Kirkwall. This is available by Sea or Air and includes the new bus service from the airport into Kirkwall.

Transport issues are developed through the Westray Community Council with input from the Development trust.

ENVIROMENT SUBGROUP REPORT
In the past if you heard the word environment you would be forgiven in saying, whit's wrong way it, or whit is it!! But we are becoming much more aware of the negative effects mankind is having on the environment, even on Westray. The actions we take can make a difference not only to our Island but also to the ecological stability of our Planet. Any activity, whether work or leisure, will create environmental issues to be addressed.

We as a group try to look at ways to stabilise and enhance the environment on Westray. One project that is ongoing is beach cleans. We would like to expand this to as many beaches as practical, but due to the poor turn out (self included) this has not been possible, so we would hope for more volunteers this year.

Another project completed, was a flora and fauna document, compiled by Martin Gray. This, if you haven't seen it, is well worth a look. We have also set up a local flora and fauna recording data base which will make future updates much easier. Another project that will soon be achieved is the construction of a hard stand car view area, at Road Myre; we would hope to get feed back from all who use it, positive and negative. Other projects that are being thought about are field classes, hopefully led by local experts. We would like to see interpretation boards sited in areas of interest describing the wild life that may be seen. This will hopefully be done in conjunction with other interested bodies.

Most of these ideas are to increase the knowledge and interest of the flora and fauna of the island but this is only one area that is important to the environment. There are many more projects in the pipeline, some very much in the embryonic stage, dealing with different environmental issues. So if you are interested in getting involved, get in touch, or if you are just interested, watch this space.

Renewable Energy sub-group report Feb 2003
The renewable energy sub-group consists of Iain MacDonald, Sam Harcus and Willie McEwen, with considerable input from Colin Risbridger. It was formed last year. Our broad aim is to take forward the development of renewable energy projects to the benefit of Westray.

Westray has considerable potential for generating energy, especially from the wind, but also from the tide, waves, and a little from mini-hydro schemes. Geothermal energy is captured by heat pumps at the Old Kirk and the Kilnman's Cottage.

Feasibility studies have been done for small windmills at the Hofn and the Old Kirk. These 2.5Kw and 6Kw windmills would save useful amounts of money for each place and the projects are now being developed. A joint feasibility study is underway for 50Kw windmills for Papay, Westray and Rousay.

Energy does not need to be exported into the grid at this stage, and the grid transmission problems should be sorted in time for at least one big windmill on the island.

The sub group has produced and printed an Energy Plan. Its main points are:

• Register with the EU Renewable Energy Partnership's programme our aspiration for Westray to generate an equivalent amount of energy as is used in the Island through community owned/operated renewable projects by 2012. This does not mean we produce, for example, petrol in Westray but that other projects producing energy are equated to the energy of the petrol used here. We are suggesting ten years to become self sufficient in energy.

The Trust is now actively pursuing a partnership with Unst in Shetland to take this forward. Unst has many similarities with Westray and sharing our experiences, expertise and information should greatly assist both communities. Unst and Westray are the only communities in Scotland attempting 100% equivalent generation by Community Renewable projects.

• Commission an Energy Supply and Demand Audit to establish the quantity of energy we are currently using in Westray and the potential for renewable energy projects.
• Develop community renewable projects and the relevant skills locally to set up and maintain them. These projects should mean jobs as well as financial return.
• Involve our youngsters in the execution of this plan and in the developing technology. Some of this technology is not so high tech. and the light engineering could be done on the island.
• Reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and have at least one green transport project up and running this year. We are currently investigating biodiesel produced from waste vegetable oil. The oil is already being collected within Westray and we are now negotiating to get all Orkney's waste vegetable oil. Biodiesel exhaust fumes are 90% less carcinogenic than those from ordinary diesel. It is also much better for the environment in terms of particulates, sulphur and carbon dioxide.
• If buses run on biodiesel they can reclaim all the fuel duty, currently 45p per litre. There is a 25p per litre reduction in the fuel duty for cars. A feasibility study is to be done and it looks like biodiesel production could be another part time business here, with Westray having the first biodiesel pumps in Orkney. The process is not particularly complex or dangerous, and could be done in one of the nest units or even a farm shed. The producer registers with Customs and Excise and completes returns similar to VAT returns to account for the duty.

There is a new grant scheme about to start.
Called the Scottish Community Renewables Initiative (SCRI) - Household Grants, it will offer grant aid of 30% to a maximum of £4000 for the installation of electricity or heating systems involving renewables, for example: windmills, mini hydro, ground source heat pumps, solar water heating etc. You could, for example, have a windmill putting electricity into your water heating and saving you money every minute the wind blows. If you are about to lay a new house floor or need to relay an old damp one, think very seriously about a ground source heat pump. You get back as heating at least three times what you put in as electricity. This grant scheme makes this technology economic.

If this could be of interest to you, the starting point is to phone 0800 138 8858 - which is Ken Ross's Energy Efficiency Office in Kirkwall.

The Trust's finances are still in a healthy state.

Last year we received £7,500 from Initiative-at-the-Edge to be spent by July 2003 on forwarding our Development Plan. This has paid for our running costs throughout the year including our Clerk's wages. It has also been used, or will be, on some feasibility studies to further projects in the Plan and to revise and rewrite our Development Plan with the welcome help of Alan Caldwell. This Plan and the studies are very instrumental in helping us to attract further funding for ongoing projects. We are not sure yet whether there will be any further funding from Initiative-at-the Edge before our time with the Initiative comes to an end and we will need to find ways of funding the ongoing costs of the Trust.

We have received funding in the past year from Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Enterprise, Westray Community Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Social Inclusion Partnership Fund, Rural Community Transport Initiative, BBC Children in Need, Scottish National Heritage, and from hire of the Hofn.

The Hofn broke even last year and still has running costs available from BBC Children in Need until October this year. Funding is secured from the Rural Communities Transport Initiative and Westray Community Council for running "the Hofn bus" until March 2005. There is also still remaining equipment grant.

Our Youth Development Worker, Lorna Brown, is funded for roughly another year and work is ongoing to secure longer term funding for this post as well as for our Local Development Worker, Sam Harcus.

We have also recently repaid our original longstanding loan of £2000 from Westray Community Council. Grateful thanks are due to them for getting us started and keeping us going.

Since the Ancient Heritage sub-group was set up after last year's AGM, we have tried to keep you up to date with what is happening in the island. The main points of interest occur in the summer time when we have an influx of diggers: James Barrett from York University came here to continue the dig at Quoygrew and Hazel Moore and Graeme Wilson from EASE Archaeology were here working at Berst Ness and the newly opened souterrain at Langskaill. The latest news from Hazel at the end of February is that there is probably a Norse settlement just above the souterrain at Langskaill.

Archaeology will probably be one of our biggest tourist attractions in the future, and for this reason we should be able to accommodate the visiting archaeologists, display the new-found artefacts and look after the tourists who come to see the results of the digs. With this in mind, we are looking into the possibility of creating somewhere we can display archaeological artefacts, co-ordinate the walks round Westray and be able to show live broadcasts of the birds at Noup and the seals on the skerries. It will take time to formulate plans so please be patient, but feel free to ask questions. Tourism report amended

The highlight of the past year has undoubtedly been the appointment of Lorna Brown as Youth Development Worker for Westray & Papay. The Trust have been arguing for this post for some time and are grateful to the Social Inclusion Partnership and the Community Education Department of OIC for bringing it to fruition. Lorna hasn't been long in post but is already working on a number of projects and we look forward to the benefits of these in due course.

The Hofn continues to be well used and is generally well looked after. However, care and tidiness are issues that we seem to have to visit periodically. It's ultimately up to the youngsters to look after their own place but we appeal again to parents to encourage responsible and sensible use of a facility whose future funding depends upon how well it's used. The Hofn continues to be closely observed by other communities and a number of similar models are now taking place in other parts of the country. There is general amazement that Westray's youngsters are capable of taking care of this resource without intrusive supervision. It's to their great credit that most are able to do exactly that but a little bit more effort from one or two wouldn't go amiss. We remain very grateful to all the parents who help with the cleaning rota, to Yvonne Rorie for co-ordinating it, and to Alan Drever who now operates the bus as well as continuing in the post of Caretaker.

Since the last Annual Report we've held two successful "Forum" days for those involved in work with children and young people. These have been informal training events with topics for discussion including child protection legislation and funding.

I. MacDonald

Members of the Youth & Children's Sun-Group comprise: Liz Drever, Edith Costie, Lauren Harcus, John Talbott, Gina Rendall, Janette Rendall, Alena Tulloch, Erika Rorie, Luke Rendall, Kirsty Cable, Kimberley Paterson, David Steele and Iain MacDonald.

The Care Centre is well and truly on its way! The design plans by Leslie Burgher were unveiled at a public meeting on 17th February to a very good turn out of people. Following discussion at that meeting, mainly regarding the orientation of the building and the views from various parts of it, new plans have been drawn up incorporating as many of the suggested changes as possible. These were presented at a second public meeting on 11th March. Concerns about the ease with which the building can be extended in the future have also been taken on board. We are very grateful to Leslie for getting down on paper something so similar to what we have envisaged for so long. Planning permission has been applied for and more detailed designing is underway. The building will incorporate many renewable energy features in keeping with the aspirations of the Trust and of Westray. It is hoped that building will start in July and will be finished a year later.

Some Home Carers have already started training for future work in the home. There will be another public meeting soon to explain what jobs will be available for both men and women, and to determine training needs and levels of interest. We will also need to start a fundraising group for "extras" for the centre, and to think of a name for it! Although being paid for and run by the Council and Orkney Islands Property Development Company, it is still very much our Care Centre. All the many meetings involving its progress are being held in Westray and your help and input are still being sought at every stage of the planning. Please try and have your say as we go along so that we are all as satisfied as possible with the final outcome. Notices of all public meetings will be posted in the shops and announced on Radio Orkney.

We remain very grateful to Dawn Sherwood (project manager), Gillian Morrison and others at Orkney Islands Council and to the folk at Orkney Islands Property Development Company for working so hard to turn this dream into a reality.

Now into the final year of the local programme, SIP funding is targeted at 14 - 25 year olds. The bulk of last year's resources went into the Isles Development Workers project, which along with Council funding, has provided three part time jobs in the North Isles (see Youth & Children's report). Grants are also made available for youth work resources and to help with aspects of vocational training for which we warmly welcome applications. Amongst the other local projects that continue to benefit from SIP funding, are the Westray View, skiff building and subsidised boat fares to and from Papay.

The group wants to put on record our grateful thanks to Community Education Team Leader, Malcolm Graves, who has helped to make much of the above possible.

I. MacDonald.

Members of the SIP Sub-Group comprise: Danny Harcus, Sam Harcus, Shirley Haunschmidt, Ally Sangster and Iain MacDonald.

ARTS & CRAFTS Arts and Crafts has been a great success on Westray, mainly due to the drive and commitment of the members of The Westray and Papa Westray Craft Assocation, a group of like minded people with the vision of quality etched firmly as the most important single element to there success.

PROJECTS
As it is three years since our brochure was produced we are launching a new one this year, to promote the rich vein of talent we have, at the moment we are looking at the design of the brochure, this we hope will enhance the vision of "Quality" which is the first and foremost message we want to get across to all. This will lead on to a website that will further act as a marketing tool, not just for the crafts but for Westray.

SUCCESSES
The Craft Trail: is an on going success with producers seeing an upturn in visitors and sales. Seatters Gallery: continues to be a success with both locals and visitors alike, the changing exhibitions compliment the local crafts displayed. Meet The Maker: has proven to be a very valuable educational tool, to established producers as well as individuals who may be considering getting involved in a craft at some level.

FUTURE
You may feel justified in thinking there isn't much new going on within the craft industry, but just remember, like plants this time of year there's not much sign of life, but things are stirring! and before you know it there will be a flurry of life and colour!!

Thursday 20th March 2003
7.30 pm at the school

The A.G.M. is open to all. The Development Trust has had a busy year and has many new projects planned for the future. Our aim is to represent the people of Westray so we need your views on progress so far and future plans. Please come and tell us what you think - good or bad!

Four Trust Directors stand down each year, some to retire and some to stand for re-election. Anyone can stand for election as long as they are a member. All you need to do to become a member is to turn up at the meeting and sign your name as you come in. There is no membership fee but because the Trust is a Company Limited by Guarantee, becoming a member does make you liable to pay £1 if the Trust should ever go into liquidation. This allows new people in each year, bringing fresh ideas to the Group. As usual, an election will be held during the A.G.M. for new Directors. We shall be asking for volunteers so come prepared! Please don't be put off if you have stood for election before and were not elected.

As well as the election, there will be short up-dates from all the subgroups, a financial report and a review of The Development Plan. There will be ample opportunity for people to discuss progress so far and future plans, raise concerns and make suggestions. Coffee and biscuits will be served during the meeting. We look forward to seeing you there.

S. Harcus

As we rapidly approach another AGM it is good to look back on what has been achieved and daunting to look forward at what is still to be done. We have been reviewing the "Plan" recently, and intend to publish an updated version, I don't need to say that the value of what has been achieved is very considerable.

The fact that the Care Centre is now pretty much a certainty is probably the most significant achievement, marred by the fact that we are to lose our doctor and Westray and Papay are the envy of Orkney in securing the Broadband pilot scheme.

Westray and Papay have been the subject of visits from people from various airts this last year. This includes students studying Rural Development in all forms, - to representatives form similar areas to learn from what we are doing and all are very enthusiastic about what has been achieved in a relatively short time.

I myself visited Unst briefly and met with the Development Group there and my counterpart visited Westray very soon after. As a result of this contact we are very actively looking to link with Unst formally and find funding under the umbrella of Renewable Energy to learn from each other. We found a tremendous amount in common and since we have developed in different ways we can already learn a lot from each other.

What about this coming year?

• There will be a continued emphasis on youth through our new dedicated worker,
• Care Centre to be built,
• renewable energy is set to take off,
• Broadband will become accessible to all,
• we hope to visit Unst with a group,
• I hope to gauge interest in taking forward Aquaculture,
• marketing and increased accommodation should ensure more visitors

We still need more people here. Our population is set to continue slipping. One project, which I had confirmed again in Shetland, that potentially could make such a difference is basing a ferry in Westray. Our cousins in Shetland and the Western Isles have it as policy that the ferry is based in the island it serves. This could employ upwards of 20 people locally. They would have a quality job, good guaranteed income, and good guaranteed time off. Potentially this could add so much to the economy. Besides the basics, this combination would lead to houses being built, children in the school (there are more pre-school children in Shapinsay than Westray at the moment and 5 of them are children of the crew of the Ferry!). Crew could have part time businesses like put crabs in the factory or crofting - it is all happening elsewhere.

There are also people desperate to move in for various reasons, I constantly reply to e-mails from folk who want to relocate somewhere that is safe and there is still a sense of community. The biggest problem here is the lack of affordable, available housing. There are quite a few who could take their job with them eg. tele-working. It is very frustrating for me to struggle to find accommodation when there are so many houses unoccupied for whatever reason, be it sentimental or financial.

There is still so much to do, but the Westray Development Trust can only do so much. Can I take this opportunity to thank everyone locally and abroad for your invaluable support. Keep up to date at www.westray-orkney.co.uk !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Westray Development Trust Directors

Iain Macdonald (Chairman)
Danny Harcus (Vice Chairman)
Shirley Haunschmidt (Treasurer)
Allan Forrester (Secretary)
Willie McEwen
Geordie Drever
Peter Needham
Ally Sangster
Geordie Thomson
Alena Tulloch
Jeanette Rendall
Willie Sandison

Development Officer - Sam Harcus
Youth Development Worker - Lorna Brown
Clerk - Yvonne Rorie

Auditor - Neil Price
Legal Advisor - Eddie Nicolson