Hard to believe I’m already at the end of my fourth week at MICT. It’s been a whirlwind of learning, listening and getting to know the incredible people who make this organisation what it is.
One thing that has really stood out is the depth of commitment across the team. The average length of service is around 8 years—and that includes several colleagues who’ve been here for 20+ years. That kind of dedication says everything. Every single person I’ve met is passionate about what they do and genuinely cares about the communities we serve across Mull and Iona and the surrounding islands.
In just a few weeks I’ve learned so much—about our projects, our impact, and the unique challenges and opportunities that come with working in such a special place. And there’s plenty more learning ahead… which I’m really looking forward to.
Feeling grateful, energised, and proud to be part of a team that puts community at the heart of everything.
Please complete our survey, your voice matters to us – this survey will help MICT understand what’s important to you and if it’s important to you, it’s important to us!
I’m really pleased to introduce myself (Denise Baxter) as the new CEO of Mull & Iona Community Trust.
It’s a real privilege to be stepping into this role and to be joining a community with such a strong sense of care, creativity, and connection.
I’m looking forward to listening, learning, and working alongside local people, partners, staff, and volunteers to support the brilliant work already happening across Mull and Iona.
As a small side note that feels quite fitting — today I’m wearing a top I picked up from the Trust’s charity shop yesterday (MESS Island Castaways charity shops). A lovely reminder of the value of community, sustainability, and supporting local initiatives right from the start .
Island residents in Argyll and Bute who receive a Council Tax reduction may qualify for help with electricity costs this winter, thanks to the Scottish Government’s Island Cost of Crisis Emergency Fund. Please contact ALIenergy to register before the end of February 2026, by email – enquiries@alienergy.org.uk or visit their website – https://alienergy.org.uk/contact/
Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) has registered its first Rural Housing Burden, as a means of retaining property in the affordable housing market – forever.
MICT was appointed as a designated Rural Housing Body back in 2014 by Scottish Ministers, giving the charity legal powers to place Burdens on titles of properties. The Burden is a means of ensuring that the property must be lived in as a permanent home, and that MICT has first refusal to buy it, should it be offered for sale in the future.The pre-emptive right of purchase remains with the title of a property in perpetuity, which will ensure that the property will never become a second home or short-term holiday let.
Dr Jennifer Jack approached MICT following the passing of her mother, which left her with a surplus property.She had read MICT’s publicity about Rural Housing Burdens and, well aware of the housing crisis on Mull, she was very keen to help.As such, she committed to selling the property with a Burden attached, to a local keyworker, and in addition offered a discount of 30% below market value to ensure it’s affordability.
Julie Walker, Mull’s only pharmacist, had sold her business and left the island, however when the sale fell through she needed to return to the island to continue the business – and found herself homeless.The opportunity to purchase a home affordably has enabled her to stay, thereby securing the future of Tobermory Pharmacy.Julie says, “I am so happy to have a secure home of my own, I feel a weight has been lifted as housing is so hard to come by here on Mull”.
Helen MacDonald, Housing Development Manager at MICT, has been working on promoting Burdens for a number of years.MICT does not need to own a property to apply a Burden, they can be applied during conveyancing, or stipulated in someone’s Will. She explains, “while MICT has had the legal powers to apply Burdens for a decade it is only recently we have been in a position to do so.We are very grateful to Ronnie MacRae and his team at Communities Housing Trust for all the advice and support they have provided along the way. We are delighted with the outcome of this situation, grateful to Jennifer for her generosity and hope Julie is very happy in her new home”.
Sandy Brunton, Convenor of MICT added, “We believe MICT is the first development trust to apply a Burden on a property in this way, without owning it. This is one of a number of exciting and desperately needed options we are pursuing to help tackle the housing crisis on our islands. We are really keen to encourage property owners to get in touch with Helen if they think they can help in some way, now or in the future”.
Mull and Iona Community Trust was designated as a Rural Housing Body by Scottish Ministers in October 2014.Anyone wishing more information should contact Helen MacDonald, Housing Development Manager by email: hmacdonald@mict.co.uk.
Work has started on site to deliver much needed worker accommodation in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. Argyll & Bute Council is delivering the project on Council-owned land at Rockfield in the town, having secured grant funding from the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme Fund, Place Based Investment Programme and Crown Estates. These grants have enabled the initial groundworks to take place to open up the site, including an access road and services connections for electricity, water and sewage.
The need for dedicated worker accommodation across Mull & Iona has been well evidenced by Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT), which commissioned a Feasibility Study in 2022, and a follow up Economic Impact Assessment in early 2023. The feasibility study confirmed there were 133 unfilled vacancies on the islands, and a further 127 living in unsuitable accommodation, representing 7% of the islands’ workforce. The EIA quantified that should this accommodation need be fully met, the islands’ economy could increase by £20.1M GVA per year, and nearly 400 jobs. MICT’s research contributed to the Council securing funding for this project.
Full planning permission has been secured to build a total of 12 units in three blocks, , and currently anticipated to start on site in 2025. MICT is working closely with the Council on the project, and will potentially take on a management role on completion. It is anticipated some units will be rented directly to businesses for staff use, and others being made available as ‘stepping stone’ accommodation for individuals moving to the island to take up key posts, enabling them to search for a permanent home once in post.
A full options appraisal is currently being undertaken to determine the exact mix of units, allocation policy and management of the site, however those in employment locally will be prioritised, and the units will solely be used for such purposes, and never as holiday lets. The Council is now working to secure funding to deliver the remaining two blocks, supported by MICT.
The Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, Councillor Jim Lynch, said: “We are committed to addressing the housing shortage in Argyll and Bute and, since the council declared a housing emergency last year, we have been working hard to deliver a variety of initiatives to address the issue.
“This new development on the Isle of Mull will open the door to more accommodation for key workers who often struggle to find somewhere to stay, and is just one example of the many actions we’re taking to increase housing capacity in the area.”
MICT’s Housing Development Manager commented, “we hear every day of the difficulties local businesses and organisations are facing in recruiting and retaining staff, and this is not only impacting on the viability of businesses and the effectiveness of our essential services, but also on the sustainability of our island communities as a whole. To see work now taking place on site is really positive”.
Local business owner, Joe Reade, added, “This is a great first step in addressing a part of the islands’ housing issues. The extreme scarcity of affordable housing is not just a huge social problem, but economic too. Island businesses like ours could be growing and employing many more people, if only there was somewhere for their employees to live. People who have grown up on the island cannot take up employment opportunities, and those who would like to move here to work and live can’t find a home. A vibrant, sustainable and healthy community can’t be built on holiday homes and retirement cottages alone. We look forward to more projects like this from the Council and MICT.”
Any local businesses wishing more details should contact Helen MacDonald, Housing Development Manager at MICT: email hmacdonald@mict.co.uk.
Winter heating bills are rising to unaffordable levels and we are keen to remind permanent residents of Mull, Iona, Ulva, Gometra and Erraid that financial help is available from the Fuel Hardship Fund.
The Fuel Hardship Fund is a home grown scheme run by The Waterfall Fund, an independent charity setup to receive the profits from Garmony Hydro and distribute them as grants to the communities of Mull and Iona. Garmony Hydro and the Waterfall Fund were setup by Mull and Iona Community Trust. Residents able to demonstrate they are in fuel poverty will receive one-off payments of £250 per household no matter how their house is heated. Applications to this fund are completely confidential.
We would also like to highlight this guide Do You have Money Worries developed by the Bute Advice Centre. The helpful guide covers topics such as maximising your income, budgeting tips, dealing with debt, energy advice and support services.
** Contract Opportunity ** working with our islands’ communities on an exciting, new climate action project! See the tender documents here for full details.
Glengorm Farming Partnership has secured significant funding to convert disused farm buildings near Tobermory into five affordable housing units.
Recognising the acute need for affordable housing on Mull, Glengorm is committed to increasing the supply of permanent homes locally, including releasing land for new builds and converting some of their properties from short-term to long-term lets. Renovating a disused barn in the farm square will add a further five new homes, which will be offered for affordable rent to those in housing need on completion.
The project has been made possible thanks to grant funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural & Islands Housing Fund, and Argyll & Bute Council’s Strategic Housing Fund. Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) supported Glengorm in securing the grant funding, carrying out community consultation work to evidence the housing need, and advising on the required allocation policy.
While the Rural & Islands Housing Fund is open to landowners across all sectors, the majority of recipients to date have been community groups. Glengorm is the first private landowner in Argyll to have been awarded such a grant, and it is hoped others will follow suit and contribute to increasing the number of affordable homes in our most rural communities.
Tom Nelson, owner of Glengorm, commented, “We are very excited, at Glengorm, that our latest housing project is now well underway. Repurposing redundant farm buildings is a great way to add to the rental housing stock in our community without greatly impacting the beauty of the island. The addition of these 5 homes will increase or long term rental properties to 13 on Glengorm, with well over 50 residents, the highest number in over 120 years. We would like to thank Helen MacDonald of MICT for help in securing the necessary funding. Also continued thanks to Gus Robertson for building it and AGL Architects for their design.”
MICT Housing Development Manager Helen MacDonald added, “we have been delighted to support Glengorm with this affordable housing project, and it is great to see work now underway after delays relating to Covid.”
The project is being led by AGL Architects with construction by Gus Robertson Building Contractors. More details about how to apply to rent the new houses will be made available towards the end of the year.
MICT offers housing advice and consultancy services across Mull and Iona, and would be happy to speak to any local landowners considering how they can support the delivery of affordable housing locally, please contact Helen MacDonald, Housing Development Manager: hmacdonald@mict.co.uk or 01680 812 912. More information about the Rural & Islands Housing Fund can be found here: www.mygov.scot/rural-housing-fund.
Wrapping up Week 4 at Mull & Iona Community Trust 
