About New Luce Community Trust
A community development trust run by unpaid volunteers who live in and around New Luce, set up so the village could receive and decide how to spend the community benefit from local windfarms.
New Luce and the Luce valley
New Luce is a small village in Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, in the valley of the Water of Luce, five miles north of Glenluce. The area is rural and remote: the nearest towns are Stranraer to the south-west and Newton Stewart to the east.
Windfarms on the moorland around the valley pay community benefit each year. In 2015, New Luce Community Council set up the Trust, because a community council can't own property or sign contracts in its own name. The Trust can, and it puts the money to work for the village.
“NLCT will assist in creating a more positive, prosperous and attractive community by 2040.”
Our purposes
The Trust's Articles of Association set out six purposes. In short:
- Look after community land and assets
The wording in the Articles
To manage community land and associated assets for the benefit of the Community and the public in general
- Provide places and activities for recreation
The wording in the Articles
To provide, or assist in the providing, recreational facilities and/or organising recreational activities, which will be available to members of the Community and public at large with the object of improving the conditions of life in the Community
- Develop and regenerate our rural community
The wording in the Articles
To advance community development, including urban or rural regeneration within the Community
- Share our environment, culture, heritage and history
The wording in the Articles
To advance the education of the Community about its environment, culture, heritage and/or history
- Protect the environment and important buildings
The wording in the Articles
To advance environmental protection or improvement including preservation, sustainable development and conservation of the natural environment, the maintenance, improvement or provision of environmental amenities for the Community and/or the preservation of buildings or sites of architectural, historic or other importance to the community
- Support other good causes for the community
The wording in the Articles
To promote, establish, operate and/or support other schemes and projects which are in furtherance of charitable purposes for the benefit of the Community
Who the Trust is for
The Trust works for the New Luce Community Council area: the village and the farms and homes around it. Its funding goes mainly to projects in, or directly benefiting, that area, and only people who live there can become members.
Not sure if your address is in the area? Dumfries and Galloway Council can tell you which community council area you're in, or ask us.
For the Trust to confirm: A map of the New Luce Community Council boundary (from Dumfries and Galloway Council) and the current council lookup link: the old site's link no longer works.
How the Trust is run
The Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (No. SC497287), incorporated on 9 February 2015 and launched at an open meeting on 9 March 2015, when 39 residents signed up as members. It isn't a registered charity, but it chooses to follow the same standards of governance and accountability, and presents its accounts in a charitable format.
A Board of up to eight directors, most of them elected by the members, makes the decisions. A Development Officer, Sharon Cameron, supports the delivery of the Community Action Plan and the day-to-day running of the Trust.
Since 2015
- March 2015
The Trust is launched
Set up by New Luce Community Council to receive windfarm community benefit. 39 residents signed up on the night.
- 2017
The first Community Action Plan
124 people came to public meetings and 68 completed surveys. Six priorities came out of it.
- Winter 2017
Winter Fuel Allowance
The first action from the plan: a payment for every household in the area.
- June 2018
Taxi Card Scheme
A pre-paid taxi card for households, because public transport is so limited.
- 2019
The village buys its inn
After a community vote, the Trust completes the purchase of the Kenmuir Arms.
- September 2019
Gold for the gardening club
New Luce Gardening Club wins Gold and "The best wee village" at the Keep Scotland Beautiful Awards.
- February 2020
A 4G mobile signal
The mast at Mains of Larg goes live, with EE following in 2021.
- May 2021
£57,500 for the Curling Pond
A National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to turn the old curling pond into a nature area.
- February 2023
The Kenmuir Arms reopens
Fully restored, with a restaurant, snug bar and three en-suite bedrooms.
- 2023–24
A second Community Action Plan
Every idea from the consultations was voted on, to set priorities for the next 10 years.
- 2024
Curling Pond completed
Path, seating, a car park and an interpretation board at the Loch of Larg.
- January 2025
Two EV chargers
Electric vehicle charging beside the Memorial Hall.
- August 2025
Educational Grants
Up to £2,000 for residents taking a course or training.
Get involved
Membership is free for everyone aged 18 or over who lives in the New Luce Community Council area. Members vote at the AGM and can stand as a director.