Main employer on Hebridean island to leave after 50 years

The Herald Scotland

4 days ago

Since 1974 it has been based on Coll in the Inner Hebrides, first at its founder's ancestral home of Breachacha Castle and latterly at the Hebridean Centre at Ballyhaugh.
The charity offers young people the chance to volunteer for eight or 12 months internationally, with alumni including actress Tilda Swinton.
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As of 2025 Coll had a population of just 176, and a BBC Scotland documentary in 2016 named Project Trust as the largest employer on the island.
Chief executive Ingrid Emerson told the programme: "I think the impact (of Project Trust) on Coll is huge.
"It's a relatively small Hebridean island, it's pretty remote it's quite isolated yet suddenly you come across this very vibrant, active, reasonably young group of people who by and large the majority have moved here for the actual work.
'There is a real sense of busyness about Coll and while Project Trust is absolutely not totally responsible for that it certainly plays a big part in it.'
However, earlier this year the charity announced that it plans to sell all of its properties on the island, with Ballyhaugh and cottages currently on sale for offers over £1.5million.
The estate went on sale earlier this summer (Image: Bidwells) The charity said that running costs and a lack of use meant it could not financially justify a presence on Coll.
Steve Price-Thomas OBE, chair of Project Trust, said: "The Board of Trustees at Project Trust has recently announced a change to its operating model and its intention to sell its properties on Coll.
"The Covid pandemic necessitated a significant change to Project's operating model with volunteer selection courses being held online. While this was initially anticipated to be a temporary measure it is now clear that this model far better matches the expectations of young people in the 2020s and has been very successful.
"As a result, the residential facilities at Ballyhaugh (the Hebridean Centre) are used for only three weeks of the year. Running costs for the Hebridean Centre are significant, and as a charity, the board cannot justify retaining property that is costly to maintain and greatly underused.
"Meanwhile, although Volunteer numbers have been slowly rising since Covid, the current situation is not sustainable and there is a need to release funds and replenish reserves in order to secure Project Trust for the long term. As a result, after long and very careful consideration, the Board has concluded that we must sell our remaining properties on Coll.
"They will be put on the market in the spring of 2025.
"The Board's aim is to safeguard employment and ensure the charity is ready to face any future challenges. Over 75% of staff already work remotely and the intention is to move to a 100% virtual staffing model, including those living and working on Coll.
"Project Trust is proud of its Scottish heritage and is committed to retaining Volunteer activities in Scotland and, as was the case in Project Trust's early days, the charity will rent a residential centre in Scotland for training and debriefing.
"Since the pandemic, Project Trust's presence and financial impact on the Isle of Coll have been much reduced. The sale of underused property has the potential to have a positive impact on the people and economy of the Isle of Coll and we hope that this is the case.
"The Isle of Coll will always be central to Project Trust's history. Generations of Volunteers and staff are deeply grateful to the Coll community for being an integral part of their Project Trust experience."