## **GLENCOE AND GLEN ETIVE COMMUNITY SCIO** 

## **Chair’s report for financial year Feb 2024 – Feb 2025** 

The SCIO Trustees were delighted finally to sign an agreement with Edge Hydro Holdings Ltd for the setting up of the Community Fund.  The agreement allows for funding, intended as community payback for the installation of hydro generating stations in Glen Etive, to be set aside for community projects.  The SCIO has now set up operating procedures to administer the funds, with clear protocols for the applications process and the awarding of money to applicants. The first round of funding was announced in August 2024, and successful applicants were awarded funding in early October.  It was a pleasure to be able to give funding to 9 local projects – two in Glen Etive and seven in Glencoe – and to be able to help our community to thrive.  As part of the funding process, recipients have been asked to report back on their progress, and we were pleased to receive very positive repost from the various projects we funded.  A second round of funding is planned for the third quarter of 2025, and the plan is that this will be the process going forward, to make awards annually at the same time each year.  The The SCIO is most grateful to Edge Hydro for their support of our community. 

The SCIO has also set up a new website for the Glencoe and Glen Etive Community. This incorporates the Community Council alongside the SCIO and details the work of both bodies.  Announcements relating to the community fund are publicised via the new website. The site has been professionally designed and is managed for the SCIO by Andy Lock Web Design.  The Trustees thank Andy for all his work on the new site. 

The SCIO has also completed a large amount of work on the Orbital Track – mostly done by a small team of dedicated, unpaid volunteers.  Culverts have been cleared on a regular basis, and vegetation has been strimmed, cut  back and tidied up along the whole length of the path.  Highland Council has now replaced a major culvert running underneath the road, which has made a big difference to the potential flood risk at that point. The SCIO is also liaising with the HC paths team and access officer to install signage and rope barriers to protect the hillside above the track from further damage by visitors wanting to visit the former site of Hagrid’s Hut, above Torren. 

Work is ongoing to try to complete the new car park project for Glencoe Village. Although funding is still to be secured, the Highland Council remains committed to the project. Sadly, following the death of one of the co-owners of the land, the project was put on hold for most of the year while probate was completed. At the time of writing, we are still waiting for paperwork from the Crofting Association re the Form 7 Resumption, and while probate has now been settled we still have not secured the necessary funding. 

_A note about recent events in the financial year Feb 2025 – Feb 2026:_ 



In September 2025 Edge Hydro Holdings Ltd sold the Glen Etive hydro schemes to Belivat Hydro Investments Ltd. The new owners are committed to keeping the Community Fund contributions going, and we have had positive discussions with them so far.  We look forward to working with them this year. 



Gle￿C￿e and Glen Etive CommunitySCIO SC035068
Information given to me from Helen Fairiie. Treasurer of Glencoe and Glen
Etive CommunitySCIO
for the period 1st March 2024 to 28th February 2025
Incorne
Edge Hydro Holdings
Bank Interest
Expenditure
Don8tiDns
70,489.16
509.63
28,325.00
1.689.40
126.64
115.03
114.54
Web Design
Misc SCIO expenses
Siteground Webhosting
Insurance
70,998.79
30,370.61
Bank reconciliation
Bank at 1st March 2024
Income
709.40
70,998.79
71,708.19
30,370.61
41,337.58
4,275.00
Expenditure
Unpresenled Cheque 258
Balance at 28th Februa
45,612.58
I have checked the above figures for Glencoe and Glen Etlve Communliy SCIO, and li nd