A development officer has been employed to lead a new programme aimed at assisting the most fragile communities in the Western Isles. John MacMillan from Milton in South Uist has been appointed to the post with Western Isles Enterprise (WIE) and will take the reins of the Western Isles Community Economic Development (CED) programme from 12 November 2001.
Western Isles CED is a partnership programme that seeks to target funds for sustainable development activities undertaken by communities most in need of support. It is anticipated that over the three years (2001 - 03) of the CED programme funding of over £1 million will go into fragile communities in the Western Isles. Of this, £477,000 will come from the European funded Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme, with the remainder being provided by public agencies and local communities.
The overall aim of CED is to assist fragile communities in the Western Isles to enhance their future through the generation of sustainable social and economic opportunities. A wide range of projects and actions will be supported under the programme, with the aim of:

• encouraging communities to take an active management role in their own future;
• increasing enterprise and entrepreneurship in local communities; and
• increasing the value of environmental, cultural and built heritage resources.

All areas of the Western Isles (except those covered by the community councils of Stornoway, Laxdale and Sandwick) are eligible for support under the CED scheme, which invites applications for assistance from properly constituted voluntary groups with open membership.
The administration of the programme is the remit of WIE with Mr MacMillan, a former project officer with Proiseact Uibhist 2000 working out of the development agency's Benbecula office. Commenting on his appointment Mr MacMillan said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as development officer for the CED programme and look forward to the challenge of working with groups from throughout the Western Isles.
"This programme can be of great benefit to many groups, particularly those in remote areas of the islands, where assistance can be given in working towards sustainable development and a more secure future."
Duncan MacInnes, chairman of WIE, said: "It is increasingly apparent that there is a significant overlap between community and economic development. Community organisations in the Western Isles are coming forward with exciting and innovative proposals, which seek to develop and enhance their own communities, while creating employment and other economic opportunities.
"The CED programme has been developed to match the aspirations of these communities and to target assistance at the most fragile areas of the Western Isles. I particularly welcome the decision of the Western Isles CED partnership to locate Mr MacMillan in his new post as development officer, in Benbecula."
Donald MacLean, chairman of development services at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said: "The Comhairle has recently re-organised its departmental structures to give greater emphasis to economic development within communities and particularly to make the best use of cultural resources for community and economic development.
"This will compliment the work of the CED programme and I wish John MacMillan well in his new post. The development of ideas and opportunities is an important aspect of the ongoing work to bring about an increased level of prosperity and social opportunities, particularly in our remoter communities."