In 2013, Papay Development Trust (PDT) was established and produced a comprehensive Development Plan for the community, focusing on all key community priorities.
To help deliver the plan, the Trust employs a part time Community Development Officer (CDO), a post jointly funded through HIE’s Community Capacity Building Programme, and Orkney Islands Council. Through HIE and other partners, such as Voluntary Action Orkney, the CDO has access to professional advice and a range of skills development opportunities.
The Trust owns several assets, and recently secured £179,000 Coastal Communities Funding to support a crafts, arts, and heritage project. With the funding a heritage ranger was appointed to run a programme of heritage and nature events, and a new visitor boat service to the Holm of Papay was developed which supports further part time jobs. Papay Co-op has also purchased a minibus, which the ranger uses for the year-round Papay Peedie Tour of the island.
As the anchor organisation for Papa Westray, PDT has a board of directors with a wide range of skills and a genuine desire to improve the resilience of the community. Papay’s innovation focuses on making things work in a small community.
Heritage Centre
The Grade 2 listed former Kelp store at Nouster was built in the 1700’s and continued to be used up until the 1950s. The community was keen to see the part derelict, locally significant building brought back into public use.
As part of a wider funding package, HIE awarded the Trust nearly £38,000 in 2016 towards the renovation of the building into an island arts, crafts and heritage centre.
The Kelp Store now provides a year round, multi-purpose space for the community and a place for visitors to explore and enjoy heritage and nature activities. The centre is a high quality venue for exhibitions, workshops and events, but also incorporates a heritage archive, market garden, catering amenities, shower facilities for visiting boats, and a base for the island’s heritage ranger.
