Development Coll
Promoting the sustainable development and regeneration of the Isle of Coll
What is Development Coll, and what do we do?
What is Development Coll?
Development Coll is a community company limited by guarantee with charitable status. As a development trust, the organisation is underpinned by the ethos of self help and self reliance and a belief that community regeneration which is achieved through community owned enterprise and assets is the way to build strong and sustainable communities.
The charity was formed to:
to manage community land and assets as part of the protection and sustainable development of the natural environment.
to promote rural regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation within the Community.
to advance the education of the Community about its environment, culture and/or history.
to promote, operate and/or support other similar charitable projects for the benefit of the Community.
Development Coll Activities
We aim to reduce local dependency on grant support by generating income through enterprise and the ownership of assets. Any trading surpluses are reinvested in the organisation and in the local community.
The principle activities of Development Coll currently concern the management of An Cridhe and Coll Bunkhouse and, to a lesser extent, the ongoign operation of Coll’s 4G mobile mast. Development Coll also provides administrative and financial (book-keeping) support for the annual Coll Half-Marathon.
Development Coll is a living wage employer and employs four members of staff, all of which live full time on the Isle of Coll.
Development Coll Board of Trustees
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Sam Rutherford
Development Coll Chairperson
Sam was first appointed to the board in 2019 and having spent most of his life on Coll, is now settled here living with his young family.
Sam joined with an intrigue into the inner workings of the Trust and its role within the community, with aims to assist in the operations of DC and look for opportunities that will improve and sustainably develop the island.
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Keith Russell
Secretary
Keith has recently moved to the island with his wife Julia, building their own house in the islands east end.
Keith has extensive business and general management experience, and aims to use these skills to help DC improve life on Coll for its residents by finding ways of encouraging local enterprise, hoping to create opportunities for younger families to move to the island.
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Cat Coyle (she/her)
Finance Director
Cat has lived on Coll since October 2020 and was delighted to be asked to join in the board in 2023 to support the trust by managing the trust’s finances.
Cat is a qualified chartered accountant, and puts these skills to great use in her role in DC, and enjoys being able to make a contribution to a community which she says has been so warm and welcoming to her.
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Seonaid MacLean-Bristol
Trustee
Seonaid is in her second stint on the board of Development Coll, having previously been a director from 2007 - 2015, she rejoined in 2023 and is keen to address housing issues and population stability on the Isle of Coll.
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Alison Fraser
Trustee
Alison was a member of the original An Cridhe working group, managing community fundraising for the building, and is also a director of Coll Community Fuel Co.
Alison also sits on the Coll Community Council, and aims to focus on collaboration between the two community bodies.
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Rachel Ostridge
Trustee
Rachel has been a resident of Coll for over six years, immersing herself in numerous community projects, volunteering activities and committees.
As part of her role on the DC board, Rachel is involved in the An Cridhe Focus Group meetings, and researches various funding opportunities that may benefit the island.
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Do you want to be involved in Development Coll?
Membership of Development Coll takes many forms…
Junior Members - anyone aged between 12 and 17 years old (inclusive) who wishes to support the aims and activities of the company
Associate - Anyone aged 18 years or older who is not eligible for full membership but wishes to support the aims and activities of the company
Full Member - anyone ordinarily resident in the community who is entitled to vote on Coll and supports the aims and activities of the company. Only full members may vote at AGM’s and EGMs.
Directors on the board may be full, associate or non-members. The liability of the members is limited.
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Every member of the company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required (not exceeding £1) to the company’s assets if it should be wound up while they are a member or within one year after they cease to be a member, and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves.
Should you wish the joined Development Coll then complete the membership form here and email it to Manager@developmentcoll.org.uk.
Legal, Minutes and Mems and Arts
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Please click here for our Memorandum of association.
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Previous monthly Development Coll board meeting minutes can be sent to members on request, please see the contact details below and email a member of the board directly about this.
A signed copy of the most recent meeting minutes can be found displayed on the Development Coll information board in An Cridhe.
Please click here for a copy of the previous AGM minutes.
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To view the most recent completed financial report for Development Coll please click here. Any financial queries directly relating to Development Coll can be directed to the finance email address in the contact section below.
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Information about Development Coll’s privacy policy can be found here.
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If you wish to contact the board Development Coll directly please email Chair@developmentcoll.org.uk, Secretary@developmentcoll.org.uk or Finance@developmentcoll.org.uk depending on what your enquiry relates to.
Should you wish to contact about things relating to An Cridhe, please contact Manager@developmentcoll.org.uk or call 01879230000.