Submission Details ------------------
Nominee Summary
The Arbirlot Old Kirk Trust (AOK) is a rural community hub which has been developed to support the farming and rural communities of Angus, particularly those around the village of Arbirlot. The mission and vision of AOK is to develop a former church building into a safe multifunctional space to enable rural communities to come together to enable the culture and community to thrive. Following massive community efforts and pledges enabling purchase and commencement of renovation of the former church; plus, fundraising driven though community involvement has evidenced the opportunity the cohesion this project will bring to the area.
Overcoming Challenges
Through dedication of a small team the following challenge have arisen:
• Negotiating with the Church of Scotland to agree its value and then raising the funds from the community. In total £85,730 in pledges were raised from local landowners to pensioners.
• Developing a sustainable, prudent financial model, reducing liabilities and giving long-term security as a community facility.
• The need to unify the community around a single vision through consultation events, which included: newsletters, surveys, face-to-face community events to ensure collective agreement by all.
• Dealing with building challenges and installing the key services (including water) to ensure the building has suitable public amenities.
• Unexpected structural repairs which had to comply with listed building regulations.
• Removal of pews and travelling the length of the UK to secure sourced alternative second hand seating and equipment.
• Rallying the wider community to support fundraising activities and raising awareness of AOK. In the first year of operation, we have raised £35,008.39.
Supporting the community
After completing the acquisition and gaining access to the building on 22/08/25 the following community support and activity has been conducted.
• The establishment of a weekly walking group which has maintained numbers since starting. (August)
• Celebration evening / social events at key points in the rural calendar which are very well attended.
• Monthly songs on Sunday afternoon with musical guests covering a range of traditional songs attracting primarily elder members of the community.
• Meeting and focal point for fundraising events – Duck race; wreath-making workshops and Tractor Run.
• A space for the local village school to hold end of term events and family social activity.
• Creation of a shared public parking area from land made available from a local farmer. These will be increased considerably when toilet and kitchen facilities have been installed.
Ethical/environmental standards
AOK was the local church and only public meeting space in the village. It had strong connections which people revisited after generations and there was a community fear this could be lost if the building was repurposed and there was no gathering place. Initially two dedicated and enthusiastic residents committed to ensuring this did not happen. The building is listed and is in the middle of the village so it was important that ethically the right decisions were made for the community by the community. To achieve this the following were conducted.
• Instructed a local architect to draw up interior plans sympathetic to the heritage of the building. • Door-to-door visits by Marjory MacDonald and Helen Brunton, long-term respected residents to gather residents’ thoughts and support. This was followed up by a wider more detailed written survey and newsletter.
• Results communicated openly at a face-to-face community event.
• A commitment to ensure AOK is a safe and welcoming environment, which we have formalised by embedding key policies.
• Establishment of a local group keen to develop the idea further which has subsequently been formalised as a registered charitable trust.
• All work has been contracted and delivered by local tradespeople, where possible living in the catchment area.
• Minimising potential traffic disruption to residents through the creation of shared public parking on adjacent land donated by a local farmer.
