NWMCWC

North West Mull Community Woodland Company

Ulva Church Community Engagement Sessions

As first shared on 12th November, this weekend will include a series of community engagement sessions focused on exploring the opportunities and challenges at Ulva Church, how it can support life on Ulva, and how it can respond to the needs of local communities. This work is possible thanks to support from the Scottish Government through the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) fund, secured earlier this year, and we’re really pleased to be moving into this next stage of engagement!

Samuel (Place Lead at New Practice, the consultancy firm working with North West Mull Community Woodland Company) will be travelling to Ulva to carry out in-person engagement. As part of this, he’ll be hosting three community workshops at The Boathouse on 6th December, running between 10am and 3.30pm.

We invite NWMCWC members and residents from the immediate surrounding area to attend one of these sessions and share their thoughts on the reinstatement of this important building.

Please use the following link to register your attendance to one of the three workshops:

Book your slot — New Practice

Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your chosen session so there’s ample time to catch the ferry across to The Boathouse (the ferry will be running for workshop participants only). A big thank you to Rhuri for accommodating this!

Ulva Church is an important building, tied to many stories and histories. However, due to the limited capacity of these workshops, we ask that sessions are attended by Ulva and Mull residents from the immediate local area, and NWMCWC members only. Participation from the wider community is still very much valued, and an online survey will be circulated over the coming weeks. This will be open to the wider public and will offer a chance to share your thoughts with New Practice as part of this engagement work.

If you have any questions regarding the consultation or the workshops, please reach out to Alicja Newbrook at the North West Mull Community Woodland Company on alicja@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

Asset & Development Manager Report (AGM 2025)

Since joining the charity in August 2024, my focus has been on strengthening key assets, improving infrastructure, securing project funding, and putting clearer processes in place. The aim has always been for me to manage all Charity’s assets, but in practice all of my time has been devoted to Ulva. Because of that, my AGM report – as shared at the AGM on 27th November, was entirely focused on development there. It has been a busy year with real progress across the island, especially since Guy joined the team.

For anyone who couldn’t make it to the AGM (the weather didn’t make it easy, and the power cut at Dervaig Hall certainly kept the evening interesting), the Asset & Development Manager’s Report shared on the night is now available to read below. It includes a summary of work delivered over the past year and sets out the current priorities I plan to focus on next.

A&DM Report AGM Nov-25 (published)Download

Two Major Projects for Ulva

NWMCWC is pleased to share that the charity has recently secured two grants supporting key development projects for Ulva — the island’s new community landing craft and the revival of Ulva Church.

Over the summer, work has been underway to secure funding for the Ulva landing craft. The charity has now been awarded a grant from the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme to kick-start the project. This phase will focus on design, regulatory and licensing work, and developing a detailed business model — ensuring that when a vessel is built, it’s fit for purpose, built to last, and financially sustainable for the community. This preparatory stage will run until March 2026, creating a strong foundation for future funding applications to build the vessel.

At the same time, NWMCWC has also secured a grant from the CLLD Development and Improvement Challenge Fund to carry out a proof of concept study for reinstating Ulva Church as a community and multi-function space. This marks an exciting first step toward bringing the church back to life and will inform future funding applications for renovation and stabilisation.

To lead this work, the charity has appointed New Practice, part of Civic — a Glasgow-based team specialising in architecture, community development, and engagement. Their Place Lead, Samuel, will be visiting Ulva between 4th and 8th December to meet residents and explore ideas for the church’s future. NWMCWC intentionally selected an independent firm with no local affiliations to ensure the process is open and objective.

Both projects reflect the charity’s commitment to Ulva’s long-term sustainability and resilience.

More details about how the community can get involved in the church engagement will be shared soon.

Argyll & Bute Council’s announcement on Islands Programme’s funding

Public Notice

North West Mull Community Woodland Company has received an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the use of a small building at Bracadale Steadings, Ulva (circled in the image below).

About the Proposal

The received EOI proposes the following:

  • Proposed use: storage space for a seaweed skincare business, with potential future development into a workshop.
  • Community benefit: increasing the visibility, reputation and economic output of the island; providing self-employment opportunity and potential employment.
  • Investment in the repair and reuse of this building, in line with sustainable development goals.

We are sharing this information to give the community the opportunity to provide feedback or submit alternative proposals.

Provide feedback

You can share your views on the received proposal or the use of the asset. Feedback will be considered before any decision is made.

Submit your own EOI

If you or your group have an alternative idea for using this asset, you are also welcome to submit your own EOI. To do so, you will need to complete an Expression of Interest Form, which is available for download below. Please see the News article posted on 12th February 2025, as it explains the EOI procedure.

Expression of Interest (EOI) in Community Asset Form v1Download

EOIs may be submitted at any time for other community-owned assets. If you have a proposal for using one of the Charity’s properties or land, you are welcome to get in touch.

Your EOI must address:

  • What the asset will be used for
  • How it will benefit the community
  • How it aligns with NWMCWC values
  • Any relevant experience
  • Environmental or cultural considerations, if applicable

Key details

  • Deadline for EOIs and feedback: 5pm on 4th September 2025
  • How to submit: Send your EOI or feedback to admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk or post it to North West Mull Community Woodland Company, Penmore Mill, Dervaig, Isle of Mull, PA75 6QS.

Decision making process

All proposals will be assessed using a scoring system to ensure decisions are fair and transparent. Directors or staff with any personal, family, or professional connections to applicants must declare these connections. While having connections will not automatically exclude them from the process, their involvement will be appropriately managed to ensure impartiality. This may include additional scrutiny of the decision or oversight by uninvolved directors.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Alicja Newbrook at alicja@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.