Monymusk & District Community Trust

Donview Centre Project Overview

A public meeting was held on 1st October 2025 in the Monymusk Village Hall to discuss the future of the Forestry and Land Scotland site at Donview (slides can be downloaded). The discussion included a look at the site's rich heritage and the evolution of forestry since the 1900s. The outcome was clear: overwhelming support for the community to own, develop, and operate the Donview Centre for the benefit of both local residents and the wider public.

Achieving Community Ownership

This vision can be achieved through a Community Asset Transfer under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. This process requires the establishment of a new Community Transfer Body (CTB), an independent, community-controlled organisation dedicated to providing economic, social, and environmental benefits to the Monymusk & District area. This body will require a minimum of 20 members.

Next Steps: Forming the Trust

To drive this project forward, a Steering Group of 12 community members was formed. Following initial meetings, the group decided that establishing a charity is the best approach to meet the requirements for the Community Asset Transfer. The chosen name for this organisation, which will also be able to support future projects in the area is the 'Monymusk & District Community Trust'.

The group selected a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) as the most suitable legal structure for the charity. This is a modern legal form specifically designed for Scottish charities.

What's Happening Now?

The Steering Group and Initial Trustees have completed work on the constitution for the SCIO. This included changes that had to be made to meet the requirements for future Community Asset Transfer (CATS) and Scottish Land Fund (SLF) applications. The constitution is now available for sharing with the community for review and feedback - download from Monymusk & District Community Trust Constitution

Stay tuned for the next community update!