Foula Electricity Trust

Isobel Holburn has seen her beloved island of Foula transformed thanks to Lottery money. Isobel came to live in Foula in the Shetland Islands at just 15 when her father secured a job as a teacher. Since then she has made the place her home, except for a few brief months working away. Isobel brought up her family when there was no electricity or running water in Foula. Now, thanks to Lottery money, Foula has its first 24 hour electricity supply. The community also generate additional funding from Government subsidies to encourage communities to take forward renewable energy projects.
BIG's Investing in Communities programme will continue to fund projects though Growing Community Assets, which has four updated outcomes.
Key outcome:People are better able to identify need in their area and then to work together in their communities to address it through the ownership and development of local assets.
Isobel Holburn, 69, Foula
www.biglotteryf...

[@sarahdenis4628]

I visited Foula in 1992 with my parents and grandfather. My father had gone to University of Aberdeen with a young woman who subsequently moved to Foula with her husband. We stayed with the Holbourns. They were lovely people and we learned a lot about Foula and the hard-working people who live there.
I'm looking forward to getting there again one of these days.

[@jock678]

I visited Foula on a school trip back in early 1980s. Nice to see Isobel again.

[@ivano4065]

I would happily move there today.

[@christrickett3291]

I'd go and live there but I have no money, I don't think the island would want somebody who they then have to support too. I expect there's little work there.

[@claire7085]

Perhaps there is an opportunity to build a business there..i would be intetested in supporting a business like growing food / healthy lifestyle retreat centre etc.