Community

At the heart of Mount Stuart Trust is a commitment to the Isle of Bute and all those who live and work on it. Through employment, education, access to nature, housing and much more, Mount Stuart Trust is a proud member of the community and a key economic driver for the island.

We understand that many of the decisions we make as a charity impact the broader island community. We aspire to be a good neighbour and are committed to ensuring that all those who live and work on the island can engage with the Trust in a constructive, open and honest manner.

About Mount Stuart Trust

The Mount Stuart Trust is a charity managing and maintaining a series of assets across the Isle of Bute, including Mount Stuart House and gardens, 36 farms, 100 residential properties, 1447 hectares acres of woodland and approximately 21 commercial properties, including golf courses, bowling greens, fishing and gaming leases.

All funds generated through its operations are reinvested into the Trust to ensure a long-term sustainable future that continues to create economic value for the Isle of Bute through employment, tourism revenue, housing and much more.

You can learn more about what the Trust does daily by visiting our Projects page on our website. We would also like to introduce you to our Trustees and Operations Team so you can understand who our decision makers are and where key areas of responsibility lie.

Community Liaison Officer

Fiona Hardie has worked at Mount Stuart Trust for many years and in 2022 took on the role of Business and Community Liaison Officer. Fiona is the key point of contact for all community queries and can be contacted at fiona@mountstuart.com or 01700 503877.

What is community engagement?

Regular communication between the people who make decisions about how land and property are used and the community affected by them.

Who is the Mount Stuart Trust community?

All those who live and work on the Isle of Bute.

Community engagement plan

In February 2023 we launched our community engagement plan, following extensive consultation with the local community. Over 100 individuals and organisations on the Isle of Bute offered feedback highlighting the wants and needs of the community, which has helped inform the content of this plan.

Community discussion opportunities

To give members of the community the opportunity to discuss concerns, questions or ideas, Mount Stuart Trust set up a series of monthly discussion opportunities by appointment. The next community discussion opportunity will take place on:

Date: Wednesday 8th May

Time: 10:00 to 12:00

Place: Mount Stuart House

To book an appointment, please email Fiona Hardie at fiona@mountstuart.com with a brief outline of what you’d like to discuss and we’ll set up a meeting with the appropriate member of our team.

Land Registration

Mount Stuart Trust is in the process of completing voluntary registration of all its land holdings with Registers of Scotland. As soon as this exercise is complete, this information will be shared here.

Community Newsletter

Read our latest Community Newsletter - Summer 2023