The COLLECTIVE FRAMEWORK
Our Purpose
Guiding Principles
Our Purpose
- to build connections between our community, our services and staff
- bring ownership of resources back to the community
- enable, support and inspire each other to our full potential
- create a circular economy of skills
- increase our reach
- support a "can do" culture
- and raise awareness of Community Wealth Building and how it can be actioned in Oban.
Our Values
Guiding Principles
Our Purpose
The core values underpinning our work are:
(1) the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, we're in this community together
(2) we want people to recognise and believe in their potential
(3) we have a commitment to continuous learning and growing, individually and collectively.
Guiding Principles
Guiding Principles
Guiding Principles
- to find joy & happiness in our work
- to be good role models and be respectful, caring and compassionate leaders
- build trusting and respectful relationships with our partners
- recognise everyone's equality, striving for inclusivity and creating safe and welcoming spaces
- respectful and constructive communication
- be open to learning new things and ways of doing things
Collaboration is better than competition
Partnership Working
The Oban Collective is a partnership of organisations working across Oban and the surrounding area to strengthen community wellbeing, sustainability, and opportunity.
This partnership approach helps us respond more effectively to local needs, develop joint initiatives, and build stronger relationships. This has resulted in our flagship project, our community shop - Re_Store, with Hope Kitchen as the lead partner. The partnership operates using a Memorandum of Understanding.
Community Wealth Building in action
In 2025 the Oban & District Development Trust (ODDT) was set up, having grown from a series of workshops focussed on Community Wealth Building.
Thanks to a Scottish Land Fund grant, this membership-led community group successfully purchased the Re_Store shop building on George Street in Oban. This helps to secure the future of Re_Store and the building is now a valuable community asset. The ODDT is now a partner with the Oban Collective. All partners have signed up to "Our Shared Commitments", ensuring we share the same values and work practices.
How we work together
Along with with four founding partners, we work with Atlantis, Adventure Oban, the GRAB Trust and other local partners.
The founding partners established Re_Store in 2024.
Hope Kitchen is the lead partner for Re_Store.
Oban & District Development Trust bought the shop building at 113 George Street in 2026 and is now the ethical landlord, with Hope Kitchen as the tenant.
Core partners are supported by the Development Officer (Aideen Shields) and meet for 3 hour Development Sessions every 6 weeks. Project Workers across the Collective also meet up regularly to share updates, make connections, support each other and develop ideas.
Each year, the Collective goes away for 2 days for strategic planning. This time away from the day-to-day operation of each organisation has proven to be invaluable.
This infographic below is hopefully a helpful visual aid to understanding how we all connect.
