Residents take back the Isle of Gigha

Descriptor: First we see various fast shots of various pieces of equipment and the four students who made this film. We then see a low shot of the four students coming out of various doors and into a corridor, before we see them opening some double doors, getting stuck as they try to go through together, and breaking free. We then see a low shot of them walking up a corridor, towards and past the camera.

Narrator: In 2008 a crack commando unit of media students from Cardonald college were sent on a special mission. That special mission was to find out about one of the thousands of good causes that benefit thanks to you playing National Lottery games. Let's meet the team.

Descriptor: We then meet John, the camera operator, who stands with a camera on his shoulder, before turning to introduce himself direct to the camera.

John: John, camera!

Descriptor: We now meet Jimmy, the sound recordist, who introduces himself directly to the camera, whilst twirling a black pole.

Jimmy: Jimmy, sound.

Descriptor: Next we meet Debra, who is the editor of the film, who then blacks out the camera shot with something held in her hand.

Debra: Debra, Editor.

Descriptor: Lastly we meet Justin, the director, standing in front of John, Jimmy and Debra, with a large yellow folder on his arm, who introduces himself straight to the camera.

Justin: Hi I'm Justin, I'm a director. Please enjoy our vision. ... (spitting) somebody get me a decent coffee.

Descriptor: We now see various shots of Gigha, including the coastline and a flag blowing in the wind.

Narrator: This is Gigha, a small island with a population of 159 located off the west coast of Scotland. At 6 miles long and 1 and a half wide, it's one of the smaller islands in the inner Hebrides. Throughout its history it has been owned and managed by lairds. Until recently it was facing an uncertain future.

Descriptor: We are now introduced to Willie McSporran, MBE, a Heritage Trust Spokesman, who speaks about his life on the island. As he speaks, we see old black and white photos of men from the island.

Willie McSporran: I was born on the island; I've lived and worked on the island all my life. Gigha means a lot to me. When I left school, you didn't need to look for a job - there was plenty jobs available. At that time, 13 farms on the island.

Descriptor: We now see shots of the dilapidated and derelict buildings on Gigha.

Narrator: But gradually, over time with little new development on Gigha, the population began to dwindle.

Descriptor: We now meet Lorna McAllister, the Head teacher of Gigha Primary School, who discusses the lack of opportunities for young people on the island. As she speaks, we see shots of various aspects of the island, including lobster pots and a rusted fence post.

Lorna McAllister: The lack of opportunities for people on the island and the lack of opportunities for employment. A lot of the children I had taught weren't able to return and work on the island therefore the population was becoming increasingly an aging population.

Descriptor: We now see various shots of the coastline and countryside of Gigha, before focusing on wildflowers and a robin sitting in a tree.

Narrator: In 2002 the residents of Gigha took control of their own destiny and with the help of a £3 an a million pound grant raised through the sale of National Lottery games purchased the island from the laird at the time. Now the community vote on everything which happens there and it is managed day to day by an elected trust committee.

Descriptor: We are now introduced to Tony Philpin, an Assistant Trust Manager, who describes what the National Lottery Funding helped them to do. As he speaks, the camera pans across a cottage.

Tony Philpin: The Lottery funding initially provided funds for the actually buy out. The main part of the Trust's work in the last five years has been to try and improve the housing.

Descriptor: We now meet Vie Tulloch, a local resident, who is sitting by the sea. As she is speaking, we see a shot of her cottage, including a shot of the improvements that have been made to it.

Vie Tulloch: The Community wanted to make our lovely, old, but rather damp cottages posh. So we've had to borrow a great deal and been gifted a lot of money to bring them up to standard. So I'm very happy to have got a Trust house.

Descriptor: We now see a wide shot of some newly built houses on the island, before once again going back to Tony Philpin.

Tony Philpin: There have been a couple of new build projects; they've been a great success.

Descriptor: We once again see various shots of the island, including shots of the coastline and countryside, before focusing in on farmland and livestock.

Narrator: Before the community took over houses were tied into jobs. When people retired they were forced to move out of their homes and off the island. Residents can now purchase plots and build their own houses.

Descriptor: Once again we meet Lorna McAllister. As she speaks, we see derelict buildings, together with wide views of the island's farmland.

Lorna McAllister: My husband was born and bred on the island, and wouldn't have been able to build, buy or rent any place. But since the buy out, our plans are to retire on the island.

Descriptor: We now meet Tony Philpin again, who talks about the growth in population. As he speaks, we see a new wooden building, before focusing in on a sign, which reads, "Gigha Gallery, Arts and Crafts."

Tony Philpin: When the buy-out took place the population was just over 90. It's now nearly 160, and that's simply down to the opportunities that have been created by promoting enterprise and business, and facilitating people to come up with their own ideas and get things started.

Descriptor: We are now introduced to Henri Macaulay, who is a local artist on the island. As she speaks, we see a shot of the Gigha Village Hall, before focusing in on the jewellery that she makes and the paintings that are displayed in the gallery. We then see various shots of the coastline and wildlife on the island.

Henri Macaulay: I've been many times as a visitor and came one day in the rain and got chatting to people who suggested that I might like to come. I went to a meeting in the village hall where about 50 islanders questioned me for about ½ hour (laughing) and then I was voted in. I make jewellery from found objects things like sea glass, seal coal and pottery shards. I run the gallery with local crafts and rotating exhibitions. For an artist there's just so much to see here. The light here's amazing, the wildlife's amazing. There's just an inspiration wherever you look here, and I think the community here is very special.

Descriptor: We now see external shots of the Gigha Hotel and holiday homes on the island, and a close up on some fuchsia, before panning across the Achamore Gardens.

Narrator: To help the island become fully self-sustainable and tourist industry is being developed. The community owns the Gigha hotel, a number of holiday homes, and the once famous Achamore Gardens, which are being rejuvenated and are becoming a popular attraction on Gigha.

Descriptor: We now focus in on a sign which reads, "Awarded National Lottery Funding," before seeing exterior and interior shots of a farm which is being converted into luxury holiday cottages. We then meet Tony Philpin once again.

Tony Philpin: We have had Lottery funding for a number of capital projects. The most important one that's on the go at the moment is the conversion of farm Steadings at North Druimachro into luxury holiday cottages and that project just wouldn't happen without the Lottery funding.

Descriptor: We now see a wide, rear shot of three wind turbines turning, before closer shots that pan up to a spinning turbine.

Narrator: An addition to the island since the community has taken over has been three wind turbines that provide green renewal energy. This is sold to provide a continual source of income to help secure Gigha's future.

Descriptor: Once again we meet Willie McSporran, who discusses the wind turbines on the island. As he speaks, we see a cow looking directly into the camera, with the wind turbines spinning in the background, before a various shots of the turbine spinning.

Willie McSporran: The turbines were the best thing that ever happened to Gigha. The naming of them was like everything else it was done by members. The name was Faith, Hope and Charity. Now if you look at the faith, hope and charity you'll come to the assumption of faith, we have faith in what we're doing. We hope we'll achieve and with the charities we're getting we will.

Descriptor: Once again we see various parts of the island, including a rainbow in the distance, over some fields, and a shot of the coastline, seen through a broken stone wall, before again focusing on National Lottery award sign.

Narrator: Thanks to people playing National Lottery games the island of Gigha and its community have been given a new hope for the future.

Descriptor: We now see cars exiting the ferry onto the island and the local children playing in the school yard, before once again meeting Lorna McAllister.

Lorna McAllister: Funding from the Lottery has been very beneficial for people who are native to the island. A lot of the younger people who wanted to come back and live here have returned, they've got jobs, I've got the children in school and teaching second generation, probably soon onto third generation.

Descriptor: We now see a man cycling past the Gigha Store, before meeting Willie McSporran for the final time. Lastly, we see a shot of the coastline, taken at sunset, and the sun reflects on the water.

Willie McSporran: Without the Lottery funding for the island buy-out, it wouldn't ever have happened, it couldn't have happened.