08/05/2026
Update to Machars Action stakeholders
Almost two years ago the Machars Action Board announced that it sadly had to close its office at 26 South Main Street in Wigtown due to financial pressures. After considerable work since then, the Machars Action Board is now in a position to update stakeholders that, on 30th April 2026, we formally requested Companies House close Machars Action company. Once this is finalised, the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) will be notified to close Machars Action as a charity.
As you may recall, in the 1990s the Machars area had one of the highest incidences of deprivation in Scotland with low household incomes, a declining, mostly elderly population and few employment opportunities. Machars Action grew out of a 1993 local development project initiated by the former Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council in partnership with representatives from the local Community Councils and 2 local business associations. It was created to promote the regeneration of Wigtownshire’s South Machars with the primary aim of alleviating poverty.
Machars Action was initially based in the Wigtownshire County Buildings. Then, in 1997 a permanent home was found for it at 26 South Main Street and £130,000 was raised from the European Community, the former Regional Council and other funding bodies to restore the semi-derelict property and make it fit for purpose as a community asset.
With a staff and budget of its own, Machars Action provided many services over the following decades:
- it was a base for adult education and became the first place locally to teach computer skills in an internet suite;
- it provided tourist information with listings, guides, leaflets and resources such as a ‘Motor Round the Machars’ cassette;
- businesses were supported and promoted with office space, a Business Directory and employment & financial advice;
- community information was provided by monthly newsletters, in the office and by phone, supporting activities of groups and individuals throughout the Machars.
Machars Action was also instrumental in supporting the project to create Wigtown as Scotland’s National Book Town, bringing economic and creative development to the whole of the Machars.
However, in the 2020s Machars Action unfortunately, started to lose reliable income as a number of community groups renting office spaces at 26 South Main Street moved out - the economic climate meant there was little demand for office space in Wigtown. In addition, fundraising for new initiatives was unsuccessful.
The role that Machars Action delivered in the area started to change too; towns and villages in the Machars created their own proposals and strategies for community development. Community Councils that had previously sent representatives to the Machars Action Board started to decline in some parts of the Machars; new groups in local communities took on tasks including regeneration, economic, and social development. Machars Action did gain some contracts to support new local development trusts but then those contracts declined as groups become more independent. Many of Machars Action’s Members, Board Members and Community Council representatives left to focus on these and other activities, leaving just 5 Board Members managing 3 part-time staff.
In the Spring of 2024 the Board reviewed the organisation’s viability. After exploring the information available at that time and the potential for different options to turn things around, it became clear that continuing with staff employment and its ownership of the building were no longer feasible. As a result we decided we had to close the building.
Over the following 2 years our small team of voluntary Board Members has:
- clarified how the Machars Action constitution, charitable aims and powers would guide our decisions going forward;
- considered options for continuing some of Machars Action work in other locations
- consulted the remaining organisations we were working with and consulted staff about possible staff redundancies, then worked with everyone involved to get the best solutions for each of the organisations and the staff;
- managed staff redundancies and transferred work in progress to organisations to take it on themselves, contract other organisations to do it, or manage staff working freelance;
- managed the office and building administration while we explored options for its disposal, with the aim of trying to retain it as a community asset in line with our charitable aims and constitution;
- consulted and then supported the remaining organisations using office and meeting spaces in the building to facilitate their relocation to other premises;
- sorted, filed and stored decades of Machars Action’s records, taking external help and advice as necessary for example, on finance and IT issues and, where appropriate, transferred current and historic paper and digital records to the many organisations we had worked with over the previous decades;
- clarified the full extent of the organisation’s debts and liabilities and entered into negotiations with suppliers and other organisations to clear those debts;
- returned leased equipment and unsold goods, and sold or donated small items of office equipment, stationery and remaining goods in line with our charitable aims;
- disposed of 26 South Main Street to a substantial local charity in line with our charitable aims;
- donated residual money to another local charity in line with our charitable aims.
The Machars Action Board has continued to follow due process over the past 2 years to the best of our abilities, always referring back to its charitable aims and constitution for all of our actions, ensuring the organisation would be in a position to close without assets or liabilities, passing forward its residual resources so that they would continue to benefit people across the Machars of Wigtownshire.
