SCD has been supplying fresh fish for the community since 2011. Orders are taken from residents, collected from Lerwick and brought back to a centre point in Sandness for collection. The small profit made from sales allows us to support the local children’s party group with donations for their expenses.
The Drs hut building and land was originally donated to the community in 1904. It was rebuilt and relocated adjacent to the local Hall in 1989. Managed and operated by a group of Trustees, the building was leased by the NHS for satellite surgeries until 2020. SCD supported the Trustees to amend their constitution, access funding and negotiate the legal process to transfer ownership of the building to the Sandness Community Hall SCIO. The transfer was completed in March 2023.
Melby pier is located at the heart of the Sandness community and has played a big part in the story of the community over the last 300 years. Historically, the pier was the lifeline connection to the island of Papa Stour, lying approximately one mile off the Sandness coast. Papa residents continue to use the slipway to launch boats to get to and from the isle as an alternative to the infrequently operated SIC vessel. The site is regularly used for walking; kayaking, fishing and other beach based activities. The car park is used by campervan and caravan owners for overnight stays.
Owned, and previously operated, by Shetland Islands Council (SIC) Melby pier has been chosen for disposal. SCD, acting on concerns voiced by residents fearing the site would be lost to the community, are leading a project to take the site into community ownership.
A feasibility study into the viability of the site as a community asset was completed in January 2025. SCD are in the process of negotiating with SIC for terms of sale and seeking acquisition funding. If successful, the community will develop the site to offer upgraded and additional facilities for users of the site.
In response to needs identified by local residents in our Community Development Plan (CDP) consultation and young people in the ‘Children’s Living Well Locally Plans for the Westside, Shetland’, 2023. Sandness Community Development secured funding to operate a pilot inter-community bus project for the community. Starting in November 2024 and running between Sandness, Walls, Bixter and Aith, the main focus of the project was to provide access to afterschool activities for young people. In addition, buses were also trialled between Sandness and Lerwick for shopping and evening events, particularly for adults without access to transport. The outcomes of the pilot will inform the way forward for SCD’s work with community transport. The project report can be found here.
Sandness Film club is a joint venture run by SCD and Sandness Hall. Films for both children and older audiences are shown regularly throughout the winter months.
Working in collaboration with local representatives of the national Species on the Edge partnership SCD have hosted a number of workshops for the Sandness community focusing on endangered local species. Sessions provided insight into flora and fauna threatened by changes in farming practice and climate change and explored the options for a community based nature project, improving the Sandness environment to boost threatened species.
In partnership with Shetland Amenity Trust, SCD is working with local crofters to establish an environmental protection area for rare native aspen and hawkweed. The area will be protected from grazing to allow the native species to further colonise the cliff top.
Creation of small areas of woodland is ongoing in the community with regular community planting days each season. As of 2025 Sandness has 3 small established plantations which are still relatively young, another recently planted and a fifth one planned for March 2026. The plantations are frequently used by migrating birds for rest and feeding during the spring and autumn.