History

REAP was established in October 1997 as a Community Service Volunteers (CSV) project in the North East. The simple idea behind REAP was to promote sustainability concepts by way of volunteering opportunities and community development in the rural setting. In 2007 REAP, in consultation with stakeholders, decided that the most secure future lay in becoming independent of CSV and continuing as a locally accountable charity. With the very generous support and encouragement of CSV the transition was made and REAP now has both a Board of Trustees and, as a company limited by guarantee, a Board of Directors.

European and Lottery funding made it possible for REAP to engage with many local groups on a heavily subsidised or without fee basis. Early on REAP took under its wing the very successful “Green Diary” publication which was an existing CSV project based in Aberdeen and endeavored to merge with the ongoing LA21 process.

The high points and successes of the first ten years are too many to mention but one of the most significant was REAP’s lead in the formation of Moray Against Poverty (MAP) which has become a well respected community group. REAP was also very much involved in the progress made by the Moray Sustainability Forum.

Social enterprise has, from the early days, been a cornerstone of REAP’s work in the community and REAP’s contribution to the recent development of the Moray Social Enterprise Network (MSEN) is testament to the need for continuing support.

From the outset REAP gained a reputation for innovation and a desire to challenge the usual way of doing things. As a result many of the techniques employed by REAP have become mainstream but REAP continues to explore new methods and technologies.

In very recent times large scale funding for the voluntary sector has reduced dramatically and as a result REAP has had to become more energetic in its approach to winning professional consultation work for clients.

The future for Moray seems bleak due to the planned closure of one of the two RAF bases in the county together with a economic recession which is likely to grip the country for some years to come. However, REAP envisages opportunities to be explored particularly with regard to promoting social enterprise.