Crowdfunding appeal gets underway for Carloway School

Carloway Community Association is pressing ahead with its plans to redevelop the former Carloway School and Community Centre in Lewis.
Carloway SchoolCarloway School
Carloway School

An invitation to tender for the construction phase of the project was recently posted on the Scottish Contracts Portal with returns due back this month.

Mairi Steele, Chair of Carloway Community Association, said: “We started our fundraising activities just a few months before Covid-19 hit and that has had an impact on our fundraising. As a result, we had to re-evaluate to make savings.

“We have received support from the Scottish Government Regeneration Fund, HIE, the Scottish Landfill Community Fund and The Robertson Trust. Just recently we received £32,000 from the CnES Crown Estate Fund.

Carloway SchoolCarloway School
Carloway School

“We have managed to raise our own contribution towards the project of around £15,000 and last Friday launched a Crowdfunding campaign with the hope of raising an extra £10,000, we have been overwhelmed with support so far with over a third of our target secured already.”

The plans for Carloway include a community shop, a commercial kitchen adjacent to a refurbished hall, new office and meeting space along with a permanent home for Comann Eachdraidh Chàrlabhaigh.

Ms Steele said: “All the elements of the project have been identified as priorities by the community and are supported by a comprehensive business plan. All donations towards our project mean so much to us and take us another step closer to making our aspirations a reality.”

The Crowdfunder page can be accessed at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/carloway