Lottery Award for Macaulay College

During lockdown, the CAF Coronavirus Emergency Fund awarded Macaulay College £10,000 to make COVID-19 specific improvements and adaptions to college facilities.

The measures taken included buying specialised cleaning and disinfecting equipment, fitting efficient ventilation where open windows aren’t suitable, and adding heating and lighting to outbuildings. This meant it could continue its service and remained open for students.

This CAF funding also went towards the purchase of a 12x6m timber building and the ground works needed.

This is to be used for agricultural use and will allow students to work in close proximity to animals while socially distancing.

This new building can be erected quickly, meaning that at least three more students can attend the college every day and work with animals in sheltered and comfortable socially-distanced conditions.

This building will allow students to undertake almost all of the usual woodwork projects, crafts and horticulture activities, completely separate from the main college facilities to ensure no cross over between groups.

Students will have the chance to undertake these activities while sharing the space with the friendly sheep, pigs, Jimmy and Betty (the donkeys) and Solus the Eriskay pony.

In order to allow more students to return and welcome new ones the college also secured a National Lottery award from the Community Fund for £10,000 to pay for a second timber building. This will be an area that can be used by the community in the future when the college is able to welcome schools and community groups back.

These additional spaces will help future proof the facilities should restrictions continue or further restriction develop.

Speaking to the Stornoway Gazette, The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland chairwoman, Kate Still said: “In these unprecedented times, it’s extremely heartening to see the way Scottish communities are coming together to provide each other with support.

“I would like to congratulate Macaulay College on its award which is a testament to the incredible efforts of their staff and volunteers. National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is making such a difference.”