Western Isles projects receive funding for community facilities

Three projects in the Western Isles have received funding from the Scottish Land Fund.

Leverhulme Community Hub, North Uist Development Company and Pairc Trust are amongst 21 initiatives that have shared in a total of £1,667,987 in the current round of awards.

Leverhulme Community Hub has received £49,167 to purchase the old Leverhulme Primary School on the Isle of Harris in order to create a community centre with cafe, self-service launderette, charity shop, gym, Post Office and museum of Gaelic language, culture and Harris Tweed.

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Angus MacLeod, chairman of Leverhulme Community Hub, said: “The approval of SLF funding is a milestone event in our journey towards community ownership of the Old School Building and the establishment of several business enterprises, which will benefit both our economy and residents of the area.

“We are delighted that after years of planning we can finally buy the building and give it the new lease of life it deserves.

“The development of Leverhulme Community Hub will contribute substantially to the regeneration of South Harris and beyond and create a much-needed multi-purpose facility for use by locals and visitors alike.

“It is hoped that the building purchase will be complete by November this year.

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“This will be a timely occasion as we will also be marking 100 years since Leverburgh was re-named by the industrialist Lord Leverhulme, who built the historic Old School Building and many others in the area.”

North Uist Development Company will use an award of £19,779 to buy the former Lochmaddy Primary School to use as a Community Hub and for accommodation in the future.

Catherine Macleod, director of North Uist Development Company, said: ‘This is fantastic news for North Uist.

“This award will mean we can now move forward with the plans to re-open and sustainably develop the school for the benefit of the community.

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“The Community Hub will provide a multi-purpose focal point for community and visitors alike, acting as a welcoming gathering place, an incubator for learning and enterprise and an inspirational environmental centre to educate and conserve the unique local environment for generations into the future.”

Pairc Trust has received £38,500 enabling it to take ownership of the Resource Centre in Kershader, Isle of Lewis, on behalf of its existing users, in order to carry on running their playgroup and childcare services, provide rural office space, a community gym and space for other community groups.

Angus McDowall, chairman of Pairc Trust, said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Land Fund is supporting our purchase of this key building for the community of Pairc.

“The Resource Centre is a multi-use community space for local groups, housing the Pairc Playgroup, a community gym and rural office spaces.

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“It has an ideal location alongside the community-owned Ravenspoint Centre, who run a shop, museum, hostel, cafe and fuel pump, so to be able to bring this building into community ownership alongside these other facilities is ideal.”

John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee chairman, said: “Groups across Scotland are making a real impact to their communities with a range of ambitious projects that deliver tangible benefits to the people who live there.

“The Scottish Land Fund is delighted to be able to support them.”

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