Two community projects are celebrating after being awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

West Harris in the Outer Hebrides and Barmulloch in Glasgow will benefit from the lottery's Growing Community Assets programme which will allow both groups to construct some much-needed community facilities.

The West Harris Trust is responsible for managing land on the west side of Harris.

The lottery award of £1,090,247 will allow the Trust to construct a Community Enterprise Centre at Rubha Romagaidh, Horgabost, that will provide a hub for community and social enterprise activities. The facility will include a hall, cafe and treatment room, as well as flexible office and studio space that can be leased by the arts and creative industries.

The site will also include a marquee on an outdoor deck, three campervan stances, community poly-tunnels and a children's play area. The centre will create new jobs, host events and provide services that will benefit the local community and its economy, with the Trust intending to attract new young families to the area.


The second project has been awarded £1,075,000 and will see Barmulloch Community Development Company build a new, multi-purpose community facility to replace the existing Tenants Hall. The hall provided space for a diverse range of community events but its decaying fabric means it is no longer fit for use. The grant will be used to demolish the hall and site, together with an area of land to the rear, in order to provide space for a new, larger facility that will comprise of one main hall, two smaller halls, two offices, a recording studio, toilets, and kitchen facilities.

The centre will host a wide range of organisations offering services and activities that will address some of the underlying issues affecting the community including; health improvement, employment, training, recreation, community and social use.

Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, commented: "Our Growing Community Assets fund enables local communities to have more control and influence over their own future.

"Today's funding for The West Harris Trust and Barmulloch Community Development Company will allow them to create amenities which benefit their communities through increased social and economic opportunities.

"These projects will support the wider regeneration of their local areas and I wish both organisations every success."

(JP/IT)