A community group in the village of Quarter has been given £93,406 by the Scottish Land Fund in order to buy a local church.
Quarter Community Hub will acquire the B-listed Quarter Parish Church and associated ground through a negotiated sale from the Church of Scotland in order to convert it into a place for community activities.
The project is one of six that will share in £2,197,924 in the current round of awards.
The Scottish Land Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, said: “Once again these projects demonstrate the scale and variety of ways the Scottish Land Fund can support communities, whether it is giving islanders greater autonomy, creating a much-needed heritage centre and workshop space or bolstering volunteering opportunities.
“It’s especially welcome to see the Bays of Harris purchase conclude after many years of hard work.
“It shows that perseverance does pay off, and I wish all the projects the best and look forward to hearing about their progress.”
Welcoming the funding, Thomas Neely, Chair, Quarter Community Hub, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the award from the Scottish Land Fund to support our project and the purchase of Quarter Parish Church for the betterment of the community.
“This has only been made possible by the hard work and the determination of the charity trustees and the community of Quarter and is testament to the depth of feeling within the community for the building and the possibilities that Quarter Community Hub can offer.”
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “These awards will have a positive and empowering impact on each of their communities, helping groups to secure important assets and giving local people control over the things that matter most to them.”
Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, added: “These projects highlight the incredible impact of communities taking charge of their own future.
“By securing vital assets, they’re safeguarding essential services while creating places that support jobs, attract visitors and bring people together.
“For example, the Bays of Harris funding contribution to bring the land into community ownership demonstrates the vital role that investment plays in helping communities realise their ambitions.
“Community ownership is a powerful tool for lasting change, strengthening the local economy and building resilience for generations to come. We can’t wait to see what these inspiring ventures achieve next.”
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