Heritage centre buyout get the go-ahead after Land Fund boost
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Multiple projects across Scotland including a plan for a heritage group to take over ownership of the Garioch Heritage Centre have received funding in the latest round of grants from the Scottish Land Fund.
The money will allow groups from both urban and rural areas to take ownership of local assets and put them to use for the benefit of their local communities.
In Inverurie the Garioch Heritage Society have been awarded a grant of £466,000 which will allow the charity to complete a community buy out of the premises at Garioch Heritage Centre.
This is the culmination of many years work by the Society volunteers, raising funds and building community support around the heritage centre project.
Chairman of the Society Colin Wood said: “The community buy out will allow us to develop a long-term sustainable financial operation, we will be able to recover VAT that is currently charged on our income, open up future grant funding options, create new and additional income, and allow us to expand our collection and the facilities on offer at the centre to appeal to everyone in the Garioch community.
"Ownership will open up new options including the ability to attract new large-scale exhibitions and invest in equipment such as solar photovoltaic panels to reduce ongoing running costs in the long term.
"There is a shortage of, and demand for, flexible community space in Inverurie.
"We provide a community hub, education resource, heritage centre, the number one visitor attraction and an economic asset to the area.
"Community ownership will secure our long-term future and maintain public access to a nationally important listed building which played a pivotal role in the development of the town.”
The Society said they are most grateful to Malcolm Allan and family for their support and cooperation with the community buy out and for funding and carrying out the works to convert part of the former Loco works into the Garioch Heritage Centre in the first place.
The committee also wish to thank the volunteers, user groups, and the business community who continue to support the centre.
Colin added: "The Garioch Partnership, Inverurie Business Association, and We Are Inverurie, in particular, helped us to demonstrate widespread community support and community benefit from the project."
Scottish Land Fund Chairman, John Watt, said: “A huge congratulations to Garioch Heritage Society on their Scottish Land Fund award.
"As one of 28 groups across urban and rural Scotland sharing in £3.6 million of funding, they are now in a unique position to take control of land and property assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come.
"I wish them every success as they take forward their exciting community ownership plans.”
Elsewhere in the north-east SEAchange - Slains Environmental Action for change have been granted £170,710 which will allow them to buy Slains Church in Collieston, along with 28 acres of ground which will be used for tree planting to offset carbon, in order to create an energy-efficient cafe and community space.
Land Reform Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham said : “I commend the latest recipients of Scottish Land Fund grants for driving forward plans to support and enhance their local areas as part of our Green recovery, in what are clearly difficult circumstances.
"I am particularly pleased that, through what is the final round of funding for this year, the Scottish Land Fund is supporting such a high number of unique and diverse projects, and I look forward to these projects delivering on their ambitions in the new year.”
