Quarter Community Hub has been awarded £93,406 from the Scottish Land Fund to purchase the B-listed Quarter Parish Church and its grounds. The negotiated sale with the Church of Scotland will allow the hub to convert the building into a space for community activities.
Funding details
The grant is part of a £2,197,924 funding round shared among six projects. The Scottish Land Fund is financed by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Community reaction
Thomas Neely, Chair of 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.”
He added: “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.”
Official comments
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.”
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.”
