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Royal opening for Kinloch Community Hub
Friday 11 October 2019 - 17:02
The Kinloch Community Hub on the Isle of Lewis was formally opened by HRH the Princess Royal recently.
The former school turned community hub in Balallan is managed by the Kinloch Historical Society and includes a cafe, laundrette, charity shop and meeting space as well as housing the Historical Societies Museum and Archive.
Princess Anne, who has a keen interest in community development, took time to speak to all present from the society, local community and those who supported the development. She also enjoyed a tour of the facility, lunch and was presented with a gift of Harris Tweed.
The project was part-funded by the Outer Hebrides LEADER Programme, along with the Big Lottery, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.
Colin Gilmour, Chair of the Outer Hebrides Local Action Group said:
"The LEADER LAG was delighted to support the development of this hub to allow it to deliver many social and economic benefits and opportunities to the local community for now and in the future."
The Outer Hebrides LEADER Programme 2014-2020 is now closed to enquiries. The programme has committed £2.5m in grant funding to projects throughout the islands since opening in March 2016 – levering-in an additional £6m of external funding to the local economy as a result.
The focus of the current Programme was on supporting and developing rural services and facilities, developing and aiding tourism initiatives – in particular natural, archaeological, creative, cultural and Gaelic heritage - as well as encouraging croft-diversification. Projects supported include small rural businesses, community enterprises and voluntary sector organisations.
Please visit the Outer Hebrides LEADER website at www.outerhebridesleader.co.uk for further information on the programme.
For more about the Kinloch Historical Society: