February 2022 Update - Almost There!
Wester Loch Ewe Trust is so excited to have our newly renovated and extended Schoolhouse almost ready to be handed over to us by Simpson Builders Ltd who have done a sterling job on Phase 1 of our regeneration project.
This project was made possible by the support of several funders. The first to confirm support was The National Lottery through the Community Fund. We are indebted to the National Lottery for believing in us and understanding the difficulties we faced when Covid came along.
The Old Schoolhouse Tearoom
As you can see the Old Schoolhouse Tearoom has been renovated and upgraded as has the entire ground floor area of the schoolhouse and former library. There is underfloor heating throughout as well as a wood-burning stove thanks to The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) and to the Highland Coastal Communities Fund. We anticipate many cosy hours of usage by the community and visitors alike. Can you see the doors to the brand new toilets on the right of the picture?
Brand-new Kitchen!
If you have passed by recently you will have noticed the new large kitchen extension at the rear of the schoolhouse. This is accessed directly from the tearoom and it has also got a serving hatch which opens into the west exhibition room.
The new kitchen is equipped with commercial grade stainless steel fittings throughout and has wipe-down walls for ease of cleaning. This kitchen fit-out was made possible by a generous donation from The Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF). The PCF’s support and forbearance throughout the long road to completion has been most kind.
We are so pleased with our kitchen and look forward to hosting many of you in the not-too-distant future but there is much work to do before we will be ready to serve you!
The Old Library
We are sure you will agree that the Old Library has been transformed!
The renovation and extension of the building was largely made possible by the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) from the Scottish Government which is administered by The Highland Council.
When we had to seek more funding to finish the project we were fortunate to gain the support of the Robertson Trust, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise without whom the finishing touches would not have been possible.
Wester Loch Ewe Trust thanks all the funders most sincerely for their support. It has made such a huge difference to our facilities!
The funders' logos can be seen at the foot of this page.
November 2021 Update - Work Continues
Work continues and is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year. We have reached the major milestone of the completion of the new floors with underfloor heating in the tearoom, the old library, and the new kitchen. Also, the new front porch is almost complete and our beautiful new windows in the tearoom have been installed; they are going to make such a difference to the atmosphere in the building. We are really looking forward to inviting you to our opening - look out for further news!
Now that we can see real progress being made, it's a good opportunity to once again acknowledge the support of the various funders who are making this possible: The Scottish Government through the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund; The National Lottery Community Fund; Highlands and Islands Enterprise; The Prince's Countryside Fund; The Robertson Trust; The Highland Council; and many more. Thank you!
And of course we must thank our on-site Simpson Builders team who are doing a grand job in spite of the less than helpful weather. Keep up the good work!
September 2021 Update
After several years of planning and fundraising, work to refurbish The Old School, Inverasdale has started. We appointed Simpson Builders who started work in August to construct a new large kitchen, improve the insulation, install new windows and doors and provide modern, efficient heating in the southern half of the building which includes the much-loved tearoom. There will also be a new entrance porch to the tearoom providing disabled access.
Repairs are being made to the outside of the building as well as inside
The ground floor of schoolhouse with walls stripped and new cement floor
July 2021 Update (2)
Wester Loch Ewe Trust has been successful in reaching its minimum target funding and we look forward to building work at The Old School starting in August
thanks to additional funding of £33,000 from Adapt & Thrive. There is some "delayed work" still to be funded. The work on our new kitchen and upgrades to the schoolhouse is scheduled to complete by late November.
It is great to have the tea room open again, although only on Wednesday afternoons from 2.00 - 4.00 pm. You can enjoy your hot drinks and home baking in our
grounds, in our new shelter, or take them away with you.
We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has come along on Wednesday afternoons to support us. This service has proved very popular
and we are very pleased to say that we've seen several of our regular holiday visitors as well as many locals.
July 2021 Update
On Wednesday afternoons from 7th July, the much-loved Old Schoolhouse Tearoom, will offer coffee, teas and home-baking as a take-away service from 2.00 – 4.00 pm. Place your orders at the school door and they will be delivered to you when ready.
Scottish Government regulations mean that we must collect your details for Track & Trace or you have the option of scanning a code with your mobile phone to give the details.
The Shelter will be available for use but strictly first come, first seated and if it’s full, you may wish to take your goodies to your car. There’s always the option of taking in our wonderful scenery.
June 2021 Update
Our recent community consultation on the use of The Old School this summer found the majority of respondents did not wish to use the building until Covid and our planned building works are over. A sizeable majority of respondents did not wish us to site a marquee on the football pitch but wished a robust form of outdoor shelter to be provided for carry-out tea and cakes, etc. This has now been provided in the form of a very solid container which is furnished with tables and chairs and is fully Covid-compliant.
The shelter being sited on an overcast June day.
March 2021 Update
Wester Loch Ewe Trust (WLET) is pleased to report that it has secured funding of £19,548 from the Scottish Government’s Communities Recovery Fund, via Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), to support The Old School, as local community centre for Cove, Inverasdale and Naast, during the COVID-19 crisis.
HIE is co-ordinating the Communities Recovery Fund in the Highlands and Islands, on behalf of the Scottish Government, for all eligible community organisations. Its purpose is to help implementing changes to reintroduce the delivery of existing services and activities that have been suspended or severely reduced because of COVID-19 and/or deliver new services identified as a priority by communities as a result of COVID-19.
The Communities Recovery funding has provided WLET with revenue to allow 2 new staff posts – a Community Co-ordinator and a Janitor/Cleaner – to be established. Initially, these were to run from March until the end of May 2021. However, we are pleased to say that we have also secured funding from the Scottish Government’s Adapt and Thrive Fund which will allow WLET to extend these posts until the end of December 2021. This additional funding (£40,854) will also help us to purchase stocks and supplies to make the premises COVID-safe, and to make any physical adaptations of the building and grounds that may be helpful and/or necessary.
The Community Co-ordinator will develop and oversee a programme of activities. There will be communication and consultation to enable The Old School to reconnect with the community and visitors to the area, and to ensure all health and safety measures are met.
We look forward to welcoming the community and visitors again when Scottish Government Guidelines permit.
LATEST NEWS:
We are pleased to report that we have filled the Community Co-ordinator role (more about this shortly).
January 2021 Progress Update
Members will already know that WLET welcomed Fiona Begg in December 2020 to provide management and coordination services for us. Along with Fiona, the Board is working hard with Benjamin Tindall Architects and other members of the design team to finalise drawings for the Building Warrant to ensure that our Phase 1 extension and upgrade is future-proofed to allow progression in the future to Phase 2 and further phases to provide the flexibility of accommodation and revenue streams for the future.
You will recall that Phase 1 of this capital project is financed through funding from The Lottery, The Prince’s Countryside Fund and the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. We are in regular communication with these funders regarding our progress.
When passing The Old School, you may have been aware of our beautiful new, almost completed, shed. This was built with WLET funds raised through appeals to private funders and will provide welcome storage when completed in the near future. When weather permits, MacRae Brothers will finish their work on the extended car park, also funded by gifts from private funders during the last financial year.
Together with our volunteer fundraiser, the Board is preparing applications to help fund necessary changes to how we will work within the building to allow everyone to feel safe when we can can again use The Old School. We are also seeking funding for 2 part-time posts - a Janitor/Cleaner and a Community Services Coordinator, plus funding to hire an outside structure to allow the community to meet once again when Government regulations allow.
December 2020 Update
Unfortunately, due to the current pandemic, we seem no closer to being able to open The Old School in springtime. We are hoping to hold the AGM in February 2021 and will be letting all members know the relevant details as soon as possible.
The Trustees are very pleased to welcome Fiona Begg who is providing WLET with management and coordination services for the building project to provide a new kitchen, new toilets, and various other improvements in The Old School.
Fiona has a BA in Architecture and valuable experience in steering community projects to completion. Amongst other building projects on the west coast, she has provided services to manage the construction of the community hall, shop and cafe on the south side of Skye for the Camuscross & Duisdale Initiative.
July 2020 Update
Due to the current situation with regard to Covid-19, the necessary physical distancing measures and other Government restrictions, and in order to help keep our volunteers and community safe, Wester Loch Ewe Trust has reluctantly decided not to open the Old School this season.
Everyone involved would like to thank our community and all our regular summer visitors for their support. We do hope to welcome you all again when circumstances permit, perhaps later in the year.
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