Work has begun...
Three years ago when our group was formed our impressions were that all we had to do was fill in a few forms, make a claim on the Lottery and then wonder what on earth we would do with all the money. Grandiose plans for a hall more than twice the size of the present one were drawn up.
Reality dawned slowly when we found that before we could claim we had to have a constitution, articles of association, and charitable status. Six months later our feet really hit the floor when Lottery said: “No you have asked for far too much”.
We had two other major sources of potential funding: The Scottish Executive Rural Partnership Fund and the European Rural Development Fund. Both of those however could only consider applications after a Lottery grant had been secured. By the time we eventually secured a much smaller Lottery grant the other two funds had run out of cash and were closed.
At that point we were close to calling it a day but we did have a pledge from the Lottery for £140,000 and to walk away then would have lost that money to the community.
So we resolved to have another shot at it. More realistic plans were drawn up and applications for funds were fired off in every direction. With a lot help from Highland Council, RACE, Fearn Peninsula Community Economic Development Group, Highland year of Culture 2007, Highlands & Islands Community Energy Company, Robertson Trust and Lloyds TSB we eventually have a viable package together totalling £ 376,000. And on 21st November:
WORK FINALLY STARTED
The traditional Highland Greeting of “Aye Aye how’s it going,” was for me changed to
“Aye Aye when’s work going to start on the hall” and I’m afraid my optimism misled a lot of people into thinking it would happen a lot sooner than it did. Well that’s all changed now and already people are asking when will it all be finished. With the wisdom of hindsight my reply now is “I don’t **##**## know, but I have heard a whisper that the longest day of 2007 would be a good time to celebrate the successful completion of a very long project.
Local fundraising is being dealt with elsewhere on this site but I want to take the opportunity to thank the many local people who have helped us in so many different ways. Without your support it would not have happened.
STANLEY MITCHELL, Chairman
Carnegie Hall Restoration Committee
