Helping make communities more sustainable
Hub North Scotland has played a major role in helping secure £750,000 of Scottish Government funding which will benefit four communities in Caithness.
The money is to be used to improve and reuse four community spaces to make their neighbourhoods more sustainable and resilient.
It is part of the Caithness Place-based Demonstrator project, which is being facilitated by Hub North Scotland to encourage organisations to work together to identify and address key challenges facing communities in the Far North.
The partners in the project include The Highland Council, NHS Highland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, University of the Highlands and Islands, the Scottish Futures Trust, and People Powered Results at social innovation foundation Nesta.
Their early work has pinpointed four sites in Castletown, Wick, Thurso and Lybster which could benefit from a joint-approach to making changes.
A series of drop-in events are being held later this month to hear the public’s views on what changes they would like to see at the Castletown Drill Hall, the Carnegie Library in Wick, the UHI Thurso Campus and the Lybster Community Hall.
The feedback from these sessions will help identify how these spaces could be reused for the benefit of the community through areas such as the co-location of services, repurposing spaces to provide new and additional education and skills support, health and social care services and other wellbeing advice.
Fraser Innes, Place and Partnership Director for Hub North Scotland, said: “This is a unique opportunity for everyone to work together to test and learn how to deliver the best possible outcomes with these communities.
“Partners and local organisations will be able to tell us how they see these spaces being used and consider what resources and activities they need to help make these locations more resilient and sustainable for the future.”
Leader of The Highland Council, Wick and East Caithness Ward Councillor Raymond Bremner said: “This is an ideal opportunity for residents to tell us what needs to change to help them live well locally. We want to hear what different activities and resources they want to see in these spaces which will help make their communities more sustainable. Their input will shape the future use of these spaces to bring positive changes for all.”
The events are being held on the following dates:
● Castletown Drill Hall: Tuesday 21 February, 4.30-5.30pm (Youth Club), 6.30-7.30pm (Public)
● UHI Thurso Campus: Wednesday 22 February 12.30-1.15pm (Students), 1.30-2.30pm (Public)
● Carnegie Library, Wick: Wednesday 22 February, 6.30-7.30pm (Public)
● Lybster Community Hall: Thursday 23 February, 6.00-7.30pm (Public