Green light for Kyle youth hub
A project which has been ten years in the making by a team of dedicated volunteers has been given the go ahead by the Highland Council.
Plans to create a new Youth and Family Hub between the villages of Ardgay and Bonar Bridge, is a step closer to becoming a reality for the Kyle of Sutherland Youth Development Group (KOSYDG).
The Planning Committee has approved the bid to build a state of the art facility designed to meet the needs of young people and families in the Kyle of Sutherland.
KOSYDG was formed in 2004 to address the lack of youth service provision in the area. The volunteer led group has successfully raised funds to purchase the youth bus, land and temporary classrooms as well as running after school clubs, a youth club and art and music classes for toddlers.
Membership has increased to such an extent that there is a waiting list for activities.
The temporary classrooms are no longer fit for purpose and the need for a permanent facility to meet existing and future needs is evident.
Building on ideas generated in the community consultation ‘Kyle of Sutherland Vision 2008’ and subsequent meetings, surveys and open days held on the bus site, KOSYDG has identified the needs and aspirations of the whole community which will be incorporated in the new design scheme.
The state of the art facility will include a soft play area, fitness suite, youth rooms, charity shop, café, therapy and multi purpose rooms.
The project will create a number of full and part time employment posts, and will assist the group in achieving greater volunteering opportunities.
The next step is for KOSYDG to submit a Stage Two application to the Lottery and to HIE. “We have received a huge amount of support from experts at the Big Lottery and we are grateful for their help,” says Kathy Smith, secretary of KOSYDG.
She added: “We have identified a number of additional funding sources available to us and following the successful planning application, we can now firm up the funding package. This project represents an investment of over £1.5m in the area and is a project developed by the community for the community.
“We have received over 150 letters of support from local businesses, schools, community councils and individuals. There is still a great deal of work to be done to bring this project to a successful conclusion in 2016 but we well on the way now.”
Hayley Bangs, Chair of KOSYDG congratulated all of the 27 volunteers who have helped get the project to this stage. “We have been working with the Growing Community Assets programme of the Lottery and Highlands & Islands Enterprise and have clearly identified the level of need for such a facility in the north. This project is unique and will provide a level of service to the local population that is unprecedented. We must focus on our young people and encourage them to participate and play a part in the community now and in the future. At the same time, we need to attract and retain visitors and give them a reason to stop in the villages rather than drive straight through.”
Children’s Champion Councillor Linda Munro has been supportive of the group and its efforts for many years. She said “The Kyle of Sutherland Youth Development Group is to be congratulated on its hard work over the last ten years, with particular thanks to Hayley who has just received a VOSCAR in recognition of her volunteering services to the community.”
This project will put the area back on the map and go some way to restoring the local economy since the loss of Carbisdale and Falls of Shin.
