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The Barn Church in Culloden bids for hub vision as it clears important hurdle towards a £500,000 project to be more accessible as a multi-purpose community hub


By Neil MacPhail

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Mike Robertson.
Mike Robertson.

An Inverness church has cleared an important hurdle towards a £500,000 project to be more accessible as a multi-purpose community hub.

The Barn Church at Culloden has received planning permission for alterations and extension, formation of a café and 70-space car park.

Rev Mike Robertson said they wanted to make the historic building more accessible. Outwith lockdown up to 400 people regularly use the building, with groups such as crafts, toddlers, addiction recovery and lunch clubs.

He said: “Eventually our dream is to have a community garden with the training and volunteering opportunities that will bring.

“The problem is this project will cost £500,000, and while the church tends to be rich in land and buildings, it is not rich in cash. We are in the process of raising funds.

“The reality of the pandemic would naturally raise questions around timing and viability for the work we have now long explored for the Barn’s suite of buildings. However, now more than ever, there is a need for more community space. Ironically, at a time when finances are tighter for everyone, this project has become more, rather than less, urgent.”

Rev Robertson said the internal renovation plans are to improve existing spaces to maximise capacity and multiple uses at the same time. The only extension is to provide a Changing Places facility for those supporting adults and children with severe and complex needs. This will widen the scope of community engagement of people with special access needs.

The church obtained some grant funds to allow live-streaming and recording of activities, and over the past five years nearly £200,000 has been pledged by supporters.

Rev Robertson said: “Areas where we really need support beyond finance are preparing funding applications and an associated business case. We built a good stock of information that will make these less of an arduous task, but we need help to piece it together in the right way to communicate our vision and how the project will positively impact the community, to inspire would-be supporters. If anyone would like to support the project financially or in any other way, please get in touch.”

• For more information or to donate, visit here.

Related article: Inverness church transformed into grocery distribution warehouse for food project


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