ARDCO

1st September 2009

The community of Ardersier voted, at a Public Meeting on Tuesday 1st September 2009, to establish a Community Company called Ardersier Development Company Limited (ARDCO) as a means of developing a Community Hub around the Old School Hall and the War Memorial Hall.

The Community Hub may be able to provide a range of services including:

• nursery provision
• elderly day care
• hall
• youth facilities
• arts centre
• heritage centre
• library
• service point
• cafe
• small business units
• office space

If you would like to become a Member of the Community Company please complete this form and return it to the address shown.

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/10437/Residents_to_take_over_community_hall_operation.html

8th December 2009

The Joint Steering Group responsible for the development of a Community Company in Ardersier met tonight in the Old School Hall.

They unanimously agreed to proceed after scrutinising the Memorandum of Association with 13 of them signing the Memorandum and 7 volunteering to be Directors.

The Directors are:

• Rosemarie Shairp
• Donna Martin
• Shane Spence
• Jonathan Ball
• Sandy Devidge
• Christine Wondin
• Mike Beaton

They will now apply to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator for charitable status to make the Ardersier Community Company (ARDCO) a charitable organisation as well as a company limited by gaurantee.

9th December 2009

ARDCO applied to the European LEADER programme (www.highlandleader.com) for funding to enable them to carry out a comprehensive Feasibility Study and Business Plan for their concept of a Community Hub around the Old School Hall and the War Memorial Hall.

Today they were successful with that application and awarded £11,250 from the Rural Inverness LEADER Local Action Group.

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2009/December/2009-12-21-02.htm

1st March 2010

ARDCO applied to the Big Lottery Investing in Ideas fund for funding to carry out a comprehensive Feasibility Study and Business Plan for their concept of a Community Hub around the Old School Hall and War Memorial Hall.

Today they were advised their application for £10,000 was successful meaning they now have £21,250 toward the total cost of this aspect of their development programme.

ARDCO had also applied to Highlands & Islands Enterprise Community Land Unit for the remainder of funding for the Feasibility Study and Business Plan.

Today they were advised this application was successful and received the remaining £3,750.

ARDCO now have the total funding of £25,000 in place to carry out the Feasibility Study and Business Plan and will immediately recruit appropriate Consultants to carry out the work, which will assess the viability of their business models.

It is anticipated the work will be completed with a Final Report ready before the end of September this year.

26th March 2010

Other towns and villages around the Highlands have either succesfully built new community halls or are working to do so:

Boat of Garten

Seaboard villages - Hilton, Balintore, Shandwick

Pultneytown, Wick

Ardersier can take great encouragement from this and are invited to call on the above towns and villages for advice and guidance on any matters relating to creating a Community Hub.