Development Projects / Funders
The Uig Development Plan outlines a five-year plan, which identifies, supports and monitors commercially and environmentally sustainable rural regeneration for the Uig Community. The development plan helps to identify and address the underlying issues that contribute towards the current population decline and supports the vital ongoing work of the community groups, businesses, and volunteers in the area. The development plan reflects the priorities as of August 2019 and it will be amended and updated as circumstances change. The UIg Development Trust commit to a bi-annual review of the plan and will continue to consult with the community to ensure it is a reflection of the development priorities within Uig.
Completed projects and projects underway:
Bornaish Bridge:
Completed in January 2018, with support from Paths For All, the Boranish Bridge spans the river connecting Traigh Uig (Ardriol Beach) with the Timsgarry Grazings and the former site of Dun Borranais (Boranish Broch).
Community Garden & Growing Space:
The Uig Development Trust has supported the School Parent Council to develop the garden at the back of the school and the community centre. A grant of £6900 from the National Lottery Awards for All Scotland will be put towards the purchase and installation of a hard shelled Polytunnel.
A grant of £1680 was received from the Robertson Trust – Wee Grants for Wee Groups.
£250 was secured through a Volunteering Matters Action Earth Grant. This has covered the cost of materials for three raised outdoor beds and a small store for gardening equipment.
£500 has been made available through the Climate Challenge Fund Development Grant made available through Keep Scotland Beautiful.
A further £1700 was received from the Climate Challenge Assets Fund. This was used to purchase a storage shed, set up a water butt, and buy additional tools and equipment. Uig Primary School started their Growing Project (A’ Fàs) in March 2021. It is hoped that they will be able to sell their produce to the wider community later in the year
Winter Lunches:
The Uig Development Trust has been awarded a grant of £1250 to run a series of lunches over the winter months from the Community Centre. The award has been Funded by the PF Charitable Trust, administered by Foundation Scotland’
The lunches will be open to all members of the Community and will be organised by the Uig Development Trust, the Uig School Parent Council and the Uig Community Centre.
https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/
Walking Routes:
Completed in 2021, The Uig Development Trust was awarded a grant of £750 from Paths for All to signpost and mark out a path between Carrishader and the bridge over the weir at Suaineabhal. This route is also marked on the Uig Walking Map. Volunteers helped design and install the fingerposts at each end of the route and marked out the route with wooden marker posts.
Uig Walking Map:
Thanks to the fantastic support of businesses across Uig an A1 Ordnance Survey map of Uig has been produced outlining nine suggested walks and highlighting points of interest in the area. The map costs £2 and is available throughout Uig – including at the Uig Community Shop, the Community Café, and at the Commann Eachdraidh Uig (Uig Heritage Museum).
Suaineabhal Bridge:
The Uig Development Trust designed and installed a galvanised steel bridge over the weir at Loch Suaineabhal. The new bridge provides safe and easy access to Suianebhal and the moorland beyond for both local residents and visitors. Funding for this was provided by the Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, and with a donation from Uig Lodge.
Peoples Postcode Lottery ~ Postcode Lottery Trust
Shieling:
Mangersta Shieling
The Uig Development Trust are renovating a small sheiling on Mangersta grazings. The project is being carried out by local volunteers, who will repair the dry-stone walls, install a small stove and reinstate the roof. Any money raised from overnight visitors to the shieling will be used by the Uig Development Trust to maintain the building and to fund other community development projects in the area. This project is ongoing, but we would like to highlight our thanks to the Craignish Trust who started the process with a grant of £2000, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise who have further supported the project with an additional grant of £6600.
CARES Funding – Renewable Energy Feasibility Report
£5000 has been received through the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) Small Enablement Grant to fund an initial feasibility study looking into renewable energy options at Uig Community Shop. This has been administered through Local Energy Scotland and the feasibility report produced by Locogen.
