SSEN Transmission donate £5000 to help secure future of vital community hub

SSEN Transmission has donated £5000 towards a fundraising campaign that aims to secure the future of a vital community hub in Argyll.

Located in Kintyre, Skipness Village Hall hosts a number of events including social evenings and health and wellbeing activities, while also hosting community meetings on key developments in the area and acting as a location for election polling.

The money has been donated by the Crossaig Substation Project, which comprises the construction of a new 275kV substation and overhead line, connecting the recently completed 275kV overhead line between Inveraray and Crossaig and supporting the export of renewable energy from Argyll.

Community Liaison Officer Martha Smart and Project Manager Ula Mcneill from SSEN Transmission visited Skipness Village Hall as part of their programme of community engagement to discuss the project with local residents. This led to the offer of funding towards a campaign that aims to raise £30,000 to carry out much-needed structural work on the community-owned space. 

Sam McKee, from Skipness Village Hall, said: “The Skipness and Claonaig communities are very rural and opportunities to get together as a community are important to avoid isolation. There are no pubs or other community facilities for 12 miles, so the village hall is an essential space.

“After a professional survey it has been identified we need to raise around £30,000 in community contributions to help us access additional refurbishment funding for the hall, with total refurbishment costs of £250,000.

“Raising the £30,000 is a big challenge in a community of only around 125 people, so this generous donation from SSEN Transmission will go a long way towards supporting our efforts.”

Ula Mcneill, Project Manager from SSEN Transmission, said: “An important part of our work is consulting with local communities and keeping them informed about our plans, and that is how we came to learn of the local fundraising campaign for the restoration of Skipness Hall.

“In discussion with those running the campaign, it was clear to us just how vital this community-owned facility is – both in terms of providing a location for important community meetings, but also as a social hub in a remote area.

“We recognise the vital role the hall plays in the community and hope this will go a small way in helping to secure its future use for all the residents of Skipness and further afield, but equally for SSEN Transmission staff who will be working in the area for years to come.”