It was great to see 14 young people between the ages of 12-35 at our last Community Workshop.  Everyone's name was put in a hat, and the draw was made at 5pm by William Tunnell, architect.  The two winners were: 12-19 age group - Michael Culbertson; 20-35 age group - Greg Thomson.  Congratulations to both - you will shortly receive a £15 Amazon voucher each.

If you missed the community workshop on 21st January, have a look at the initial design of the Hub through these pages: Site and Landscape | Layout and Relationship to Site | Use of the Hub - plan and sections | Use of the Hub - explanation of key areas.

There were a lot of discussions at the workshop about ideas and suggestions for the design, and also ideas that would reduce costs - without losing functionality.  The architects will be considering all of these ideas over the coming weeks.  If you have any comments, please get in touch with any of the CDI directors, or WT Architecture, or visit the Hub Facebook page 

The second Community Design Workshop took place on Saturday 21st January in An Talla Dearg, when 62 people came to see the initial designs and hear the latest news on the project.  People came up with lots of clever design ideas to improve the project and the architects will now work with the rest of the design team and in discussion with directors to begin to hone the designs.  The final community event will take place in March, when it is planned that the architects will present the final design.

All households with people on the edited electoral register have received a questionnaire about the business aspects of the Hub, sent out by our business consultant, Andrew Prendergast.  It has some new questions, such as about a bakery and a launderette and your answers will help to biuld the business case for the Hub - or show that certain parts of the proposed enterprise might not be financially viable.

Please fill it in as honestly as possible and send it back soon - if possible by the end of the year, or soon after that.  Apologies to those households who did not receive a questionnaire - using the edited electoral register was the easiest and quickest way for Andrew to get a list of addresses.

William Tunnell and his team at WT Architects have produced a very detailed Feedback Report which collates and analyses community opinion about the Hub so far.  They have recorded all of the comments and questionnaire answers which we gave them at the community workshop in November and then have made recommendations about what the hub should be like, based on what we told them.  They will use this document to guide them as they start to draw up their initial designs for the Hub.

We are delighted with the very high quality consultation that WT Architecture are conducting with our community and can't wait to see what sort of design they come up with.  Make sure you come along to the Talla Dearg and tell them what you think at the second community workshop on January 21st.

The next community workshop about our Sustainable Community Hub will take place on Saturday January 21st 2011 in An Talla Dearg.  There will be tea, coffee and lunch.  This will be the first opportunity for us to see the designs and models that the architects have produced so far.  They will be on hand to help us to suggest changes and improvements to the designs.

More details to follow - but put the date in your diary!

WT Architects will start designing the Hub this week.  They have analysed the responses from the community, and produced a 70 page report, with recommendations.  A topographical survey has been carried out, and the first Design Team meeting took place on Friday 16th December.  They have had initial discussions with the planning authorities, SNH and with SEPA. 

The business consultants have also been researching other community businesses and have fed that information into the design process.  Their findings suggest, for example, that it will be important for the shop not to be too small, as all the evidence from Staffin and the Outer Isles suggests that a small corner shop would not be viable - whereas a larger shop, selling a wider range of products, is more likely to be.

We want to get the opinions of:

• Young people
• Anyone who didn't make it to the community event on Saturday 19th Nov '11 
• Anyone who hasn't filled in a questionnaire about the Hub.

It's only 10 quick questions - please fill in our QUESTIONNAIRE now and tell us what you think!

WT Architecture have created a Camuscross and Duisdale Facebook page.  They want comments on their gallery of photos to inspire thought and discussion about the Hub - particularly from young people.  Please tell people about it, 'like' it and share it.

COMMUNITY RESOURCE WORKER

to assist and support directors of

Camuscross & Duisdale Initiative

in developing the

Sustainable Community Hub project

£5,500, part-time over six months on a self-employed contract

For a job description or more information, contact Susan Walker on 01471 833274.  See the West Highland Free Press, 24th November 2011 for more details

Deadline for emailed applications, 8th December.  Interviews will take place between 15th and 22nd December

You are cordially invited to the first of three community workshops about our Sustainable Community Hub on

Saturday, 19th November

An Talla Dearg, Isle Ornsay

11am - 5pm

11.00         Design Team presentation and Q & As 11.30am    Workshop - Your thoughts for the Hub
12.00pm    Workshop - Learning more about people and place.
12.30pm    Lunch
1pm-5pm   Informal drop in workshops with design team.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available all day and we are organising a potluck lunch. 

If you can bring a small contribution, please do, but if you can't, there will be plenty of food.

There will be three 30 minute workshops from 11am - 12.30 and then a less structured drop-in session after lunch.  The architects and the business consultant will be on hand to find out your ideas for the hub.  You can come all day, or for as long as you wish.  Please see the flyer for more information

CAN YOU BRING ALONG PHOTOS, OBJECTS OR DOCUMENTS?
The architects are very keen to find out what is important to us about where we live. If you have any photos, letters, articles or objects that are important to you and your understanding of the history, culture and environment of the area, please bring them along. 

They will take a photograph or scan it into their laptop on the day.

 ANYONE IN SLEAT AND BEYOND WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IS WELCOME TO ATTEND