Bright future beckons for new-look Scalpay and Leverburgh halls

Leverburgh Village Hall

Two of Harris’ most important hubs have welcomed an injection of fund ing that will enable them to carry out critical renovations to put them in good shape for the future.

Leverburgh Village Hall and Scalpay Community Heritage Centre are among the beneficiaries of the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme.

Leverburgh Hall will receive £474,071 for its regeneration project and Scalpay CC receives £647,280. Both halls are over 20 years old and in urgent need of modernisation.

Leverburgh Village Hall committee shared the news on Facebook: “The project will breathe new life into the much-loved village hall, ensuring it continues to serve as a welcoming hub for residents and visitors for gen erations to come,” it said.

Plans include replacing the existing roof and installing a new heating system, increasing insulation, adding new windows and doors, solar panels and battery storage, an extension to the kitchen and new flooring in the main hall. An updated internal layout will make it more energy efficient and versatile.

The Leverburgh Village Hall Committee thanked the Harris Forum, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Tighean Innse Gall, who worked together to secure the funding. “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding,” said Kenny Macleod, chair of the Leverburgh Village Hall Committee.

“The hall has always been at the heart of life in Leverburgh, hosting everything from ceilidhs and concerts to community meetings and celebrations. These upgrades will make it warmer, greener, and more welcoming.” Work is scheduled to begin at the start of 2026, with completion due later in the year.

An event at Scalpay Community Heritage Centre

At Scalpay Community Heritage Centre, work is already underway with OMAC Construction Ltd on site since the start of the month. Their investment will cover the installation of insulation, new toilets and new kitchen, new external doors and windows, an electrical upgrade and solar panel system, and new airsource heatpump heating. Work should be completed in about six months.

Scalpay Community Association is to benefit from a further matched funding contribution of £200,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

“This is fantastic news for Scalpay and for everyone involved,” said Gordon Ness, chair of Scalpay Community Association. “It feels like a huge moment for the island. This is the first major investment we’ve had since the Scalpay Bridge opened back in 1997.

“There’s been a lot of community effort behind this, so to finally see it come together is incredibly rewarding. It shows that all the work — the planning, the fundraising, the meetings — has been worth it.”

Once work is completed, the centre will continue to host community groups and events and will also celebrate the island’s heritage, stories and connection to the sea. It will bring work through construction jobs and longer-term jobs running the centre, café and heritage activities. “It’s about much more than refurbishing a building,” said Gordon.

“It’s about giving new life to the heart of the island. The Scalpay Community Heritage Centre will become a proper hub for everyone — a place for local groups, for events, for Gaelic, and for visitors too.”