We have been working for the last 6 years to build a Community Centre that will have a lasting effect to the people of Wick and provide services to fill the gaps in services within the town.

Plans for the centre were drawn up based on the feedback we recieved from our initial community consultation four years ago, these have been updated again recently to accommodate changing community needs, after consultation with various local organisations and community groups.

The centre will be like no other in the Highlands - it will 'house' community, training and employers under the same roof.

The multi-purpose hall will contain sports facilities (including badminton court), and will also provide a venue for 120 with bleacher seating for theatre, conferences, youth discos, etc.

Cafe with internet access - this will be the 'hub' of the community, with soft play area, and a youth cafe running in the evening. With a training kitchen above the main cafe it will be an excellent facility for chefs who wish to put on their own menus.

There will also be Youth 'Drop In' facilities, games rooms, TV and soft seating area.

'Drop In' creche facilities - providing ad-hoc childcare for off shore workers, shift workers, or occasional childcare needs, so that parents can attend classes, groups or personal appointments.

There will also be classroom and training facilities, artist studio, dance/hobbies room, training kitchen, band practice space and office accommodation for small local businesses.

A new way of thinking...

 A nice meal with a local chef before attending an arts evening.

Mothers can drop off their children at creché while attending a training session, floral arranging or go for the shopping.

Small businesses not large enough for their own premises will be able to rent office space and have the use of a committee room for staff meetings, photocopier and administration services as required, reception facilities along with a cafe to meet clinets and reps.

A youth cafe, drop-in area and sports hall/teenage disco for evening use which is used by the community during the day, making it a sustainable model.

Funding

We have pulled together the final stages of our funding package. Thanks to our funders who have confirmed a total of £3.4 million:

The BIG Lottery

Community Energy Scotland

European Regional Development Fund

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

The Highland Council

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

The Robertson Trust

Score Environment

Scottish Government Wider Role

Social Investment Scotland

We are pleased to be working with local firms on the project:

Thurso and Orkney based Pentarq was appointed last year as the Contract Administrator and QS. Local Contractor MM Miller was awarded the contract in December. The build, which is expected to take 50 weeks, starts on 16th February and is expected to be completed in February 2012.

MM Miller will be sub-contracting electrical work to GA Barnies.

Scottish Charity No. SC 033675

Limited Company No. 272750

Keep up-to-date with our Community Centre build by following our blog and weekly photo updates Here

Community Centre for Wick

See inside the Community Centre as building work continues.

Find out what some of the rooms will look like and learn a bit more about what will be going on when it opens in February 2012.

The photos were all taken 28.6.11 and 30.8.11

Read about some of the new classes on offer when Pulteney Centre opens at the end of January: Pulteney Centre New Classes