Ionad Eilean na h-Òige Redevelopment
The former Eriskay school was once a vibrant community building. Ionad Eilean na h-Òige will be transformed into a space that benefits everyone. It will serve as an indoor heritage destination showcasing our rich heritage and culture, enticing visitors to stay longer. It will provide a place for residents, visitors, and people from surrounding islands to socialise, transforming Eriskay from a 'stepping stone' to a destination in its own right.
We anticipate economic benefits for Eriskay, including the creation and sustainment of local jobs. By giving both the school and schoolhouse a new lease on life, we aim to revitalise these historic buildings, instilling local pride and empowering our community.
Architect concept images prepared by BARD give us an visual idea on the complete look of the redevelopment project.
Project Impact
The project aims to create a museum within the current school offering educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities for both residents and visitors, benefitting all age groups. The building's multifunctional design will facilitate community activities and gatherings, promoting social interaction and cohesion, reducing social isolation, and enhancing mental wellbeing. The adoption of Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) technology will significantly reduce carbon emissions, setting a sustainability benchmark for the region, and more importantly, reducing our running costs when the Ionad Eilean na h-Òige building is open.
The architects visuals below of the Ionad Eilean na h-Òige project show that the old school building will not only house a base for Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh, but it will also include:
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A permanent museum to display Eriskay’s rich heritage and culture.
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A community gathering room and exhibition room for traditional workshops, presentations, photography and artist workshops, book launches, exhibitions etc.
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A community-run library and an Archive Room with research facilities.
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Office base for Comann Each nan Eilean - The Eriskay Pony Society to allow the preservation of Scotland’s Native Horse, now a rare breed, and to provide permanent exhibition space to share the history of the pony.
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An outdoor play area for children socialise and learn from each other through play.
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A tearoom providing a warm hub and safe space for social interaction.
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4 Wellbeing Suites, one fully accessible to attract visitors and generate income for the project.
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Flexible Hot Desk office spaces for islanders, visitors to the island, NHS professionals, CAB, Advocacy etc bringing expertise and support to the island.
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A base for a Satellite Women's Business Centre, which a local Business Strategist and Personal Coach is keen to establish. We are positioning the Ionad Eilean na h-Òige (Eriskay Community Hub) as a hub for women's business development, providing resources and support for female entrepreneurs and creating economic growth in the community.
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A horticulture and community shed for residents to socialise, cultivate vegetables and share skills and knowledge, providing local and sustainable produce.
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A Gym/Sauna for all ages to improve health and wellbeing was suggested during community consultations. With more young islanders staying or returning, it's essential to listen to their views.
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Laundrette to assist visitors to the island e.g. campers, cyclists, walkers, an essential service due to the variable weather in the Hebrides. This will also assist locals in their small holiday let businesses.
The Entrance
Explore artwork that captures the subtle connections and meaningful gaps that define the human experience.
Gathering Room
This community room will host meetings, presentation, workshops in traditional skills, including knitting the renowned Eriskay Jersey, crafting traditional creels and woven plaids for the rare Eriskay Pony, and mastering fishing techniques like net-making. Additionally, it will host book launches, heritage talks, presentations, and many other community events.
Archive Room
Located upstairs in the old schoolhouse, the Archive Room will securely house important and fragile documents. This space, which will require booking for access, will contain historical collections and genealogy records, enabling community members to explore their heritage and family background, including the Clearances, emigration, the fishing industry, both World Wars, and much more.
Temporary Exhibition Area
This space will provide room for temporary exhibitions, school children's projects, and local artists/photographers. It will also host workshops in traditional skills, including knitting the renowned Eriskay Jersey, crafting traditional creels and woven plaids for the rare Eriskay Pony, and mastering fishing techniques like net-making. Furthermore, it will be a venue for book launches, heritage talks, presentations, and other community events. Additionally, it will cater to travelling and invited exhibitions, providing temporary display space for artists and curators.
Men's Shed
A dedicated space for men to share their traditional skills passed down through the generations, to work on projects with the Comann Eachdraidh, while providing a space to meet as they would have done years ago down at the Haun or in the harbour shed, all of which support mental health and wellbeing.
Amphitheatre By Day
The Amphitheatre offers relaxed outdoor seating in a central location, with various rooms wrapping around this area to provide a sheltered outdoor space. It’s an ideal spot to unwind with a book from our library and enjoy coffee and home baking from the tearoom. The Amphitheatre can also transform into a venue for outdoor events when required.
Flexible Office Spaces
A flexible office will accommodate visiting professionals and community members, facilitating a '20-minute' community model and improving access to the essential services we had access to locally before the causeway was constructed.
Museum & Gallery Space
The museum will occupy two former classrooms, Room 2 and Room 3, showcasing Eriskay's rich heritage collection with exhibitions and educational programs. These will highlight the fishing industry, crofting, Bards, Fr. Allan MacDonald, the Eriskay Pony, and significant events such as Bonnie Prince Charlie's landing in 1745, the Clearances, and the story of the S.S. Politician running aground in the Sound of Eriskay. Additionally, there will be a dedicated space for the children of the island to display their work related to the island's heritage.
Gym & Greenhouse
These facilities are designed to promote health and wellbeing for all community members, both residents and visitors to the islands.
The gym will be open to everyone, providing a valuable resource for physical fitness and particularly benefiting Eriskay FC as they train for each game, helping get to the top of the league. The greenhouse will support our community horticultural activities and provide fresh salads for the community and the tearoom, creating sustainability and healthy eating.
Community Library
The Community Library will be situated below the Archive Room in the schoolhouse living room. In partnership with CnES Libraries (the local council), CEE currently hold a community library once a month in the Eriskay hall. Ionad Eilean na h-Òige will provide a permanent home for our monthly community library sessions. No more packing and unpacking boxes of books into our outside container in all weathers; our shelves will have a permanent fixture, welcoming you to delve into our collection at any time.
Well Being Suites
The four wellbeing suites, one of which has disabled adaptations, will provide accommodation for visitors to the island. Additionally, they will serve as accommodation for tutors and students attending packages that include workshops, heritage walks, and tours provided by Comann Eachdraidh. These suites offer an opportunity for people to stay on the island, immerse themselves in the island culture, and research their genealogy
Tearoom
A Tearoom providing a warm place for everyone to meet up and socialise. We will also have outdoor seating in a small area just outside the tearoom, plus you can always sit in the sheltered Amphitheatre with your tea and scones.
Amphitheatre By Night
At night, the lighting design enhances the ambiance, creating an enchanting atmosphere for stargazing and immersing in the natural beauty of the island's clear night skies.
Laundrette
Laundrette to assist visitors to the island e.g. campers, cyclists, walkers, an essential service due to the variable weather in the Hebrides. This will also assist locals in their small holiday let businesses.
Community Consultations and Volunteers
We have engaged the community at every stage of the project, from the initial decision to purchase the school to planning workshops and events. We have listened to their feedback which has been invaluable, and we're grateful for their support as we move forward with this exciting project on behalf of the community. Many islanders have generously volunteered their time to help bring our vision to life.
We are also collaborating with local groups like St Michael’s Church, Eriskay Community Hall and Comann Each nan Eilean - The Eriskay Pony Society – (CEnE) to provide exhibition space and much needed office space where visitors can meet with islanders and learn about the ponies. By working together, we can enhance community services and facilities, create employment for residents, attract visitors to the island boosting the economy, thereby strengthening community ties and enriching island life.
Sustainability and Commitment to Net Zero in Our Project
In addition to the community benefits, the Ionad Eilean na h-Òige project prioritises sustainability, focusing on becoming a carbon neutral building.
Our consultants have conducted a whole-life carbon analysis, examining embodied carbon and carbon consumption in use. Through this dedication, we have demonstrated our potential to save 114 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to flying around the equator 11.5 times.
We plan to install boreholes for GSHP technology, significantly reducing our carbon footprint and reducing energy bills when we are open.
The use of the following eco-friendly materials further enhances our environmental efforts:
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Choosing the recycled glass aggregate for the foundation as more environmentally friendly option over standard commercial aggregate. This decision not only supports sustainability but also provides breathable floor insulation. Moreover, it possesses lightweight characteristics, insulation properties, moisture resistance, dimensional stability, and durability against aging. You'll see this in the images of Phase One/Stage Two Critical Works the chips spread on the floor.
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We have fitted energy-efficient Accoya windows which are both durable and sustainable. Made from fast-growing radiata pine sourced sustainably, they undergo a non-toxic process that enhances their strength and resistance to weather. With a sleek design and excellent durability against rot and decay, these windows are easy to maintain and built to last.
Funded by the Islands Infrastructure Fund through Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Scottish Government, these upgrades are integral to our broader sustainability efforts. Our updated Business Plan, incorporates these improvements and the results of our whole-life carbon analysis.
The latest analysis quantifies our Whole Life Carbon CO2 savings over 30 years as 113.45 tonnes. This includes plans to install bore holes for ground-source heating, further aligning with Scotland's pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.
Our project's commitment to whole-life carbon analysis makes it a pioneer in the Outer Hebrides, positioning Ionad Eilean na h-Òige as the region's first project dedicated to achieving net-zero carbon emissions. We eagerly anticipate sharing more updates on this groundbreaking work as it progresses.
The Ionad Eilean na h-Òige project is a pioneer in promoting sustainable practices in the Western Isles, an important step towards net zero carbon emissions on the Scottish islands!
Follow our journey....
While we redevelop the old Eriskay school into the vibrant community building it once was, named Ionad Eilean na h-Òige after Fr. Allan MacDonald’s poems, where he described Eriskay as an island full of life due to the number of young people living here.
The phases of change the building is undergoing are detailed on the following pages.
The first phase involved removing unsafe buildings, addressing structural issues, replacing the roof and slates, funded by £858,000.
This phase also included a feasibility study, the development of a business plan, and the creation of concept designs.
These efforts have safeguarded the historic building, preserving our memories for future use.
As we gear up for Phase 2, the building has already undergone significant transformation, paving the way for further enhancements in our mission to establish a sustainable, community-led enterprise.
We are currently applying for funding from the Islands Program and HIE to cover capital costs for installing renewable energy boreholes, applying lime render to the existing structure, and constructing wellbeing suites and a laundrette.
We expect to know the outcome of our applications by November 2024.
The final phase will involve constructing the main building and extensions to connect two historic structures, the main school/schoolhouse to the HORSA.
These rooms will include a Museum, a Gathering Room, Archive Room, Community Library, Tearoom, play area, gym/horticulture rooms, offices, and a temporary exhibition space.
