Acharacle Community Company is a small not for profit organisation which was originally formed in 2001 in order to save the local Post Office from Closure. It is a constituted body which is made up of members (over 70 in number at the moment) and a board of directors, currently 5 in number. The members and directors can be anybody over the age of 18 who live in the Acharacle area.
Since 2001, the company has started and continues to run various projects including the Re-use Project and Local Produce and Craft Markets. Alongside these projects the Company are always busy organising events such as dances, Whist nights and family woodland days.
The Company owns property in Acharacle including a bungalow 'Druim Garbh' which has been renovated by the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust and is now rented to a local family. Next to this the Company owns the wooden building which is leased out to the Post Office (until October 2016) and also the Acharacle Tearoom.
Also owned by the Company is the Forest Pavilion near Salen known as Sgoil na Coille ("Wood School") and a composting toilet , on land leased from the Forestry Commission. Regular woodland events are held here throughout the year with help from Highland Council Rangers and the Forestry Commission.
One of the main activities the Company started in 2007 was the Re-use Project. This recycles anything from furniture to bric a brac and currently is being run by Volunteers with back up from the board of directors. A successful application to the Awards for All fund, by one of the re-use volunteers, and an application to the Highland Council Ward Discretionary budget, with a top up from the Community Company's own funds has meant we have been able to acquire a new van for collections and deliveries. Income for the whole project mainly comes from donations and the Highland Council landfill tax diversion fund. The project operates throughout Lochaber.
Fund raising in the past from dances, donations and whist nights has paid for upgrading the car parking surface outside the Post Office and cafe as well as improvements to the Company's buildings.
In December 2012, the Community Company began a 5 year lease to run the Community Centre (formerly the Highland Council day care centre) and using funding from the Highland Council and the NHS, it now manages this asset very successfully and has saved the centre from closure. This is located on MacNaughton Crescent in the village.
The Company is striving to become more independent and less reliant on grant income and to this end is always looking out for new projects that may provide a steady income. New ideas are being formed as this is written, so watch this space....
Acharacle Community Company is a company limited by guarantee, having no share capital, registered in Scotland. Registered Company in Scotland Number: SC217376. Registered Charity in Scotland Number: SC033393. Registered Office: Acharacle Community Centre, Morrison Place, Acharacle, PH36 4JJ