Council Supports UHI Centre For History Development

19th February 2009

Members of The Highlands Council's Resources Committee have pledged their support to the development of a UHI Centre for History at Dornoch.

Councillors unanimously agreed to commit £200,000 in the current financial year (2008/09) from the Council's uncommitted Capital Discretionary Fund - subject to conditions to be agreed by the Director of Finance and the Head of Legal Services.

The funding will be used to support the development of the UHI Centre for History which was launched in 2005, with Professor James Hunter as its Director and hosted by North Highland College.

Funding required for the Centre for History which is currently estimated at £1.5million is being sourced from ERDF (£555,000), Trusts (£500,000), Private/ business donors (£245,000) and The Highland Council (£200,000).

Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of The Highland Council's Administration said: "The Highland Council is delighted contribute to the development of the UHI Centre for History. It is vital that we get the framework in to maximise the opportunities for joint working and development with the UHI as there is also great potential to expand the Council's archive policy of hub and spokes provision. Sutherland is currently without any proper archive provision and there is a great opportunity here to create this with the UHI Centre for History."

It is expected that the new Centre would diversify and expand the Sutherland economy by:
* creating a growing number of high quality jobs in Dornoch and attracting a growing number of under and post graduate students to Dornoch;
* providing summer and short courses, attracting participants from across the UK and overseas;
* collaborating between the Centre and community groups and individuals across Sutherland and the wider Highlands.