Welcome

...to the Dornoch Community Site run by the Dornoch Area Community Interest Company.

What's on in April - here

Dornoch MUGA - open for bookings from 1st April

DACIC purchased Dornoch South in 2021 and in June 2022 year we completed Phase 1 of the planned development by opening a car & coach park. We are now working on delivering Phase 2 of the plans for Dornoch South, a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) thanks to funding from the Highland Council Community Regeneration Fund, Dornoch Common Good Fund, Pot 170 Developer Contributions and sportscotland.

Work on site started 11 September 23 and completion is due in February 24. However with floodlighting play can happen all year round!

Please see our August newsletter here which includes a link to a survey to let us know how you will use the MUGA

The fencing panels are in place, the basketball hoops have been erected and the floodlighitng installed. The electronic gate entry system has been fitted and the tarring completed. Temporary court markings have been added. Final colourful markings will come in May when the weather is warmer!

SSEN were on site 8 and 11 December. EDF have installed the meter on 14th February. The electrical contractor returned 20 February to complete the installation. Smart access gate and automatic flood lighting are now operational.

Online booking is now open with courts or full MUGA available from 1st April. There is a free adult coaching taster session Thuesday 28th March 10-11. To book click here

We are also including two Pickleball Courts - pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the UK and is already enjoyed in other areas of Scotland.

Dornoch Hub bookings being taken for meetings, events & activities - contact Paula White.

Please come along to our Tuesday Morning Club - for a cuppa and the craic! This runs 10-12 in the Community Room - no charge & no pre-booking needed. The zero waste food hut is also open then so you can help save the planet and take some food home with you!

For other activiites please see Eventbrite links below -

Creative Writing

Youth Crafts

Coding Club

Project Curlew - Dornoch South

You may have seen an article in the Northern Times outlining DACIC's ambitious plans for a new multi-purpose building in Dornoch, on the vacant site south of the new UHI Student accommodation block and opposite the Medical Centre.

We believe this project could be transformational as it would open up all year round tourism with the building being available to hire for wedding receptions, conferences, music, arts and sports events in the Summer and curling in the Winter. The original plan for a gym has now been incorporated in the Police Station plans above, allowing a community hall to be included in the plans at the suggestion of the Community Association - which if both projects are successful would allow the Social Club to be sold.

The Scottish Land Fund (SLF) and the North Highland Curling Trust provided the finance to commission a Feasibilty and Business Plan from Ironside Farrar and our application to SLF for funding to purchase the site has been successful and the legal teams are 'on the case'. We are now working on phase 1 a car & coach park - to which we have added day time motorhome parking to address the influx last year.

The Pay & Display vehicle park opened on Thursday 9th June 2022, ready for a local event on Saturday 11th attracting 200 people. The vehicle park will be operated by Highland Council Traffic Control who have enforcement powers e.g. to move coaches from the Square and to ensure a valid parking ticket has been purchased.

This summer we have Visitor Co-Ordinators on hand to greet coaches on days that cruise lineres are in Invergordon. 500 coaches with 15,000 visitors have been welcomed.

At long last the chargers are working!!

We have been supported in this by the Dornoch Common Good Fund award of £39,760, together with £28,052 from the Town Centre Fund, £80,000 Highland Coastal Communities, £10,00 from transport Scotland and £255,450 from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund. A further grant of £48,500 has been confirmed from the Rural Ideas into Action Fund, together with a loan from Highland Opportunites Investment Funds and £5000 from the Ward Discretionary Fund complete the funding package.

Cashback service

In response to public demand since the closure of the ATM and the Bank of Scotland branch, we are very grateful that Dornoch Stores have introduced a cashback service at its General Store, with no minimum purchase. They are open 8 am - pm daily. The Co-op, Eagle and Harry Gow also offer a cashback service. There are three ATMs inside the Co-op, outside the Spar Convenience in the Retail Park and inside the Golf Club. The Post Office offers a full banking service.