We received the letter below this evening. It is an urgent call for help to restore one of the Black Isle's most important historic buildings.
Dear Sandy,
I’m usually writing to you about Groam House lectures but I am also very involved with The Kirkmichael Trust whose project to restore the medieval kirk buildings near Balblair as a heritage centre is no doubt familiar to you and most of the History Society’s members.
It is a hugely worthwhile project that will benefit the Black Isle and the region greatly in a variety of ways. The Trust members have done an amazing job in raising over 85% of the £707,000 required to get the project started but there is still a funding gap of £104,000. If the gap cannot be closed before the 31st December there is unfortunately a very real possibility that the Heritage Lottery Fund will withdraw their support of over £280,000 which would be terminal. After so much effort and success it would be such a shame if the project ultimately failed.
The Trust has many bids for additional funding still in play with various charities and companies but the success rate is always quite low. So to take matters into our own hands more directly we have just launched an internet ‘crowdfunding’ appeal.
The appeal can be viewed at http://www.sponsume.com/project/kirkmichael-black-isle-heritage-centre-project and includes an excellent short video explaining the project. Much more detailed information is also available from the Trust’s web site www.kirkmichael.info .
I would be deeply grateful if you could please pass on this information to the Society’s membership and encourage them not only to contribute to the appeal but to pass on the details and web links to all their family, friends and acquaintances so that the news reaches the widest possible audience. If a link of some sort to the appeal could be placed on the Society’s web site that would be great too.
With best wishes,
Alastair Morton
Secretary, The Kirkmichael Trust
07725 171502