The Dornoch Area Community Interest Company (DACIC) appointed Impact HUB in 2018 to carry out community consultation on possible uses of the former Dornoch Police Station, and then to develop a feasibility study and business plan to support our grant funding application to the Scottish Land Fund and our Asset Transfer Request to Police Scotland to purchase the building. Here's what Joan Bishop, Chair of DACIC, had to say about working with Impact Hub Inverness.
Please describe the work Impact Hub Inverness has done with your organisation
"Impact Hub carried out a Feasibility Study and Community Consultation on proposals for converting the redundant Dornoch Police Station into a business, creative and wellbeing hub. From this groundwork they developed a business plan that enabled us to successfully apply to various funding streams and turn a vision into reality".
How has this work helped your organisation and benefited the community you support?
"Impact Hub’s experience in carrying out Feasibility Studies and working with a local architect to convey the options, allowed us to imagine the redundant building in other configurations and for other uses. These options were then shared with the community to understand what use they would get and what benefit the refurbished building would deliver. Being able to include in the funding applications demonstrable community support led to financial targets being achieved to convert the building. The business plan enabled us to have confidence in the long-term sustainability of the project and to attract tenants who in turn deliver benefits to the community. For example, the garages were converted into a gym – on the community wish list for over 10 years – which is leased to an experienced gym operator looking to expand into Dornoch".
How did you find the quality of work and client interaction whilst working with Impact Hub Inverness?
"The work quality was very good indeed.
"We found the team at Impact Hub easy to work with. We used a mixture of face to face and email contact. Impact Hub did a lot of desk research – e.g. to find out market rent values and spoke to business and community leaders to build a picture of need and benefit."
Describe working with Impact Hub Inverness in 3 words!
"Friendly, timely and supportive"
"Impact Hub carried out a Feasibility Study and Community Consultation on proposals for converting the redundant Dornoch Police Station into a business, creative and wellbeing hub. From this groundwork they developed a business plan that enabled us to successfully apply to various funding streams and turn a vision into reality".
How has this work helped your organisation and benefited the community you support?
"Impact Hub’s experience in carrying out Feasibility Studies and working with a local architect to convey the options, allowed us to imagine the redundant building in other configurations and for other uses. These options were then shared with the community to understand what use they would get and what benefit the refurbished building would deliver. Being able to include in the funding applications demonstrable community support led to financial targets being achieved to convert the building. The business plan enabled us to have confidence in the long-term sustainability of the project and to attract tenants who in turn deliver benefits to the community. For example, the garages were converted into a gym – on the community wish list for over 10 years – which is leased to an experienced gym operator looking to expand into Dornoch".
How did you find the quality of work and client interaction whilst working with Impact Hub Inverness?
"The work quality was very good indeed.
"We found the team at Impact Hub easy to work with. We used a mixture of face to face and email contact. Impact Hub did a lot of desk research – e.g. to find out market rent values and spoke to business and community leaders to build a picture of need and benefit."
Describe working with Impact Hub Inverness in 3 words!
"Friendly, timely and supportive"
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