Staff and volunteers needed for project on historic site

Plans begin at Cultybraggan

Comrie Development Trust (CDT) has this week launched a recruitment process to find two new members of staff and more local volunteers.

The drive is aimed at helping the trust achieve the first phase of the Cultybraggan Development Project, and deliver major improvements at the community-owned former PoW site.

A Project Planning and Development Manager will oversee the work of repairing and renovating 11 B-listed Nissen huts to become selfcatering accommodation.

And tendering is also about to begin to identify a main contractor for the £800k project at the village’s internationally important heritage site.

When appointed, the new project manager will have the job of supporting the engineering and electrical consultancy commissioned to produce plans for improving the supply of services, water, electricity and broadband, across the whole of the historic site.

A spokesperson for CDT said it is intended that costed plans for these services would kick-start a programme of change to make the site much more attractive to business and community users, and heritage and event visitors.

The other post the trust is seeking to fill is that of a Heritage and Events Organiser.

The successful applicant will be tasked with developing an events programme.

The heritage work will be focused on increasing knowledge of the camp via signage, storyboards and phone apps; via educational resources, including ‘hands on history’ workshops; and through an archaeological survey investigating the location of three escape tunnels.

The spokesperson continued: “The Cultybraggan Development Project has only now become possible following a series of financial commitments by a number of funders.

“The Perth-based Gannochy Trust gave CDT a great start in its quest for project funding with a grant award last September.

“This was followed up by offers of financial support from the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Scottish Government ’s Strengthening Communities Programme. Perth and Kinross LEADER has now completed the £ 117,800 overall project budget with a grant award of £43,396.

“CDT’s recruitment campaign also includes efforts to find additional volunteers for the CDT board, its working groups, and volunteers to support the trust’s work in other ways.

“The board and current volunteers are very stretched, and extra voluntary assistance is needed to complement the work of the two new staff, when appointed, and help deliver the Cultybraggan Development Project.

“The CDT board believes that the current programme of work, with fully- funded developments, additional staff currently being recruited and volunteers coming forward would provide a great opportunity to deliver the potential development which the community ownership of Cultybraggan Camp offers.”

CDT chair Helen Buchan said: “We are looking for staff and volunteers from the local area or elsewhere, who will help the trust realise the projects, for which funding is now available, and to help us lay the foundations for developments over the next 10 years.”

See www . co mrie development trust. org.uk for more information.