The Charity is really pleased to share that new funding has been secured to support two important pieces of work on Ulva: the next phase of the Ulva Church project, and improvements to how the charity maintains the island’s pathways.

Ulva Church: moving into the next phase

Following the completion of the Ulva Church Concept Study earlier this year, North West Mull Community Woodland Company has now been awarded support from the Argyll and the Islands Community Led Local Development Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund.

Together, this gives us the funding needed to keep momentum going and begin the next stage of work: the technical development phase.

This is an important step, but it is not yet the start of major building works. Before we can move towards physical repair and restoration, we need to properly understand the building, what condition it is in, what work is needed, what permissions may be required, and what the likely costs will be.

This next phase will include the technical surveys and professional work needed to move the church from concept into a repair-ready project. This is expected to include measured surveys, condition and structural assessments, conservation and heritage advice, outline repair proposals, cost planning and advice on consents.

It may not sound as exciting as seeing scaffolding go up or works beginning on site, but this stage is essential. It will allow us to make informed decisions, apply for future capital funding, and avoid rushing into work on a listed building without the right information in place.

Ulva Church has always been more than just a building. It has been a place of worship, gathering and community life, and later served as Ulva’s community hall. Until it closed, it was the only indoor public community space on the island.

The Concept Study showed a strong desire for the church to return as a simple, flexible space for the community, with the potential to support occasional events that could help with its long-term upkeep. This next phase brings us closer to understanding how that can realistically happen.

Urgent stabilisation works

Alongside the technical development funding, CLLD has also awarded a small amount of capital funding towards urgent stabilisation works.

We hope this will allow us to address some of the immediate issues around water ingress and building fabric, helping to protect the church while the technical work is underway.

If the urgent works make it safe and practical to do so, we also hope this may allow us to reopen the church grounds and existing toilets in due course. This is still to be confirmed, and will depend on the condition of the building, access, safety and any permissions required.

We are very grateful to both funders for their support, and to everyone who has contributed to the project so far through conversations, surveys, ideas and encouragement.

Pathways funding also secured

In other good news, NWMCWC has also received a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund towards pathway maintenance on Ulva.

Ulva’s paths are an important part of everyday island life and the visitor experience. They connect people to the island’s landscape, heritage and walking routes, but they also need regular maintenance. On an island, even simple maintenance can become difficult and expensive if it relies too heavily on contractors, volunteer time or borrowed equipment.

This funding will help us purchase machinery and equipment to make routine path maintenance more manageable. The aim is to give the charity more ability to deal with some of the regular work in-house, including keeping paths clearer and responding more quickly when sections need attention.

It is a practical grant, but an important one. Looking after Ulva’s paths helps residents, visitors and local businesses, and supports the wider work of making the island more accessible, welcoming and sustainable over the long term.

Both of these funding awards are small steps in the wider picture, but they matter. They help us keep caring for Ulva’s buildings, paths and shared spaces in a practical way, while continuing to build towards the island’s long-term future.

A few months ago, NWMCWC was approached by Blackshed Projects with a proposal for an artist in residence bothy on Ulva.

The idea was to create a small bothy where visiting artists, writers, poets and other creative people could spend time living and working on the island. Artists would be expected to engage with Ulva during their stay, with potential outputs such as a community event, creative work, or material that could contribute to Ulva’s archive and wider story.

Since the charity was first approached, there have been some really interesting early conversations about what this could look like, how it might work, and how it could add something different to Ulva’s cultural life, creative activity and long-term future.

The proposal is still very much at an early stage. No site has been identified, and NWMCWC has not invited a formal Expression of Interest yet. Before anything moves further, the charity would like to hear what the community thinks and whether this is something people would like to see explored.

Blackshed Projects and NWMCWC would now like to invite residents and interested members of the community to come along, hear more about the idea, ask questions, and share their thoughts.

There will be a short informal presentation, followed by time for questions and conversation.

Date: Thursday, 2nd July 2026
Time: 4pm-6pm
Location: Jeannie MacColl Room, Ulva Ferry Shore Facilities Building

Further information about the proposal is available here:
https://blackshedprojects.com/ulva-artists-bothy/

All welcome!

Following the in-person engagement sessions held in December with Ulva residents and key stakeholders, the Ulva Church project has now moved into the next stage of community engagement.

As part of the work to develop a proof of concept for the repair of Ulva Church and its reinstatement as an important community space, New Practice are now inviting wider public input. Building on the initial engagement with Ulva residents and key stakeholders, this next phase focuses on prioritising and refining emerging ideas, and gathering feedback on early concepts.

To support this, New Practice has developed an online survey, which offers the opportunity to share your own views, as well as respond to feedback collected to date. The survey introduction also includes further background on the Ulva Church project and New Practice’s role.

You can access the survey via the link below:

Complete the survey here

It’s important that we hear from as many voices as possible who have an interest in the future of Ulva Church. If you’re able to complete the survey as soon as possible, it would really help support New Practice’s ongoing desk research. The survey closes on Sunday, 8th February.

Please help us by sharing this survey with your own community networks, and on any relevant social media pages. Your support is greatly appreciated!

The new BBC Scotland programme Banjo and Ro’s Grand Hotel has prompted the charity to reflect on the long and sometimes complex journey Ulva House has taken since Ulva came into community ownership in 2018.

Every project is different, but one thing is consistent: bringing a large historic building back into use takes time, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt as circumstances change.

Finding the right future for Ulva House

Ulva House has long been recognised by the charity as one of the island’s most important assets – and one of its most challenging. From the outset, a range of potential future uses were explored, with a strong emphasis on heritage, community benefit, and long-term sustainability.

In 2020/21, the charity secured funding of almost £1.5 million for Stòras Ulbha, an ambitious project to develop Ulva House as a heritage centre. The project was well developed and ready to move forward.

However, as the project progressed towards delivery, the impacts of COVID and Brexit became increasingly clear. Construction costs rose sharply, supply chains became unpredictable, and – critically – it became apparent that the works could not be completed within the timescales required by the funders.

A considered shift in approach

A hospitality-based use for Ulva House – such as a B&B or small hotel – had always been one of the options under consideration.

Rather than the charity operating the building itself, a long-term lease model was chosen. This approach allows experienced tenants to take on the day-to-day running of the business, while the charity – and therefore the community itself – retains ownership of the building and responsibility for key structural elements.

Finding the right tenants was a crucial part of this process. The charity wanted partners who understood the realities of island life, respected the building’s history, and shared a long-term commitment to Ulva and its community.

Working together to bring the building back into use

Since agreeing the lease, the charity has worked closely with the new tenants, Ro and Banjo, to prepare Ulva House for its next chapter.

Ro and Banjo have approached Ulva House with a clear sense of care and responsibility, seeing themselves – like the charity – as custodians of an important historic building. Their commitment to looking after Ulva House and helping it play a meaningful role in Ulva’s future has been evident throughout the project.

As landlord, the charity has taken responsibility for a defined package of essential works, including asbestos removal, repairing the flat roofs (replacing the original copper covering with lead), and reconnecting the electricity supply to the building. Alongside this, Ro and Banjo have taken on all remaining external and internal works and the full fit-out – a substantial undertaking to transform a large historic building into a functioning hospitality business.

This has been a challenging but genuinely collaborative process, involving careful coordination, problem-solving and patience on all sides – particularly given the additional logistical challenges of working on an island off an island. The charity has been pleased to work with Ro and Banjo and has valued the constructive, open way the project has progressed.

Support that made this possible

This work would not have been possible without the financial support of Community Ownership Fund (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government), Green Shoots (Development Trusts Association Scotland), The Waterfall Fund, and Historic Environment Scotland. Their funding enabled the charity to address essential works, meet regulatory requirements, and move Ulva House from long-term uninhabited, deteriorating building towards its active use. Without this support, the property would have been at real risk of remaining empty for the foreseeable future.

The charity would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support of Bakkafrost, who have provided free freight transport throughout the project – and to Ulva for many years. This support has been – and continues to be – of real value to the Ulva community, helping to make projects like this possible in a remote island setting.

The charity is also grateful to the wide range of professionals, contractors and tradespeople involved – from architects and surveyors to utilities providers and building teams – who have contributed their expertise and worked within the particular challenges of an island project.

Last but not least, the charity would like to thank all Ulva residents for the many ways they have supported the project along the way. From helping with transport and clearing out the building, to showing patience and understanding during what were at times busy and disruptive periods – that support has been genuinely appreciated. Projects of this scale inevitably affect day-to-day life on the island, and the goodwill shown by residents has made a real difference.

Looking ahead

Ulva House is now moving into a new phase. It will take time before the building generates meaningful income for the charity, and expectations remain realistic. However, the value of the project already extends beyond financial return.

After many years of planning, reassessment and careful decision-making, it is encouraging to see this important building back in use. The charity looks forward to continuing to work with Ro and Banjo and to seeing Ulva House contribute to Ulva’s future in the years ahead!