Expansion planned for Dunbeath and District Centre to cope with increasing demand for services

Plans are afoot to create a new, expanded community health and well-being hub in south-east Caithness.

The £1 million project would see Dunbeath and District Centre (DDC) build next to its established base in the village.

Directors think the move would be a "game-changer" for its service, which targets elderly, infirm and other vulnerable individuals and families.

The charity says bigger premises are now required to cope with the fast-rising demand for its services, which have expanded since it opened as a day care centre in Neil Gunn Drive 30 years ago.

It is seeking to develop ground between its existing base and the village's GP surgery. DDC is using community land legislation in a bid to acquire the site from Highland Council.

If it jumps through the legal, planning and funding hoops, it is hoping to move into the new centre in March 2024.

Daniel MacLeod is its newly appointed full-time manager. Born and bred in Dunbeath where he lives with his family, the 33-year-old had worked for Dunbeath Engineering, which he joined from school.

He is relishing the challenge of spearheading the new development.

"We have outgrown the original model," he said. "Our current building is just not fit-for-purpose and we badly need extra space for the new services we now provide."

Designed as a day care centre for 12, a small extension in 2002 increased the floor space to 110 square metres. The new base is due to almost treble that and would enable it to expand its catchment area.

DDC has a contract with the council to provide meals at the centre as well as at the homes of its users.

It also runs arts, crafts, fitness, singing and adult learning classes; whists, quizzes and bingo sessions; guest talks; sight and hearing support visits; and outings.

It is being proposed people could be referred to the centre for extra support with their physical and mental ill-health.

Podiatry, physiotherapy and alternative therapies are among the services in the frame, while a Men's Shed and a gardening venture are being considered.

Numbers using the centre grew from 174 in 2018 to 285 last year. Mr MacLeod said DDC's response to the pandemic highlighted the value of what is the only health and well-being community hub in Caithness.

Between March 2020 and March 2021, its team of 28 volunteers delivered 6000 meals to 127 households and made 527 phone calls to check on and chat with centre users.

It also established a Sharing Shack which provided food, toiletries and sanitary products.

Mr MacLeod said: "It was amazing to see how everybody pulled together to put the support in place."

The new centre would help cope with the expected continued demand for its core catchment area, stretching from Berriedale to Latheron, and beyond.

The community asset transfer application goes before councillors on February 23.

The green light would allow DCC to launch its drive to raise £1 million from donations, grants and its own fundraising.

A community survey elicited strong support for the development.

The only negative note has come from Dunbeath and Berriedale Community Council which believes DDC has not done enough work to consult local people about the proposal.

Chairman Neil Buchanan claims the community council has been kept in the dark by DDC and that the scheme has flown "under the radar".

Should it go ahead, the existing building is earmarked to be used for holidays or respite breaks for individuals with special needs.

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