Three former primary schools are set to be transformed after receiving money from a round of grants worth more than £770,000.

The Scottish Land Fund cash is being used to redevelop the buildings of Kerrera School on the Isle of Kerrera, and Glentrool Primary and Wallace Primary in Dumfries and Galloway.

They are among seven projects included in the latest round of grants.

Martin Shields, chairman of the Isle of Kerrera Development Trust, said: “We are absolutely over the moon.

“Taking the school into community ownership is a genuine game-changer for our small island community and will provide us with a place to gather for the first time in living memory.

“We can’t wait to get started on the renovations so we can start using the building as soon as possible.”

Meta Maltoman of Glentrool and Bargrennan Community Trust said: “We’re delighted with the news that the Scottish Land Fund has awarded us this grant, which is essential to the next stage of our plans to take over our former village school from Dumfries & Galloway Council.”

Isle of Kerrera Development Trust will receive £119,167 to convert the former Kerrera School into a community hub for locals and visitors.

 

Glentrool and Bargrennan Community Trust gets £40,000 to turn Glentrool Primary into a multi-use community facility with a self-catering unit for disabled visitors.

Meanwhile, £144,000 has been awarded to Thornhill Collective to buy the former Wallace Primary School in the village of Thornhill.

The money will help redevelop it as studios, offices, workshops, a performance space, a community kitchen and a creative studio for students.

Other awardees include Mull and Iona Community Trust, which received £257,266 to develop a shore facilities building to provide a meeting space, and Tobermory Harbour Association, which was given £99,307 to buy the old sawmill, boathouse, pier and slipway in Aros Park on Mull.

Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to the successful projects.

“Today’s funding award will allow them to act on ambitious plans to give potentially under-utilised buildings and land a better use, to the current and future benefit of their local communities.”