Chaidh seann taigh san Eilean Sgitheanach a reic le NHS na Gàidhealtachd gus taic a thoirt do oidhirpean taighean aig prìsean reusanta a lìbhrigeadh sa choimhearsnachd.
Chaidh taigh nan nursaichean ann an Stafainn (Staffin Nurse's Cottage) ann an Clachan, a tha faisg air 100 bliadhna a dh'aois agus a bha cuideachd na ionad clionaig dotair-teaghlaich, a cheannach le Urras an Taobh Sear (SCT).
Chaidh ionad slàinte ùr fhosgladh ann an 2022 ann an Taighean a' Chaiseil, leasachadh de thaighean is ghnìomhachasan, le SCT agus Buideann Taigheadais Loch Aillse agus an Eilein Sgitheanaich.
Thàinig sin an àite taigh nan nursaichean, far an robh dotair-teaghlaich bho Ionad Meidigeach Phort Rìgh air a bhith a' làimhseachadh euslaintich, ach cha robh e freagarrach tuilleadh.
Chaidh sia taighean a thogail ann an Taighean a' Chaiseil ach bha an t-iarrtas air an son fada na bu mhotha na bha dùil agus tha fhathast feum air tuilleadh thaighean sa choimhearsnachd.
Thuirt Richard MacDonald, Stiùriche Oighreachdan, Goireasan agus Planadh Calpa aig NHS na Gàidhealtachd: "NHS Highland have been delighted to work with the Staffin Community Trust and see the delivery of an excellent new Health Centre alongside the wider development in Taighean a' Chaiseil.
"The recent sale of the former nurses’ house sees an initiative step towards providing additional housing. One of the units will be made available to NHS Highland employees to support our quest for affordable housing to help recruit and retain staff in the local area.
"NHS Highland has previously worked with a number of communities through the Asset Transfer Request Process. We have seen the successful delivery of a number of projects to provide much needed affordable housing in areas of pressured need. The Health Centre at Taighean a' Chaiseil was the second Health Centre delivered to NHS Highland by a community company.
"We also occupy space for a satellite surgery in a community owned hall which helps sustain local services in a rural area. These are all very positive collaborations and the type on initiative we need to build on."
Thuirt cathraiche SCT, Callum MacDonald, gur e ceum mòr air adhart a bh' anns a' cheannach. "We're delighted to get this over the line and sincerely thankful to NHS Highland for supporting the project. Housing is vital for our community right now, and for our future, and we're now looking forward to developing the site in close consultation with the community."
Thuirt Mgr MacDonald gu robh SCT taingeil do luchd-maoineachaidh a' phròiseict, a' gabhail a-steachd Maoin Fearainn na h-Alba, Calpa Sòisealta is Coimhearsnachd Banca Rìoghail na h-Alba agus Coimhairle na Gàidhealtachd. Dh'ainmich e taic a fhuair iad cuideachd bho Iomairt na gàidhealtachd 's nan Eilean agus MSP na sgìre Kate Forbes.
Thuirt an Comhairliche John Finlayson, cathraiche comataidh sgìre an Eilein Sgitheanaich is Ratharsair: "I'm delighted to see the final handover of the Nurse’s Cottage in Staffin, and pleased that Highland Council was able to play a part in achieving this positive outcome, which I hope will see the start of more investment in affordable housing in the area.
"It is four years since Taighean a Chaiseil was opened, which was 21 years after any previous affordable housing was built in Staffin. With falling school rolls being a real challenge across all rural areas of Highland, including the Trotternish peninsula, it’s important that housing investment is promoted in places like Staffin and other parts of Skye to encourage young families to bring up their families here and I congratulate SCT for the work they have done to date to support this ambition."
Thuirt Kate Forbes MSP: "It has been a pleasure to assist Staffin Community Trust with their housing plans, and the purchase of the former Nurse’s Cottage from NHS Highland is a crucial step at the beginning of phase two of their project, Taighean a' Chaiseil.
"I am hugely encouraged by the determination of SCT members over recent years to progress their plans for affordable homes to support the need in the local community."
Thuirt Victoria Papworth, prìomh oifigear gnìomha Calpa Sòisealta is Coimhearsnachd Banca Rìoghail na h-Alba: "SCT shows what determined community leadership can achieve, from award winning housing to new business space and vital services for local people. We are proud to support them with finance that gives the trust the room it needs to deliver the next stage of its plans."
Chaidh an taigh a thogail ann an 1933, is chaidh an airgead air a shon a thogail le Comann Altraim Stafainn. Thachar seo 15 bliadhna mus deach an NHS a chruthachadh - nuair a bha seirbheis slàinte neo-oifigeil ann far an robh daoine a' pàigheadh airson cobhair mheidigeach. Chaidh an taigh a thogail mar àite-fuirich do nursaichean a bha ag obair sa choimhearsnachd. Bhiodh iad ag obair air feadh Stafainn a' tadhal air dachaighean dhaoine, a' siubhal air cois no air baidhsagal.