Financial support from home and abroad could help secure Inverness Ice Centre’s future for decades to come.
The venue’s CEO, Gordon Barron, is hoping that people all around the world will answer their call for backing as its future is in serious jeopardy.
The Highland capital charity has launched a £250,000 crowdfunding campaign in a bid to secure it’s long-term future amid a raft of issues for similar facilities across the country.
Closest to home, Moray Leisure Centre announced plans to close Elgin Ice Rink in July, only for hundreds to protest against the decision.
It was then revealed that the ice rink would close between August 4 and October 5 – with what happens beyond that date still up in the air.
While Inverness was able to move itself away from the brink earlier this year, that was only ever going to be a temporary solution, leading to the six-figure fundraising target that would allow a first phase of work to take place to reduce running costs and make Inverness Ice Centre more energy efficient.
Mr Barron is hoping that efforts from its members and groups that use the facility can help reach that target, but he is also hoping that contributions will come in from across the globe.
In particular, he is looking at the reach of events like the International Week of Curling that is hosted in Inverness each year as evidence of how far their campaign could reach.
“The crowdfunder will secure our long-term future so that we can still be here 15 or 20 years from now,” he said.
“The key to it is having funds available to make us energy efficient, because that’s our biggest cost. Our forecasts are showing that our recovery plan works, but to really secure our future we need to reduce costs.
“We’ll be going out to the general community and our users and also the clubs that can fundraise for us.
“We have the Highland Week of International Curling, which goes back to 1968, and there could be people who can no longer come to the event from around the world who may wish to contribute to that as well.
“I think it’s well thought through, and we’ve taken time to put a plan together.”
The crowdfunder will cover phase one of Inverness Ice Centre’s fundraising efforts, with a second aiming to raise a further £150,000 to follow.
Priority upgrades in the first phase include installing insulation, draught proofing, and energy-efficient LED lighting, while the second will see improvements such as additional insulation and internal remodelling like relocating the garage space to expand and improve changing facilities to create a more welcoming environment for users and a more efficient working space for staff – focusing on enhancing the overall visitors’ experience – while also contributing to long-term operational savings.
“Phase one is survival and recovery, and phase two is an improved environment for everybody,” Mr Barron added.
“I think we are through the worst of it, and this moment in time is when we can secure our long-term future and make a difference so that we are here long-term.”
