Gaeldom’s major adult learning centre in Inverness is to close at the end of March with the loss of four jobs.
The shock move, which affects the office in Highland Rail House, Academy Street, follows a meeting of the board of Cli Gaidhlig last month.
In letter to members of the organisation – which calls itself the 21st century voice of adult Gaelic learners – the board says that due to changes in the current funding landscape across all sectors, it will be necessary to make substantial changes to the organisation from the end of March.
Cli’s interim director will be retiring in April.
Two full-time members of staff will be made redundant at the end of March.
The provision of classes, the learning resource Cothrom Ur and other services will cease for the next number of months.
Board spokeswoman, Nicola Carty, said that despite the changes, the organisation was committed to the survival and development of Cli including a reformatting of Cothrom Ur and re-designed conversation classes.
She said:” Although the next four or five months will be extremely challenging, we are optimistic about this opportunity to remodel Cli as a more membership-focused, grass-roots organisation.
” We are furthermore looking forward to working with Bord na Gaidhlig and other partners to implement a new Gaelic for adults strategy.
” We welcome the chance to collaborate with a range of groups including Scottish Universities and other learning providers.”
In a footnote to the letter, the staff members said: ” We, like the Board are sorry that Cli is having to take a break for the next few months but we hope Cli will rise again. Membership will remain.”