Brae youth and community centre to celebrate reopening after energy hub revamp
THE BRAE Youth and Community Centre (BYCC) will be officially re-opened with a special event next weekend.
Following a major retrofit, the building recently opened with a new rural energy hub and café, as well as with space for existing groups to return to the centre.
The opening event will run from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 14 November in Brae, with a ribbon cutting ceremony taking place at 11.30am.
Bob Clark, who is a director of the Brae rural energy hub community interest company, said it was “really exciting” to be able to finally welcome in.
“The hub is here to bring together information and resources for the community in a way that feels useful, friendly and easy to access – whether that’s help with energy, hiring an e-bike, using the van, or simply having somewhere to work or meet in Brae,” he said.
“We are thrilled to have a base where folk can drop in and chat to us, helping us to keep learning about the needs of the community and developing our services to suit.
“Since our soft launch a couple of weeks ago we have already had people drop by with their energy bills after being in the cafe, asking for help to understand how to reduce costs and keep their home warm this winter.
“Even in these first weeks it’s been really rewarding to see people enjoying the cafe and hub and to see our vision coming to life.”
The energy hub is open weekdays at BYCC, offering home energy support, co-working and meeting space, e-bike hire, EV charging and access to a Shetland Car Club van based in Brae.
It is also hosting a variety of events related to energy, community and sustainability – including a recent Halloween costume swap.
Cari’s Café is also open within the building from Wednesdays to Saturdays, adding a relaxed social space for coffee, lunches and catch-ups.
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Cari Shen, who is running the new café, said there had been a “great response already”.
“I am excited to see how this grows as a community cafe for Brae,” she added.
BYCC chairman Adrian Henry said the centre has always been an important place for the community – “but it was cold and damp”.
“Reopening the improved building with the hub and Cari’s Café gives people even more reasons to come through the door,” he said.
“It’s going to be lovely to see the building used more throughout the day and become a social space that people can drop in to.”
The set up of the Brae rural energy hub and the retrofit of the BYCC building was led by Shetland Islands Council.
Council climate manager Claire Ferguson said the team had done a lot of hard work to turn it into a resource which supports the whole community.
“A special thanks must go to the BYCC for their participation and support throughout the project,” she said.
“We really feel that this is an asset not just for Brae but for the whole of Shetland.”
The retrofit of the BYCC and idea of the Brae Rural Energy Hub was first established through the ‘Rural Energy Hubs’ project funded by Innovate UK from February 2024 to February 2026.
However the Brae rural energy hub is now fully run by a local board, with ongoing staffing funded through the Shetland Community Benefit Fund until October 2029 and coastal communities up to October 2028.
The BYCC is still managed by its longstanding committee.
Find out more about the hub on its website and through its social media channels and newsletter.
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