A BALLOCH children’s charity has been gifted the 133-acre Ardoch county estate.

Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) was given the 18 bedroom conference centre, event space and cottages, situated in Gartocharn, by landowner Peter Armitage and his family – along with a further charitable donation of £1million.

CHAS aim to use the new facility to offer respite, provide a community events pace, and "build a sense of belonging to something wonderful and good".

A charity spokeswoman confirmed Ardoch will not be used as a hospice and will therefore not change the current set-up in Robin House.

Rami Okasha, incoming chief executive of CHAS, said: “We are thrilled to announce that CHAS has been gifted the Ardoch Estate in West Dunbartonshire – an amazing place for our families, staff, volunteers and service partners.

“In so many ways, Ardoch is perfect for CHAS: to help us support more families in new and diverse ways and to begin to realise our ambition to create a centre of excellence for palliative care services.

“Our heartfelt thanks to Peter Armitage. This will make an amazing difference to CHAS and the children and families we support all over Scotland.”

Dumbarton and the Vale’s MP Martin Docherty-Hughes heaped praised on the “outstanding” work CHAS does across country, and welcomed the donation, which he says will help the charity support more families affected by terminal illness than ever before.

Mr Docherty-Hughes said: “As a charity CHAS does amazing work in West Dunbartonshire and across Scotland supporting babies, children and young people affected by life-shortening conditions.

“I’m grateful to Peter Armitage and his family for this wonderful gift which will be truly transformational for terminally-ill children and their families.”

The estate assets are set to be handed over in mid-2020, although the operational side of the Ardoch estate and conference centre will not be transferred until summer 2021 to allow for a transitional period.

Mr Armitage’s donation is not the first in recent in times to be given to CHAS. On July 2019 of last year, the Reporter revealed charitable Dumbarton-based writer, Gordon Ross, contributed £4,500 worth of proceeds from his latest kids book, the Dream Catcher, to the charity.