High Life Highland’s archive service has been nationally recognised for its work by being awarded accredited status by the National Archives.

The accreditation panel commended the Highland Archive Service saying its archive centres are “of high quality, providing robust standards of protection for the collections” and provided “enviable facilities for public services”.

Accreditation is the national quality standard and recognises good performance in all areas of archive service delivery.

HLH Director of Culture and Learning John West said: “The Highland Archive Service adapted to the challenges of the pandemic by developing innovative ways of engaging with customers, increasing engagement in and knowledge of our diverse collections along the way.

“We are delighted that the panel acknowledges our impressive outreach programme and the work our archive centre teams put into engaging with communities throughout the Highlands.”

Highland Archive Services’ collects, conserves, and makes accessible records which reflect the history and diversity of the Scottish Highlands and its inhabitants for the benefit of present and future generations.

With four centres covering the Highland region in Caithness, Inverness, Lochaber and Skye and Lochalsh, the archives held at these centres are the records of official bodies, businesses, societies and individuals and are a unique records of our Highland past.

They date from the 14th century to the present day and include records of schools, poor relief, churches, businesses and family and estate papers.

Customers can access historical records at each centre, and the archives also offers a varied programme of engagement through working with various schools, colleges and community groups across the Highlands , as well as offering family history research, online classes, talks, exhibitions and conservation services.

The Archive Service Accreditation assessors also commended the “strong relationship that existed between the archive service and its parent organisation and they particularly admired the innovative solutions implemented by the service to meet local recruitment challenges in rural areas”.

HLH Chief Executive Steve Walsh said: “This award is so well deserved and reflects Highland Archives long-standing and ongoing commitment to providing an exceptionally high level of service.

“I’d like to say a huge well done to the team who have worked so hard to achieve this.”