The creation of the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force was the result of an action point arising from the Scottish Housing Event held on 18th November 2014.

One of the action points in the Joint Delivery Plan for Housing in Scotland was for the Scottish Government to set up a specific Task Force with a remit to develop a specific set of actions relevant to rural/remote and off-gas grid properties.  Continue reading →

The Macaulay Farm’s  “Berry Good for You!” growing initiative will encourage members to engage in the expansion of an already successful outdoor vegetable growing project, which benefits both their physical and mental health and development.

The project will also feed-in to healthy eating classes, which will encourage students to eat the produce they have grown themselves.  The addition of the berry produce would further increase the College’s earned income, supporting the day to day programme of activities. All monies raised from the sale of produce will be invested directly back into the College, with the hope that further tunnels can be purchased. Continue reading →

Funding has been allocated to Western Isles Alzheimers Scotland by the NHSWI Fas Fallain project to establish a ‘grow your own’ project.  The gardening project will be in partnership with Lews Castle College and will deliver activities to users of the Solas day service and the wider community.

It is estimated that they will deliver monthly sessions from 12pm-4pm for up to 6 people and each session will be supported by an Alzheimers Scotland member of staff and 3 volunteer workers.  The sessions will take the form of a social event with a light lunch/feedback session held in the college.

The Solas Day Centre, in collaboration with Alzheimer Scotland (Lewis & Harris) and NHSWI Health Promotion Department, recently ran an event which saw Councillors Alistair Maclennan, Alasdair Macleod and Maggie Mackenzie, Hebridean Connections, Ness Historical Society and An Lanntair, all come together to provide activities to stimulate memories for the Centre’s dementia clients.

Maggie Smith offered some Gaelic conversation, gaelic songs and melodeon playing whilst Jon Macleod provided a slide show of  food-related images – and some carrageen pudding! Continue reading →

The Barra and Vatersay Agricultural and Horticultural Association last year developed and piloted a garden starter pack, which gave people step by step instructions on how to grow fresh, affordable fruit and vegetables.

It was extremely well received and so, therefore, it is to be further developed and the packs made available to the most vulnerable groups in the community – single parents and those on a low income. The packs will be accompanied by ‘learning to grow’ workshops to help people get maximum benefit from the packs.

Bùth Bharraigh is a community owned local produce shop and bakery, providing local residents and tourists the opportunity to purchase fresh, healthy and beautiful items from eco-friendly local producers and suppliers.

The shop is currently trading, with over 50 local producers supplying items for the shop, including meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, home baking, paintings, photos, crafts, jewellery, and knitwear. 80% of money received through sales goes directly back to local  producers.

The shop is run by volunteers in order to keep overheads down and only charges 20% commission to cover the bare minimum running costs.

The Tagsa Uibhist Horticultural Project, established in 2011 with funding from LEADER, acts as an extension of the already established Mental Health Project.

It does so by providing an outlet for people with mental health and/or addiction issues (the therapeutic benefits of gardening and growing plants are well documented) and the Local Food for Local People project commenced in April 2015. Continue reading →

The Western Isles Learning Shop in partnership with Shared Roots held their annual Accreditation Ceremony in the Stornoway Town Hall on Thursday 31st March, with over 100 learners, family and friends in attendance.

Certificates were presented to all learners from the Learning Shop, Grow2work and Failte Café by Councillor Charlie Nicolson. Continue reading →