Local news from or community organisations
Award for Outstanding Achievement
Congratulations to Mairi MacIain, ex- Sgoil Lionacleit pupil, on winning the Western Isles-wide Donald Stewart Memorial Trust Award for Outstanding Achievement.
The Trustees described Mairi as ‘a highly motivated and committed individual who has worked tirelessly to gain excellent academic qualifications during her time in Sgoil Lionacleit’. Trustees highlighted Mairi’s achievement in gaining a nationally recognised CREST award for student-led project work in the STEM subjects, adding “Mairi’s drive, commitment, motivation, inspiration and selflessness have been a wonderful example to her peers and younger students, and the effect on them cannot be overstated.”
Sgoil Lionacleit’s Head Teacher, Gordon Young, added his congratulations, saying: “We are delighted that Mairi has won this prestigious Award – it is well deserved. Mairi is personable and enthusiastic about everything she does and has been a model student during her time at Sgoil Lionacleit. Her academic qualifications speak for themselves. Mairi is a fluent Gaelic speaker who will go on to become a real ambassador for Gaelic Medium Education. I speak for all at Sgoil Lionacleit in saying that we wish her well as she moves on to the next stage of her academic journey.”
The Award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to Mairi by Comhairle Leader and Uist Councillor Paul Steele, who added his praise: “Congratulations to Mairi in her outstanding accomplishment. She has set a fine example to others around her and, indeed, is an inspiration to us all. It is particularly impressive that this was achieved against a background of disruption and uncertainty during COVID.”
A helping hand for Uist’s forgotten workforce
The Western Isles Community Care Forum is reaching out to carers across Uist to highlight some of the support available to help them in their caring role.
WICCF Coordinator Peggy Mackay said: “A caring role can be stressful and exhausting. Many carers have given up paid employment to look after their loved ones, which can bring financial pressures and can also lead to isolation and loneliness. WICCF is a gateway of support for unpaid carers, who are not always aware of what’s available.”
WICCF can help with training in moving and handling techniques, which can reduce back strain and injury, an access to funding for respite breaks, as well as the Personal Assistant Directory, a sign posting service that directs carers to people they can employ directly for support.
WICCF also runs the monthly Eolas social group, providing a free afternoon tea for carers and the chance for a short respite break and some peer support.
WICCF worker Catherine Macdougall is based in Uist and can be contacted on 07747186875 or by email at carersupport@wiccf.co.uk.
The next Eolas event will be held on the 8th September in the Stepping Stones Restaurant in Balivanich between 2.30pm and 4pm. Call Catherine direct or contact the office in Tarbert 01859 502588 to book a place.
Struan tea for Parkinson’s
The community is invited to come and enjoy a Strùan Tea, being held in Talla an Iochdair, on Saturday 17th September, to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK in Scotland.
There will be plenty of good company on offer, as well as tea, coffee, savoury and sweet treats and of course, strùan! Also available on the day will be home baking and bottle stalls and a raffle with some superb prizes.
Monies raised will go to Parkinson’s UK, helping fund the ongoing research for a cure, with some of the funds going to help people with Parkinson’s living locally. Parkinson’s UK funds a specialist nurse in the Western Isles, providing vital support for the 67 Parkinson’s patients living here in the Hebrides.
The Struan Tea for Parkinson’s team would like to thank the community for its generosity in the past and hopes you will join with them once again for this great cause.
Look out for great raffle prizes and other updates on the Strùan Tea for Parkinson’s Facebook Page, where you will also find a link to their JustGiving page.
Tractor spectacular!
Uist women will be revving up their Fergies and their Fordsons for the inaugural Ladies Tractor Run. The event will set off from Eriskay at 9am on Saturday, 1st October, heading north to Berneray to raise funds for Western Isles Cancer Initiative.
The ladies will be kept fed and watered with generous donations of breakfast rolls from Orasay Inn and a light lunch by the Dark Island Hotel, with DA Travel taking the ladies down to the starting point on Saturday morning.
Please keep an eye out for them and give them a cheer when they pass by.
Twenty tractors have already signed up for the event, but there is room for plenty more!
Participants are required to register in advance, with an entry fee of £10 – email helen@wicci.org.uk to book your place.
Donations for this great cause can be made on the day or via the gofundme page at https://gofund.me/ad49770a.
Gaelic Fun at Cothrom Og
A fun afternoon at Cothrom Og saw the children, their parents and their siblings enjoying some great opportunities to hear and use Gaelic.
Shona Mason from Ceòlas was on hand to help the children create some lovely music, with Penny Burgess leading the singing. The children had the opportunity to sit with Liam Alasdair Crouse and hear some stories or create some art work, or to go with Peigi-Ann MacMillan from Ceòlas and play some different games.
Kenny MacDonald and Murphy MacEachen proved a real hit with the children, allowing them a shot of a lorry and a tractor while Helen Cummings made some lovely colourful smiles with her face painting.
There were some great Gaelic words to be heard like ‘giomach’ and ‘crùbag’ as the children got the opportunity to handle some live seafood.
New recruits at Caraidean Uibhist
Befriending charity Caraidean Uibhist has welcomed three new staff members to the team.
Marion Ann MacLellan joins as the new Project Support Worker, and will be working closely with Tracy Walker on befriending events and activities.
Nicola Smith joins as Senior Recovery Support Officer and will be overseeing the Charity’s Alcohol and Drug Partnership work, along with Hanna Eklof. Nicola and Hannah are covering maternity leave for Caraiden’s usual ADP worker Angela.
You can contact the Caraidean team on 01870 603233 or email them at admin@caraideanuibhist.org.
Community Beach Clean
New Visitor Ranger Liz Willoughby has been hard at work keeping our island shores spic and span. Liz says: “The beach cleans are running regularly and have been well attended by both locals and visitors. At our Culla Bay session in Benbecula we had more than 30 people taking part and we managed to remove a huge amount of rope and other materials. The second clean at Pol na Crann (Stinky Bay) was also a success, despite the windy conditions. We had a great group of volunteers help and between us, we removed massive amounts of large scale plastics from the beach.”
Nothing that can be used goes to waste. Litter collected from the shore is separated into recyclable materials, with reusable plastics given to Studio Vans in Balivanich, who are currently making bar stools for North Uist distillery using locally soured marine plastics as one of the key materials.
More beach clean news and events at linktree/uistbeachcleans.
Sun galore for Islands Galore event
The weather stayed fair for the Islands Galore Cruise in Company & Community Event (Cuairt-mhara Uibhist is Bharraigh & Tachartas Coimhearsnachd) on Saturday 13th, and the Fishermans Mass and blessing of the boats on Sunday 14th August
With beautiful weather, an uncommon report for this summer, the local community gathered at Lochboisdale Marina where there were many attractions for families, children, young people, and adults.
The yachts taking part set sail from Castlebay in misty morning conditions, but the weather had improved by the time they sailed into Lochboisdale harbour. Taking part in the fun were Berneray Coastal Rowing Club, the North Uist Coastal Rowing Club and the Sgoil Dhalabroig Sailing Club.
The many visitors on the day were kept entertained with local produce and refreshment stalls and plenty of activities for families to enjoy. Music, dancing and talks hosted to celebrate Flora MacDonald ran throughout the day from 2pm until 9pm.
On Sunday the Fisherman’s Mass and Blessing of the Boats was led by Fr Ross Crichton, with Fr Colin MacInnes, Deacon Martin Matheson and Cape Breton visitors David Rankin and Joe MacMaster.
This special weekend was wrapped up with a concert featuring local singers, musicians and artists, closing the event with our Canadian Cousins.
Storas Uibhist Chair Mary Schmoller said: “What a fantastic weekend in Lochboisdale with the sun shining and everyone in great form. The harbour looked great and people rose to the occasions and all enjoyed themselves. On Sunday, the Fishermans Mass and the Blessing of the boats were well attended by the local community. Our thanks goes to Fr Ross Crichton, Fr Colin and Deacon Matheson. We were also delighted to welcome the visiting Nova Scotian seminarians. Thank you to all the staff for their hard work and we did really appreciate Alana MacInnes’ contribution.”
Stòras Uibhist expressed their heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make the weekend event so special – staff and volunteers, vendors, workers, local businesses, community groups, HM Benbecula Coastguard, the Scottish Ambulance Service and Lochboisdale Fire Station – and to Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Community Land Scotland and Western Isles Lifestyle Lottery for their support of the Flora MacDonald 300th anniversary celebrations.
Green fingers at SUAT
Well done to the green-fingered pupils at Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath. Their hard work paid off at the North Uist Agricultural Show, where they scooped the MacGillivray Cup for best kitchen garden, as well as a barrowful of 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for their excellent produce. Some of the pupils are pictured here with SUAT school gardener Anne Robertson, who runs a special weekly gardening class and also leads a team of community volunteers in the school garden every Saturday morning from 10am till midday……Anne says ‘new volunteers are always welcome and no gardening experience is needed!’
MacMillan Cancer Support
MacMillan Cancer Support North Uist Branch expressed their thanks to everyone who supported the Bake Sale at Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath on Friday 12th of August, helping raise a £4,600 for this good cause.
St Mary’s Sale
The St Mary’s Sale of Work on 20th August was described as a ‘truly lovely event and a great day out enjoyed by all’. Canon Michael Hutson thanked the parish for its great generosity in support of parish funds, saying: “The Hall Committee and wider community of St Mary’s, Benbecula is grateful for the hard work and munificence of parishioners and friends of the parish. Special thanks are issued to those who made the donations that resulted in the success of of the baking, bottle, plant, knitting, craft stalls, wheel of fortune and raffle. A magnificent £12,000 was raised on the day.”
