In our regular feature, we join a local for a tea break and find out how they spend their time - and their time off. This issue we welcome Loraine Niven, the new General Manager at the Leverhulme Community Hub What’s your story so far? Halo, Is mise Lanie, Tha mi à Siorrachd Àir...and that is about as good as my Gaelic is so far. I was brought up around the countryside, my Papa ran the sawmill, my uncles were foresters and we helped at the farm a lot. I left school and was a

From Scalpay Community Centre: After a closure of several months for major refurbishment, Scalpay Community Centre has re-opened its doors. The transformation of the centre is something everyone in the community can be proud of. The new An Cala Café is a wonderful addition, and we’re excited to see it become a welcoming hub for both local residents and visitors. This incredible project is a testament to the dedication of the trustees and chairman of the Scalpay Community Asso

From the Race Director: The Isle of Harris Running Festival concluded on Saturday 4 July, with participants taking part in the half marathon, 5km and Fun Run. We also saw the long-awaited return of the Heb Half series challenge, a multi-island challenge incorporating the half marathons of Harris, Barra, Stornoway, Skye and Benbecula. The number of participants in the Harris half marathon increased by over 50% from last year. The success of the race is testament to the contrib

Harris stick maker David Broadbent had his talents recognised at the Royal Highland Show last month, where he won the Mrs Alister Campbell Memorial trophy for his recent creations. The prize was awarded for the best set of four sticks, comprising of a wooden-handle shepherd’s crook, horn-handle shepherd’s crook, wooden-handle walking stick and a horn-handle walking stick. David has been competing in the Royal Highland Show for forty years and has experienced considerable succ

In our regular feature, we join a local for a tea break and find out how they spend their time - and their time off. This issue we welcome Fiona MacKenzie, who is preparing for a busy summer celebrating Gaelic with young people What’s your story so far? When I left school I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I had childcare, Gaelic and hairdressing in my head and applied for both the Gaelic and childcare courses. I chose the Gaelic course, then worked briefly as an Admin Assist

Here's our guide to Harris events over the next couple of weeks. Remember to email dethadol@harrisvs.org.uk for your event to be included in our next issue free of charge.

In our fortnightly feature, we join a local for a tea break and find out how they spend their time - and their time off. This week, we welcome local councillor Kenny MacLeod, a passionate advocate for his island home. Please introduce yourself… I am one of the two ward councillors for Harris. I run my own company, Eilean Glas Rib Tours and I am session clerk at Tarbert Church of Scotland. I am on the board of Hebrides People, Comunn Eachdraidh Scalpaigh and, as a Councillor,

From Harris Youth Shinty Club: Harris Youth Shinty made their annual trip to Ullapool on Saturday 6th June for a meet with friends from Lewis and Ullapool. A mix of experienced and new players took part in drills and mini matches, led by Katie Drain of the Camanachd Association. Over 32 players were in-volved, and a great time was had by all. Harris joined forces with a handful of Lewis players to make up a team for the afternoon matches, with the joint team winning both thei

From the Harris Fire Team: A Western Isles Scottish Fire and Rescue Awards Ceremony was held at Stornoway Community Fire Station and District Offices on Tuesday, 19 May, bringing together colleagues, families and guests to celebrate the dedication and achievements of members of staff from across the Western Isles. During the ceremony, three personnel from Harris Fire Stations received acknowledgments of their commitment to the community as serving on call firefighters over th

Walkers put their best feet forward and braved wind and rain through the month of May, to complete a daily step challenge and raise money for the Bone Cancer Research Trust. More than 26 teams of four took part in the challenge, to walk 10,000 steps a day or the equivalent of 500 miles altogether (from Stockinish in the Bays of Harris, to Glasgow, and back). This challenge was inspired by Lydia, a pupil at Sir E Scott school who has been receiving treatment for a rare form of

In our fortnightly feature, we join a local for a tea break and find out how they spend their time - and their time off. This week, we welcome Crossroads' Service Manager, Kate, who is new to her current role, but not to exploring the island What’s your story so far? Although I have been working regular hours for Crossroads as a care attendant for several years, I never expected to find myself in the role of manager, and I am doing my best to fill the very capable boots of Ma

A recent Care Inspectorate visit to Leverburgh Care Home has resulted in a positive report, with ‘good’ scores across all the four areas evaluated and praise for staff and management. The unannounced visit took place in March and involved conversations with staff, residents and their families, observation of practice and daily life and document reviews. It assessed well-being, leadership, the staff team and care planning. The report, which was published in May on the Care Ins

The programme for this summer’s Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival is out now, with over 80 community-run events celebrating the wildlife, landscapes, and cultural heritage of the Outer Hebrides. The main week of this year’s Festival will run from the 20 to the 27 of June, and a Fringe Festival will continue until the end of July. This year’s programme features free and paid-for events, both in Harris and further afield. Harris events include a Harris hills sunset hike, hosted

In our fortnightly feature, we join a local for a tea break and find out how they spend their time - and their time off. This issue, we welcome Emily McEwan, Gaelic Officer at Hebrides people, whose passion for the language has brought her across the Atlantic. Please introduce yourself and your job? I'm Emily McEwan and I'm the Gaelic Officer at Ionad-tadhail Luchd Innse Gall, the Hebrides People Visitor Centre. My 2-year position was funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and includes s

A restored ex-military staff car is heading to Harris next month, with a team of Royal Navy and Royal Marine veterans, as part of a project raising awareness of mental health challenges such as PTSD, isolation and suicide. The 1936 Morris 8, known as ‘Philip’ will travel from Barra, through the Uists and on to Harris, Lewis and Skye, where its driver and passengers will meet local people, veterans, community groups and organisations and encourage conversations about wellbeing

A new single from Harris singer-songwriter Isla Scott is earning praise from fans and musicians alike. Might Stay, by the former Sir E Scott pupil, was released by Wee Studio records, whose owner Keith Morrison described it as “absolute perfection.” Isla, now a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, wrote the song while taking an online song-writing course last year. “One evening the prompt was to write ‘a summer coming-of-age song’ which inspired me straight away. M

A new café has opened at the Bays Centre at Lacklee. The Bays Centre Café is offering a daytime menu which includes toasties, soups and sandwiches, hot filled rolls, a Scottish breakfast, baking and more. Operated by Andrew Harvey, the café is open from 10am to 4pm every day except Sundays and Wednesday, when it is closed. These opening hours mean that the Bays Centre committee can continue to host community events, such as the recent Easter Egg Hunt, at other times. The Bays

From The Volunteer Centre (Harris) A team of S3 pupils from Sir E Scott School have secured £3000 for the Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative (WICCI) through The Wood Foundation’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI). We, at the Volunteer Centre, have the privilege of facilitating YPI on behalf of The Wood Foundation. Eilidh, Donnie and Daisy gave an emotive presentation which the judges deemed the winner. They described how winning the £3000 would mean WICCI could purcha

An exhibition of new works by Harris artist Joceline Hildrey has been unveiled at Talla na Mara. Artwork by Joceline Hildrey Titled ‘Tri Eileanan’ (three islands) it is inspired by the landscape and bird life of some of Scotland’s most remote locations. The free exhibition will run until the end of the month during the West Harris Trust venue’s opening hours. “The exhibition is based on my observations from trips out to the Flannan Isles, St Kilda and the Shiants,” says Jocel