Butt to Barra District News 28.1.16

Quiz Night - Tong community hall quiz night will take place on Saturday 6th February at 7pm. You can have up to five members in a team, £5 entry per person.

The raffle has a top prize of £50 (BYOB if you want).

The night is a fundraiser for Tong youth club.

SHAWBOST

Support for restoration of island museum - Urras Dualchas Shiaboist (Shawbost Heritage Trust) is now one step further ahead with the restoration of the old church museum having been awarded a grant by the Architectural Heritage Fund.

The trustees of the Architectural Heritage Fund met in December and agreed a grant offer of £15,000 despite their funds being oversubscribed.

Their support officer for Scotland,Gordon Barr, said they were keen to support the project and enable it to move forward.

The grant will help the trust to draw up plans for the restoration of the grade C listed church building which is currently in a dilapidated state and occupies a prominent position in the centre of Shawbost.

Urras Dualchas Shiaboist (UDS) has the full support of the community to establish a Heritage and Education Centre in the restored church.

This will be based on the invaluable collection of artefacts, archives, photographs and paintings that were previously on display in the old museum.

The development will include a permanent and flexible space for exhibitions, a study area and retail facility. UDS hope to submit an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund later this year and are grateful for the support they receive from Horshader Community Development Trust, Tighean Innse Gall, Awards for All and local councillors.

BARRA

St Brendan’s Project - A public meeting on the St Brendan’s project in Barra has been scheduled for Thursday, February 25, 2016 in Castlebay Community School. The meeting will be from 7pm to 9pm. The meeting has been scheduled to bring the public up to date with progress on the project.

WESTERN ISLES

Bethesda - The Management and Staff of Bethesda would like to sincerely thank all those who donated gifts to the patients, residents and staff over the festive period and throughout the past year. We are greatly encouraged by your continued support.

Share views on NHS Audiology services - A campaigning charity is making a final call for Western Isles residents who use NHS hearing aids to share their experiences of audiology and hearing support services.

Sunday 14 February is the deadline for people to respond to Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’s questionnaire about the types of information and support they have received from NHS audiology and charity-run aftercare services.

Western Isles residents who use NHS audiology services can complete the survey online at www.hearingloss.org.uk/SCOsurvey or call telephone: 0141 341 5330 or email: [email protected] to request a paper version.

Delia Henry, Director of Action on Hearing Loss Scotland, said: “We’re delighted that more than 500 people across Scotland have already taken the survey but we want to ensure that the views from more NHS hearing aid users in Western Isles are taken in to account.

“If you are a NHS audiology patient, please take this last opportunity to tell us about what aspects of services are working well for you and where there could be room for improvement.”

Pictured above are Comhairle nan Eilean Siar staff who held a Christmas Hamper Raffle in aid of Bethesda Hospice, raising a total of £900.

From left to right are: Donalda MacIver, Dawn MacIver, D R MacDonald (Bethesda) and Dolina Macleod.