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