2019 - 2020 Volunteer Centre Western Isles Annual Report Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering. Working at the heart of our communities since 1997 A certificate for Employer-Supported Volunteering was presented to the Isle of Harris Distillery for their commitment to community volunteering by allowing staff to take (paid) time off to help with local projects. This is the first award to an employer in Harris but we hope to see more gaining this recognition in future years.

Shona Macleod and Harrison Wood, Isle of Harris Distillery, with the certificate for Employer-Supported Volunteering.

We encourage our staff to get involved in local community volunteering, with paid days to participate in social, charitable and environmental activities. Isle of Harris Distillers

2 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering Contents

4. About Us

4. Manager’s Report

5. Chair’s report

6. Our Trustees

7. Our Staff

8. What We Do i. Third Sector Interface Western Isles (TSIWI) ii. Building intelligence iii. Connect iv. Building capacity v. Voice

27. Finances

www.volunteercentrewi.org 3 About us Volunteer Centre Western Isles is an • facilitate adult and youth volunteer independent local charity with offices and awards that recognise the staff in Lewis, Harris, and . achievements of volunteers We provide information, advice and support • facilitate volunteer awards for to individuals interested in volunteering, organisations who provide the best volunteer managers, voluntary groups, clubs experience for their volunteers and organisations, private and public sector • gather statistics and carry out research organisations and companies. into volunteering in the Western Isles We: which we share with local and national • offer free, confidential support to government people who want to volunteer and • constantly work to raise the profile of groups/ organisations who involve volunteering as a positive force with volunteers prospective volunteers, local policy • provide a brokerage service, matching makers and community leaders volunteers to volunteer roles in We are committed to serving our rural hundreds of local and national communities in ways that best suit their organisations needs throughout the Western Isles. We are • support community events that are passionate about volunteering; we support often run entirely run by volunteers and encourage it in all forms. Managers Report

Focused, streamlined, flexible – that is what we aim for.

Over the year we developed new streams of their volunteers. of work such as the new intergenerational This year saw us overhauling our database projects in Barra and Lewis, ran the system, revising our work plan to a new Bra Bank and other projects across the structure we share with our TSI partners, islands, used feedback from volunteers and always trying to ensure our staff can and organisations to raise concerns about focus their time on what matters most to gaps in volunteering provision, publicised the VC and our customers. Meeting with a wide range of opportunities and placed over 100 organisations gave us information volunteers in many of them. We have spent about the volunteering scene throughout a lot of our focus on working with young the islands and with our popular Volnet people, through the Wood Foundation’s meetings we helped link up organisations, Youth Philanthropy Initiative in secondary sharing good practice and common issues. schools and the Saltire Awards, which we Grateful thanks to all our staff over the year promote to young people in every island. for all their hard work and innovation, and We have now chosen to run regular simple to our board for their excellent support to us ceremonies to present Saltire Awards to and our services. Teamwork is everything! young volunteers and have encouraged organisations to recognise the achievement Kirsty Macdonald

4 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering Chair’s Report

This has been a very different year and down from the Board. Our sincere thanks to with our AGM having been delayed until her for all her work and support in her time August I have also included reference to on the Board. April to July in this report. Our intergenerational work has developed Staff working from home, meetings via significantly during this past year and in ZOOM, Lockdown, communities almost March we continued this intergenerational coming to a standstill, events throughout the work during COVID lockdown with care islands cancelled, links to the mainland very homes. limited and so much more..... The Scottish Government Ready Throughout the Volunteer Centre has Volunteer response to COVID also began continued to deliver on its key policies, in March and we been involved in this despite these difficulties, and as some of development throughout. I am also pleased the many restrictions start to ease we are to report that we are fully engaged in all looking forward to the future in a very the local TSI partnership as it continues positive manner. to strengthen. We also now have a new As Chair I offer my sincere thanks to all website: www.tsiwi.org volunteers, staff and Board members who Finally, as a number of you will already have contributed throughout these difficult know, our joint manager, Kirsty Macdonald, times. You are a credit to yourselves, our will be retiring at the end of September organisation and to the Western Isles 2020. She has been at the heart of the community that we are all a part of. excellent work and development of the I am also pleased to report that our funding Volunteer Centre since she joined the during the past year from the Scottish organisation over twenty years ago and I Government and our local council has know that you will all wish her well in the continued, enabling the VCWI to continue to future. deliver on the wide range of work that it has After discussions with Suzanne Macaulay, been involved in. our other joint manager, she indicated This year we have appointed two new staff her wish to take on the role of Manager members in Uist; Vicki Manchester and in of VCWI. This was put to the Board who Lewis, Marion Wilson. They have settled in unanimously approved the appointment and very well and are valued members of our she will take on the full time role after Kirsty staff team working throughout the Western leaves us. Isles. This has been a momentous year in so many Jo Bagrie and Steve Hankinson have joined ways and I thank you all for your continued our Board this year, and we welcome them help and support as we continue the very both. important work of the Volunteer Centre. One of our Board members, Janet Macleod, Clive Rowlands has announced that she will be standing Chair

www.volunteercentrewi.org 5 Welcome to our 2019 /20 annual report.

This year’s annual report is response to community Due to this changed and different from our normal need during lockdown. An increased workload, we format. Due to COVID19, army of volunteers have have delayed our AGM and our work has changed helped with roles such as produced a smaller annual considerably over the last pharmacy and shopping report this year to show few months and along deliveries; making scrubs, you the highlights of our with all others working in face masks for health work during 2019 - 20. A both statutory services and social care settings more detailed annual report and the third sector, we and performing any roles with detailed statistics and have worked to respond required to look after narrative is available on our to community needs and those who were shielding website. We look forward develop our service to meet in order to keep our to continuing to encourage, these needs during the communities functioning support and promote lockdown period. The role and the vulnerable safe. volunteering across the and value of volunteers has We have been proud Western Isles over the never been more apparent to assist with this in coming year, in whatever than over the last few supporting community way it is required. months, where community groups and volunteers Suzanne Macaulay volunteers have led the throughout lockdown. Joint Manager

Volunteer Centre Western Isles Trustees Chair Clive Rowlands Volunteer Treasurer Christine McKee Volunteer Secretary Catherine Burgess Volunteer Janet Macleod CnES Community Learning and Development (Lewis) (Resigned February 2020) Sonja Macleod Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland Eoin Macneil Voluntary Action Barra and Denise Symington Volunteer Catriona Morrison CnES Community Learning and Development (Uist) Jo Bagrie Volunteer Steven Hankinson Volunteer Volunteer Centre Western Isles is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) No. SCO27472

6 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering Our Staff We believe that Managers people are the most Kirsty Macdonald (Jobshare) important part of [email protected] any organisation. Suzanne Macaulay (Jobshare) This is why we place [email protected] so much value in Administrator & Finance Officer support for our staff Angelique Macdonald [email protected] and volunteers. Development Workers (Lewis) Bellann O’Brien [email protected] Marion Wilson [email protected] 95 Cromwell Street, 01851700366 Development Worker (Harris) Kate Langley Old Primary School, Tarbert 01859502636 [email protected] Development Worker (Uist) Vicki Manchester 41 Airport Road, Balivanich 01870602604 [email protected] Development Worker (Barra) Katherine MacNeil Am Bothan, Northbay, Isle of Barra 01871890775 [email protected] www.volunteercentrewi.org Twitter @VolunteeringWI Facebook @VolunteercentreWI www.volunteercentrewi.org 7 What we do Work in partnership We are proud to be one of the six partners that make up the Third Sector Interface (TSI) Western Isles.

Through TSI Western Isles we work to • Providing regular reporting to Scottish support, develop and promote the interests Governments Third Sector Unit on our and work of voluntary and community activities organisations in the Western Isles. We TSI Western Isles is made up of six are funded by the Scottish Government to partners: provide a single point of access for support • Volunteer Centre Western Isles and advice for the third sector. There is a • Voluntary Action Barra & Vatersay network of 32 interfaces across Scotland: (VABV) one for each local authority. • Uist Council of Voluntary TSI Western Isles has responsibility for: Organisations (UCVO) • Supporting and developing a strong • Harris Voluntary Service Third Sector • Volunteering Hebrides • Building the Third Sector relationship • Social Enterprise with community planning Partnership (OHSEP)

Pictured TSI Western Isles partners who attended the TSI North of Scotland event in Inverness in March.

8 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering What we do Work in partnership

Our role Voice Connect Scottish Government funds Ensuring a strong Third Providing leadership, TSI’s to perform the following Sector voice at a strategic vision and coordination roles: level within local planning to the local third sector To be a central source of structures and nationally to better respond to knowledge about: local priorities, including through partnership and • The Third Sector locally collaboration • Local and national Build capacity We want to hear from policy and how it might any organisations Developing the capacity of affect local Third Sector, or individual we can volunteering, community communities and support through these groups, voluntary citizens roles. • How the Third Sector organisations and social can contribute to those enterprise to achieve agendas positive change www.tsiwi.org

The support, development and representation of local community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering

Voice of The Sector Support Volunteering TSI Western Isles represent the voluntary We work to build capacity in our local As the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for the sector at a number of local strategic groups third sector by developing the capacity of Western Isles, we promote volunteering and and national network meetings. This means volunteering, community groups, voluntary help organisations and community groups that voluntary groups across the Western Isles organisations and social enterprise to achieve to recruit volunteers through our support for have a voice to these groups and networks. positive change. volunteer involving organisations.

 01851 702632 Find out more at tsiwi.org ✉ [email protected] www.volunteercentrewi.org 9 Our Work Our activities to support volunteers and volunteer involving organisations are broken into the following categories, as defined by Scottish Government: • Building Intelligence • Connect • Build Capacity • Voice Underpinning all activities are actions ensuring that the Volunteer Centre Western Isles is committed to excellence in all that we do and has in place sound governance.

registered promoted 42 new This year, 91 new organisations we have: registered 319 volunteering for support new volunteers opportunities, from the alongside Volunteer existing ones Centre

We ensure we have up to date volunteering opportunities Volunteering is available to meet a wide great preparation range of needs and interests. I would to thank you for all for your future Throughout the year, our staff your help, support and advice in career. work to make contact with the seeking opportunities to become 380 volunteer organisations a volunteer and to get involved student who are registered with us to in my local community. check if they need support and Volunteer, Barra to check we have up to date contact details and volunteer opportunities. We also proactively make contact with volunteer organisations throughout the islands to promote our services and ensure organisations are aware of the services the Volunteer Centre can offer, if required.

10 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering Our Work COVID-19 and Volunteering Due to COVID-19, our volunteering has adapted and changed. Although most of our response work took place from April onwards, from mid-March, we followed national guidelines to support essential volunteer information on a wide range roles and encourage home of home-based volunteering based volunteering. The for those looking to help or keep busy during lockdown, volunteer response across such as sewing, knitting and the Western Isles, as it home crafting for local care was elsewhere in Scotland, homes, including making was amazing. Throughout scrubs and telephone lockdown, we have adopted befriender for various the message set up by organisations such as Silver Volunteer Edinburgh and Line, Lewis Befriending, encouraged people to ‘Think Chest, Heart and Stroke local and act locally!’ and put Scotland. out the message that basic neighbourliness is absolutely We also launched our new vital in a crisis, whether Volunteering and COVID-19 it is extreme weather or portal page on www. coronavirus, and it is often volunteercentrewi.org This page contained advice the little acts of kindness that on how to help during the have the most impact. COVID-19 pandemic. We received an initial 90 We realised there was a volunteer requests through lot of information around the Scottish Government so established this portal Ready Scotland campaign as a source of trusted and Volunteer Scotland and information for volunteer supported people into a involving community wide variety of volunteering, groups, organisations and both in their community in volunteers, including ‘off the essential roles and in home shelf policies’ for supporting based volunteering to support volunteers during the the COVID-19 response. COVID-19 pandemic and Volunteer Centre links to funding. The aim of Development Workers it was to support groups to developed and promoted support their volunteers. www.volunteercentrewi.org 11 Our Work COVID 19 Intergenerational volunteering Due to COVID-19, our intergenerational volunteering has adapated and changed. As part of our approach to carry on building our intergenerational links during lockdown, we have worked with the Stornoway Primary hub class and Trust Housing in Lewis Street and Matheson Road in Lewis to bring some entertainment to residents. Following our dance for the residents to bring some fun to year long intergenerational project, our everyone’s day! Development Worker (Lewis), Bellann O’ Adhering to Government guidelines, we Brien, was aware that the elderly tenants in began a series of visits where residents lockdown were unable to see family or go watched from open windows or sat in the out. This raised concerns of isolation and courtyard from a safe distance. less stimulation for lots of residents. On speaking with the class teacher that we “Tenants in Lewis Street and Matheson have previously worked with on the previous Road have been entertained over the Failte Centre visits, a plan was drawn up to last few weeks by young children from continue the intergenerational work in a safe the Stornoway Primary, who are all way with the children from the Stornoway very talented and gifted ranging from primary School Hub visiting the courtyards highland dancers to an incredible young to entertain the tenants. piper. As a result, the joint Volunteer Centre and This was also for some of the tenants Stornoway Primary project resulted in who have been unable to see their own children from the Stornoway Primary using grandchildren a very poignant experience. their exercise hour to sing Gaelic songs and This was something the tenants looked forward to and it provided a small degree of normality at this time. Having good weather was also a bonus. All the tenants enjoyed these events and a big thank you to Bellann O’Brien for organising this. Hopefully this is something that will continue when lock down restrictions are eventually lifted.” Managers of Trust Housing Matheson Road and Lewis Street

12 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering Our Work In March, Bellann O’Brien, Development Worker (Lewis), organised a further intergenerational project to respond to COVID19 restrictions – a pen pal system between the Stornoway Primary, Failte Centre and Trust Housing. Letters are sent to Volunteer Centre staff and scanned and sent between older and younger pen pals who were taking part in one of our intergenerational projects to encourage letter writing skills and to build relationships between pupils and older generation. Stornoway Primary P4a wrote cards to the Thursday Club, Failte Centre which we posted out. The cards were to let the service users know that although the visits were cut short due to the Coronavirus the children are thinking of them. The plan is to meet up again after the summer break A video of the children with a message for the group was shared on social media.

“This has really made my day, the children are so talented and look beautiful, thank you for coming to visit.” Trust Housing tenant “This is very different from before as we cannot be close to the old folk. I like being able to make them smile, this is fun.” Pupil “It is nice visiting the tenants, I like making them happy. I liked it when they were waving to me from the windows.” Pupil www.volunteercentrewi.org 13 Our Work Scrubs

During March, Volunteer Centre Western Isles scrub bags to allow a whole set of scrubs to launched a scrubs and facemasks project in be put straight into the wash without being response to COVID19, described as “One of handled. the biggest stitching projects in memory” on Development Workers also started to organise the islands by Events newspaper. We became face masks for community volunteers. One of aware of the need for scrubs and scrub bags the stitchers is seamstress Margaret from local care homes and face masks for local Cowie, who had already done some sewing community volunteers throughout the islands in a previous job, who has volunteered to cut and worked with local volunteers to plan and fabric into lengths and package it up with the launch an inter-island ‘Stitching and Sewing’ right thread, tape and facings to make one set of project. scrubs per bundle. A team of stitchers and sewers were linked Vicki said: “We’ve got a team of 9 and rising together by our Development Worker (Uist), every day. Some of our ladies are very Vicki Manchester with a £3,000 grant from NFU accomplished sewers and are helping out those Mutual and support from local shops Stitch in less experienced where needed. There is a the Ditch and Island Darkroom in Lewis, Buth team atmosphere, and everyone is working Bharraigh in Barra, along with links to the together to benefit the local community. We are national ‘For the Love of Scrubs’ campaign. fortunate to have Sharon from Point in Lewis as The NFU Mutual grant was used to buy the part of our team who makes and sends masks materials for scrubs including fabric, ribbon down to us (see her pictured wearing one of her and buttons and full-size patterns printed at own creations!) Mask extenders have also been Stornoway Media Centre. posted to us from all over the UK by volunteers The March launch saw a dedicated army of who saw our Facebook posts.” volunteers come forward to support local care Following the March launch, the project homes and stitch. In Uist two care homes – continued during lockdown with our Barra Sacred Heart House in Daliburgh and Trianaid and Lewis Workers, Katherine Macneil and Care Home at Carinish, North Uist – placed Marion Wilson organising local volunteers and a request for scrubs to fit each of their 60 coordinating the local business support. So far, careworkers and St Brendan’s Care Home in we have exceeded the target of 120 sets of Barra also requested scrubs and scrubs bags. scrubs and volunteer work is ongoing. Care-workers needing several sets each to Our thanks go out to all the wonderful ensure that they can be clean for work and volunteers in our community who came forward protected from transmitting infection as they and continue to help and to the businesses and look after the more vulnerable members of our organisations who have donated their time and community. Some volunteers are also making resources to support the project.

14 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering What we do

196 To promote volunteering opportunities, our website volunteering www.volunteercentrewi.org is being constantly updated opportunities and refreshed, with all of our 196 volunteer opportunities listed with listed in the searchable database. This year, we updated and Volunteer improved our search functions and layout on our website Centre in and we will continue to develop and improve our site 2019/20 content.

To make sure we have the most up to date opportunities 35 forums and possible, staff linked into appropriate local forums and partnerships networks to support the development and promotion of attended volunteering.

www.volunteercentrewi.org 15 What we do

Jamie McIntosh who was presented with his Saltire Certificates by Katherine Macneil for achieving a brilliant 500 hours volunteering at Garadh a Bhagh a Tuath and Buth Bharraigh.

Calum Blane received his Saltire 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 hour certificates. Calum volunteered in Scaladale Outdoor Centre as an Assistant Instructor and because of the experience he gained doing this, he is now employed in this role.

Volunteering for me was a great way of getting my foot in the door to a new field that I would have never even considered could be an actual job! I believe it is an extremely accessible way to learn new skills and meet a wide range of interesting and knowledgeable people.

16 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering What we do

Supported 55 We continue to raise Staff continue to support organisations volunteering issues to volunteers to identify areas through 113 meetings strategic forums, councillors they would like to volunteer with guidance and and community leaders in and have supported the support for volunteer in our TSI role and held development of 39 new management meetings to discuss and volunteer opportunities this resolve. year. We continue to record gaps Held 321 face to in service and volunteer face meetings issues and raise them in with organisations relevant places, such as to encourage, strategic forums, CPP promote and support and with local councillors. volunteering. Wherever possible, we work to address these gaps in provision, for example creating a group volunteering opportunity Supported the for a group of vulnerable development of adults and another for young 39 new volunteer people who could not access opportunities other appropriate volunteer Volunteer Management training opportunities. attended by 11 volunteer involving organisations in Uist

Volunteer Centre Western Isles staff undertaking new Volunteer Management training, delivered by Volunteer Edinburgh www.volunteercentrewi.org 17 What we do Youth Volunteering

Issued 196 Saltire This group of Secondary The group are shown awards, with the issue 3 pupils from the Nicolson here receiving their Saltire of a further 45 delayed Institute worked together Challenge certificates for due to COVID19 with Volunteer Centre and their efforts. Well done to Nicolson Institute staff on Evan, Calum, Connor, Angus an Environmental project and Leo (missing from where they designed photo) for their great work! and produced posters to Developed The group will continue this volunteering in encourage fellow pupils environmental project and primary school to recycle their waste work towards gaining their settings and throughout the school in the Saltire Approach 10 and 25 supported schools correct way. hour certificates. with primary age volunteering which led to 281 Callanish awards being issued.

18 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering Our Work Saltire Awards

Kyle Munro presented by Cllr Charlie Nicolson with his 100 hour Saltire Award. Kyle started his Saltire award hours in Stornoway as a Sports Coach and continued to build up his hours following his move to Dingwall to continue Sports Andrew Hughson receiving his Sophie Stephen receiving her Coaching. Summit Award. 100 hour Saltire Awards.

James Cunningham receiving benefits the community we his Summit award Certificate. live in, helps others, is a great, Huge congratulations to James positive thing to do with my Cunningham who received time and I really enjoy doing The Saltire Summit Award. it. Volunteering benefits me as This is a prestigious award it helps me gain knowledge for volunteering above and and experience, allows me to beyond expectations. develop social skills through James was nominated by working and interacting with Stornoway High Church of others and is also a great Scotland for his volunteering role as Technical Director skill to have on CVs and The Award was presented personal statements. I would to the Nicolson pupil by Clive recommend volunteering Rowlands, Chairperson of the to others because it is fun, Volunteer Centre Board. rewarding and can have a Quote from James regarding positive impact on your life and his volunteering:- others’. “I volunteer because it November 2019 www.volunteercentrewi.org 19 What we do Intergenerational training

This year, working in partnership with Community Leaning and Development, Volunteer Centre Development Workers in Lewis developed an intergenerational project with primary 5 and 6 pupils at Sgoil an Taobh Siar and Bragar and Community Trust. We carried out an initial workshop talking to the pupils about volunteering and it’s benefits The children made a paperchain of kindness by listing some of the kind volunteering acts visits to the members of worksheets and activities, they have carried out and the community, who get getting to know to each joined them all together to together and meet weekly other and sharing skills, make a colourful display for tea, cake and a catch knowledge and experiences. that can be added to in their up in the Barvas Hall. This The worksheets were based classroom as more acts of is organised by the Bragar on the theme ‘Air a’Chuan’. kindness are carried out. and Arnol Community Trust. Everyone has enjoyed The pupils have made The pupils worked with the the visits, with the result successful and enjoyable ladies and gentlemen on that pupils were asking if they could stay longer and the ladies and gentlemen saying that they loved to see the children and that the activities they were doing brought them back to their school days. This project will continue over the coming months and the children will all be rewarded a Callanish Certificate for their input.

20 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering Our Work Youth Volunteer Awards

This year, young people from across Uist have received their Callanish and Saltire Awards for their volunteer work. Sgoil Daliburgh, Sgoil Ubihst a Tuath, Sgoil Bhaile a’Mhanaich and Liniclete have worked with the Volunteer Centre Worker Vicki Manchester on projects such as intergenerational volunteering with the Armchair Athletics and musical performances in Care homes, gardening, peer volunteering in Youth Cafes, Food bank, and volunteering in after school activity clubs. Vicki also presented over Awards night at Uist Youth Café 40 Callanish Awards at the Our Development Sgoil Daliburgh Christmas Worker in Uist organised assembly with the Head a Uist Youth Café teacher speaking on the celebration of their theme of the value of giving young volunteers who yourself and your time to volunteer at youth cafe help others. itself, in the local youth Unfortunately, a further council and also in the 40 awards for Sgoil Bhaile Oasis Youth Cafe with a’Mhanaich have been all of them together receiving almost 300 hours in Saltire delayed due to COVID-19 Awards and Paige receiving 100 hours. school closures but will be The time, effort and enthusiasm these young people put in is presented later this year. second to none and so invaluable in our community - really Pictured are P3 pupils something to be celebrated! Well done all of you!! from Sgoil Ubihst a Tuath Thank you to our local councillor Roddy MacKay for receiving their Callanish presenting the certificates and taking time this evening to Award from Vicki in chat to our young people about their local community and December. how invaluable volunteering is. www.volunteercentrewi.org 21 What we do

Our rural Volunteer Managers Network (Volnet) meeting in Ness led to our Lewis Development Workers working with Ness and Shader Community First Responders in December. The dedicated team were given recognition for their valued input and commitment for the service they provide within their community with Volunteer Centre Kisimul and Clisham Volunteer Awards. Group Co-ordinator, Martin Macleod arranged for the presentation of Awards to his team in order to recognise them and celebrate the vital work that they deliver within their community. The organisation was also presented with the Organisation Excellence Award for their continued support to their team of volunteers. Martin Macleod was also runner up in the Scottish Ambulance Awards for volunteering. “Martin is the backbone of our team and without him we would not be where we are today. He is 100% committed to supporting us and going above and beyond the role of a co-ordinater.” Well done to everyone involved in this highly valued community service.

22 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering Our Work

We ran 5 Volunteer Centre Volunteer Manager Network meetings throughout the islands and supported 22 organisations to hold celebrations of volunteering

Volunteer organisers, group leaders and volunteer managers met together for Volunteer Manager Network meetings hosted by Volunteer Centre Western Isles throughout this year. The meetings allow a chance for volunteer managers and organisers to exchange volunteer news, share information, and find out what was happening with other local groups. Shared solutions and connections have been made at Volunteer Managers Network meeting in Ness. these meetings, each of which were evaluated highly by those who attended.

Volunteer Managers Network meeting held in Carloway. www.volunteercentrewi.org 23 Volunteer’s Week Volunteers Week will be remembered for a long time by Western Isles Weather’s Richard Cooke, who was surprised (Tuesday June 4th) with an award for his dedication to volunteering. The Volunteering Centre Western Isles staff caught the popular weatherman by surprise, when they presented him with the Clisham award – an award for adult volunteers developed to recognise an outstanding volunteering contribution for long-term commitment. Richard is the brains behind the Facebook page Western Isles Weather, which offers a tailored local weather prediction and recording service for islanders and off-island followers. Spiced up with video forecasts, weather photos and statistics on 3rd). Award for an outstanding weather events, the page The Clisham award was volunteering commitment, now has almost 17,500 presented to him during a from the Volunteer Centre. followers. talk this morning at Kinloch This was for all the In addition to his work as Historical Society and weather talks I have given a Coastguard operations recognises his dedication as part of Western Isles officer at Stornoway, to delivering talks on the Weather to local schools Richard recently returned weather to schools and and groups.” from a storm-chasing community groups of all Picture shows Richard with trip to the USA. He kinds. his award this morning at immediately picked up Richard said this afternoon: Kinloch Historical Society. his programme of talks, “Still totally speechless and (Richard Cooke). with a presentation to humbled about this. At a Point Beavers, Cubs and weather talk today I was Article written by EVENTS Brownies on Monday (June presented with the Clisham Newpaper

24 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering Our Work At Christmas the Volunteer Centre and MPower worked in partnership to set up a Christmas appeal to provide gifts Run or developed and cards with personal messages to elderly people in the 41 events / Western Isles. It was a great example of partnership work volunteering which has benefited lots of lonely and isolated people within opportunities the community, which we hope to repeat in future. “My hat was so lovely and soft” “It was the only Christmas Sent 8 ebulletins Present I got” and newsletters “Thank you so much, it really put a in a new format smile on my face” “Our Community is so kind”

“I saw the post on the Volunteer Centre Western Isles- Lewis page saying that they are now on the map as being a drop off point for new, used and unwanted bras. I thought great, since my own experience with cancer, 10 years ago which resulted in me having a mastectomy, Nanna Maclean, Volunteer. I no longer had use for all the bras I had. I thought if donating them helps with research and also with helping small business in Africa then even better.” This year Volunteer Centre offices across the Western Isles became official drop-off points for the national Bra Bank Appeal. www.volunteercentrewi.org 25 Our Work

supported 24 volunteer supported 17 school environmental environmental events events

Our cutest ever Board meeting in the Volunteer Centre office in Stornoway! The children from Sgoil Araich Lacasdail, English Nursery were presented with some of our environmental packs by two of our Development Workers. The children used the litter pickers on their beach clean up and also to pick up litter while out on We have a strong commitment their walks within the community. They visited us for their Callanish to being as environmentally Award presentations. friendly as we can be. As part of our commitment, we developed a new Environmental Policy this year and also represent the TSI Western Isles on the CPP Environment Outcomes Group. This year, we worked in partnership with Taigh Innes Gall (TIG) to develop, organise, promote and deliver energy efficiency advice lunchtime workshops for third sector groups. The ‘Greening Your Workplace’ workshops were well attended when run across the Western Isles, but unfortunately the Stornoway Providence School pupils have been volunteering with Bethesda workshop had to postponed Care Home residents and taking part in environmental due to COVID19 lockdown. volunteering in order to achieve their Callanish Awards

26 Actively encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO STATEMENT OF BALANCES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2020

Unrestricted Restricted At 31 At 31 funds funds March 2020 March 2019

£ £ £

Bank and cash in hand 97,066 6,376 103,442 108,464

Funds Opening Funds 105, 173 3,291 108, 464 100, 228 Surplus (Deficit) for period (8, 107) 3,085 (5,022) 8.236

97,066 6,376 103,442 108,464

www.volunteercentrewi.org 27 Get in touch

Volunteer Centre Western Isles is an independent local charity with 4 offices and staff throughout the Western Isles. Please drop in or contact us for further information about any of our services. Lewis 95 Cromwell Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2DG 01851700366 [email protected] Harris Old Primary School, Tarbert, Isle of Harris, HS3 3BG 01859502636 [email protected] Uist 41 Airport Road, Balivanich, Isle of , HS7 5LA 01870602604 [email protected] Barra Am Bothan, Northbay, Isle of Barra, HS9 5YQ 01871890775 [email protected] Visit or email www.volunteercentrewi.org [email protected]

We are proud to support the Third Sector as a partner in the Third Sector Interface Western Isles (TSIWI), funded by Scottish Government as part of a Scotland-wide network of TSI’s.