Congratulations to the following successful applicants to the recent round of the SnBM Community Fund –

£3,292     Ceolas Uibhist – Corragan Ceolmhòr

£2,500     Balivanich Community Leisure Area Group – Safety Surfacing at Balivanich Junior Play Park

£1,250     Uist Wool – Wool Tech! Digital & Marketing Reboot

£1,000     Sgoil Dhalabroig – Morning Snack Provision

£541        Daliburgh Post Office – Towards Purchase of Freezer

Thank you to all who have enquired and applied so far to the SnBM Community Fund.

We look forward to seeing progress on these projects in the near future.

The next deadline is Tuesday 1^st November and this will be the final round for 2022. http://storasuibhist.com/community-fund/

Further information on next year’s fund will be confirmed soon.

The post SnBM Community Fund – September Recipients appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Stòras Uibhist are seeking expressions of interest from anyone interested in letting the field immediately to the north of the Orosay net station.

This will be a short-term let with an annual review. Access to the field will be via the net station grounds.

For further details and to register interest, please contact Darren Taylor on 01878 700101 or email Darren.taylor@storasuibhist.com

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At their meeting on Thursday 1^st December the board of SnBM unanimously re-elected Mary Schmoller as Chairperson of both SnBM and South Uist Estates Ltd.

DJ Cameron will serve as Mary’s Vice Chair.

Calum MacMillan was re-appointed as Chairperson of Lochboisdale Development Limited while Norman MacAskill will serve as Chairperson of South Uist Renewable Energy ltd.

The board also confirmed that Coll MacDonald will be appointed as a co-opted director to the board of Lochboisdale Development Limited.

Mary Schmoller said ‘I would like to thank my fellow directors for their continued support. 2023 is going to be an exciting year for the organisation and I look forward to great progress’.

Speaking of his reappointment as Chairperson of LDL, Calum MacMillan said ‘As we move forward with our ambitious redevelopment projects for Lochboisdale I am delighted to be able to continue my work as Chair of LDL’.

Norman MacAskill said ‘SURE remains a vital part of the organisation and I will continue to work hard to not only ensure maximum return at the Lochcarnan windfarm, but also to explore other renewable energy opportunities’.

Meanwhile the board re-confirmed their plans to bring next year’s AGM and director elections forward to the summer of 2023 to encourage as much community participation as possible. Further details will be announced nearer to time.

The post Appointment of Sealladh na Beinne Moire Chair appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

The initial three month community engagement stage of the Lochboisdale Strategic Visioning  project is now complete.

Thank you to those who took part and helped us to identify the key issues and opportunities for development in the village.

An array of ideas were put forward with short, medium and long term projects identified. The projects were presented to the community at this year’s Lochboisdale Christmas Market where we welcomed valuable feedback.

The full list of proposed projects can be viewed here and we would encourage all interested parties to review and provide feedback to the Community Engagement Officer, christina.morrison@storasuibhist.com before Saturday 31^st December 2022.

Thank you to HIE and CnES for supporting this important work.

The post Lochboisdale Strategic Visioning Community Consultation appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Well done to the following organisations who were successful with their applications for support from the SnBM Community Fund in the final round for 2022;

£   500   Uist & Barra Foodbank – Purchase new laptop

£   700   Uist Craft Producers – New Office and Sales Equipment   

£1,000   Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band – Towards Competing at Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships in March 2023   

£1,000   St Peter’s Traditional Dance Club – Dancing Together

£1,250   Caladh Trust – Refurbishment; LED Lighting

£1,500   Joseph Wilson Bricklaying & Rendering – Towards Purchase of Render Pump

£1,900   CM Beauty – Finish Outside Salon & Equipment for Business Expansion

£2,000   Southend Community Hall – Replace and upgrade equipment

£3,500   Cothrom – Fake-away & Movie Nights

We look forward to seeing progress on these projects in the near future.

Thank you to all who have enquired and applied to the SnBM Community Fund this year.  The Fund will re-open in 2023.  The next deadline for applications is Tuesday, 31^st January 2023.

Email deirdre.steele@storasuibhist.com or call 01878 700101 with any enquiries or for further information.

The post SnBM Community Fund – November Recipients appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Well done to the following organisations who were successful with their applications for support from the SnBM Community Fund.

£470         Siar Beauty ~ To complete customer carpark

£750         SHARE ~ Inspiring Women event

£1000       Comann na Gaidhlig ~ Tursan Mara

£1000        All Seasons Cleaning and Laundry Service ~ Purchase equipment

£1300        CR Photography ~ Purchase time lapse filming equipment

£1400       Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh ~ Purchase equipment towards Ionad Eilean na h-Oige

We look forward to seeing progress on these projects in the near future.

The next deadline for applications is Tuesday, 28th March 2023.

Email deirdre.steele@storasuibhist.com or call 01878 700101 with any enquiries or for further information.

The post SnBM Community Fund – January Recipients appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

SnBM Chairperson Mary Schmoller has reacted with fury at today’s news that CalMac sailings from Lochboisdale will be cancelled from 5^th April for 6 weeks.

Mary has issued the following statement;

‘’Stòras Uibhist have been leading the South Uist Ferry Business Impact Group which has met with senior CalMac management, civil servants and politicians over the last year to campaign for a better service.  

It is incredible that the Group met for 1 hour only yesterday with Roddy MacDonald from the Scottish Government.  We were very clear that we could not have a repeat of last year’s cancellations and expect our businesses to survive.

He left us after 1 hour promising to get back to us within a week…and yet just 24 hours we have received this devastating news

The Ferry Group reiterates our 2 priority objectives agreed last year.  Firstly we need better and more consistent contingency planning so we know what happens if and when our ferries are cancelled, and secondly we need a business support scheme to enable local business to survive.

We repeated our demands to Mr MacDonald that CalMac must provide this support to our businesses. David MacBrayne Ltd made profit on the recent sale of their holding in Southampton Free Port…so let’s see that money being put back into the communities they are currently wreaking such havoc in’’

Stòras Uibhist Chief Executive Darren Taylor added ‘Stòras’s income will suffer directly as a result of this with guests booked for Grogarry Lodge already telling us they are worried how they will get here. Askernish golf course will also suffer. But I am more worried about the wider effect this will have on both the South Uist business community and our community. Last year we were told that we needed to produce an evidence-based assessment of the impact of cancellations. Stòras funded this and presented CalMac will overwhelming evidence of the negative impact…and yet still we are being ignored. It feels as if no one is listening or even cares…and that is simply not acceptable. Stòras will continue to offer all the support we can to our community’

The post Mary Schmoller hits out at ‘ridiculous’ CalMac cancellations appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Stòras Uibhist is delighted to share the Lochboisdale Strategic Visioning plan.  We would like to thank the community for engaging so positively with the project and for sharing so many ideas that have formed the basis of the plan.

As a result of the project some improvement works have already been completed in Lochboisdale and we will keep the community updated on our continued progress.  This project has been led and delivered by Stòras Uibhist, with funding support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

LSV_Final Report

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A total of 8 candidates have put themselves forward for election to the board of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire in the forthcoming election.

4 of the existing board members… DJ Cameron, Calum Mac Millan, Donnie Steele and Catriona Walker are seeking re-election along with Dave Adey, Ronnie MacKenzie, Iain Stephen Morrison and Alistair Nobles.

There are a total of 5 places available on the board this year and the new directors will take their places alongside Norman MacAskill and Mary Schmoller. A ballot will now be conducted on behalf of the organisation by the Comhairle electoral services team.

Voting forms will be sent to all members with the ballot opening on 24^th August. Members will have until 6^th September to return their ballots. The result will be announced on 7^th September and the AGM will follow at St Mary’s Griminish on 14^th September.

Chief Executive Darren Taylor said ‘It is good to see such a large number of members of the community putting themselves forward for election to the board this year.
Local democracy is at the heart of community land ownership and all of our members will now have the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidates’.

Candidate statements giving their reason for standing and skills/knowledge that they can contribute to the Board.

The post Nominations for election as Director of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire 2023 appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Orasaigh Industrial Site, South Uist

Background

Stòras Uibhist is inviting applications from businesses or persons interested in acquiring the lease of the disused industrial site at Orasaigh, South Uist.

The site became operational in 1944 with a factory processing seaweed, which was dried at the factory and then transported to a main processing factory in Girvan. The factory ceased seaweed processing operations in 1981 and the site has been used for a variety of purposes since. The site has been without a tenant for several years and the various buildings are in a state of disrepair. Fly tipping has added to the considerable collection of abandoned material on the site, all of which must be removed by the successful applicant and disposed of appropriately.

The overall site extends to 1.65 acres. There are 3 buildings on the site, all of which will need to be renovated to be suitable for use as workshops, storage, or office space. The site is accessed via a road/track extending to approximately one mile from the start of the North Baghasdal Township road. Water and electricity services have previously been provided to the site. Connection to these services is a matter for any future lease holder.

Council rates for the property were set by the council for the 2022/2023 financial year at £6,196.36pa. The successful applicant will be responsible for payment of rates associated with the property on signing the lease.

A site map showing the extent of the area of the premises available for lease is shown below (click to enlarge) This is for information purposes only, applicants are encouraged to visit the site to ensure that they are familiar with the size, layout, and condition of the site and buildings thereon.

Application Process

Applicants are required to complete an Application Form and submit it by email to info@storasuibhist.com, or by hand, to the Stòras Uibhist office (Oifis Stòras, Daliburgh, South Uist, HS8 5SS). The deadline for completed applications is 1pm Friday 25^th August 2023.

Applications will then be assessed against the criteria detailed in the guidance notes on page 3 of the Application Form.

The successful applicant will be notified week commencing Monday 28^th August 2023, with the tenancy to commence as soon as possible after that date.

For a copy of the Application Form please email info@storasuibhist.com requesting a copy of the Application Form for the Orasaigh Industrial Site.

The post Commercial Lease Opportunity August 2023 appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Press Release 25 August 2023

South Uist Business Impact Group has just received the commissioned Economic Assessment of the Ferry Disruption for March to June 2023.   The report was funded by Storas Uibhist and carried out by MKA Economics, who had carried out a wider impact assessment in 2022.

The significant findings are:

• The losses are higher in 2023 and in the region of £2.6million in lost turnover
• It should be noted that the actual results may be larger than those presented in this report

The study replicated the one carried out in 2022 and consequently a comparison can be made.   Response was validated by the number of businesses reviewed from both the Scottish and UK governments data bases.    Responses were greater in 2023 with a completion rate of 47%.    The survey was designed to obtain data on

• Business diversity that was impacted
• Awareness of ferry issues
• Impact of ferry loss on business
• Views of ferry Service loss
• Ideas to mitigate against future ferry loss

All the businesses were aware of the ferry loss compared to 94% in 2022

Most business is reliant on the CalMac service and only 4% it was only slightly important, demonstrating the significant impact the loss of the lifeline service is having on the operation of business.

Most business identified Turnover as the aspect of their business that suffered the most with patronage and footfall coming a close second  70% and 67%.   This indicates a far greater loss than in 2022

 Over 2022 and 2023 there is demonstrable loss combined of over £3m

 The report will be shared with the Minister for Transport, Transport Scotland as evidence of the impact on our community.

Report has two pages of comments from business and the most significant final question about whether there should be an automatic PLAN B  was desired by 94% of recipients, a challenge for the coming months.

“There was nothing we could do.   No Tourists, No Trade!      Page 12

“Our views have been ably captured and presented under the South Uist &Benbecula Business Impact Group”      Page 17

Please click here to view the report.

Please contact:

Mary Schmoller   mary.schmoller@storasuibhist.com or J.D Peteranna  jd@energee.co.uk

For further information

The post South Uist Business Impact Group appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

The 2023 annual director election for Sealladh na Beinne Mòire is now complete.

This year there was five (5) board vacancies to be filled.

Members voted for 8 nominated candidates through a postal ballot organised under the auspices of the Comhairle.

Total number of votes cast – 488
Member turnout – 57.14%

The full result was as follows:

Official Declarion of Results from CnES available here

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on the 14^th September at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Hall, Griminish.

The post Sealladh na Beinne Mòire Director Elections appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Following a meeting of the new board of directors of SnBM on Friday 15^th September, Mary Schmoller has been re-elected as Chairperson of SnBM.
Mary will be joined by existing director Normal MacAskill, re-elected directors DJ Cameron, Donnie Steele & Catriona Walker along with new directors Ronnie MacKenzie and Iain Stephen Morrison.

Speaking after the meeting, Mary said
‘I am delighted to have been re-elected as Chairperson and I would thank my fellow directors for their support.
The re-election of Catriona, Donnie and DJ means stability and continuity, while the new directors Iain Stephen and Ronnie will bring fresh ideas.
I look forward to working with the board and to moving forward with both the projects underway at Stòras and with new ideas and plans’.

The subsidiary boards of Lochboisdale Development Ltd and South Uist Renewable Energy Ltd will be made up of Donnie Steele, Mary Schmoller, Iain Stephen Morrison and DJ Cameron (LDL) and Norman MacAskill, Catriona Walker, Ronnie MacKenzie and Mary Schmoller (SURE). Chairs for these boards will be elected at the first meetings of these new boards scheduled for October.

The post Mary Schmoller re-elected as Chairperson of SnBM appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

The post Stòras Uibhist Deer Cull 2023/24 appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Stòras Uibhist are delighted to announce that they have reached an agreement with the Scottish Government Rural Payments & Inspections Division (SGRPID) and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to jointly fund a major hydrological study and options appraisal for a significant part of the South Uist main drainage system.

The work, which is scheduled to begin in the next few weeks will look at the system between Poll a’ Fearchadh at the entrance to Loch Baghasdail to the Roe Glas outfall at Trolaisgeir on the west of South Uist.

The watercourse flows through a very low-lying area along the western side of South Uist, with the catchment area comprising of a large number of ditch networks, open water features and wetland areas.

Darren Taylor, Stòras Uibhist CEO said ‘The low-lying area along the western coast of South Uist between the A865 and the Hebridean Way footpath has been subject to historic flooding, which is becoming ever more frequent. This not only makes life increasingly difficult for our crofting tenants but is becoming evermore of a problem to the wider ecological system, it causes issues with our roads, and it impacts on all of us living on South Uist.

With this in mind, Stòras Uibhist and our partners in national and local government are commissioning this study to better understand the sources of flood risk and determine what our options are to reduce these risks in the future’.

Mr Taylor added ‘The engineers will be consulting with local stakeholders as well as using their professional expertise and experience. We expect this study to provide us with a whole range of options from ‘quick wins’ to long-term solutions that might include nature-based solutions like peatland restoration work, tree planting and water storage options on the higher ground’.

Mary Schmoller, Stòras Uibhist Chairperson said ‘Addressing the issues around flooding, our drainage systems and the impact climate change and changing rainfall patterns are having on our community is a key objective for the organisation. However, the problem is simply too big for Stòras to address on our own and I am delighted that we have been able to secure funding from, and work in partnership with, the Government and the Comhairle’.

The post Stòras Uibhist announces major drainage study in partnership with Scottish Government and CnES appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Saturday 28th October
2pm

The South Uist Estate community are finalising plans to celebrate Community Land Scotland Week.  Estate residents will come together to mark just over 5 years since the Loch Druidibeg Nature Reserve was transferred back to community ownership with a guided woodland walk at the RSPB Community Nature Reserve.

This is a special year for Scotland’s community-controlled properties, marking 100 years since the first significant urban buyout, when the then Lord Leverhulme gifted the town of Stornoway to the townspeople.

Stòras Uibhist is among over 40 communities, across the length and breadth of Scotland, taking part in anniversary events.

Darren Taylor, Stòras Uibhist CEO said: We look forward to celebrating our community ownership of the Estate and in particular, 5 years since the Loch Druidibeag Nature Reserve was transferred back to our community.  A great example of partnership work, the community can come and see the hard work that has gone into making the Reserve such a success and a destination for community and visitors alike to enjoy our unique and wonderful landscape and habitat.”

The annual celebration of community ownership, which is organised by Community Land Scotland and the Scottish Government, has been extended to a fortnight this year rather than the usual week-long event. Many of the community projects were set up with financial help from the Scottish Land Fund.

Community Land Scotland, Development Manager, Linsay Chalmers, said: ‘This is a special year for Community empowerment and it’s fantastic to have vibrant projects such as (fill in name of project) participating.

‘Every buyout, large or small, urban and rural, is very important to its community. A lot of people have worked very hard to make these buyouts successful and we very pleased to celebrate that success across Scotland.’

Shona MacLellan, Community Engagement Officer at RSPB said:  “Families can follow our Big Wild Halloween trail, take a guided walk to experience the change of the seasons and learn more about the work happening at the Loch Druidibeag Community Reserve woodland.”

Community Land celebrations will run across over 40 areas of Scotland, from Oct 13 to Oct 29.

Community Land Scotland was set up in 2010 as a voice for community landowners, to help its members share knowledge and information, and to encourage communities to consider landownership and highlight the benefits of community landownership to Scotland.

Around 500 community groups now own 212,000 hectares of land and numerous buildings across Scotland.

For further information about the community event, please contact: Deirdre Steele on 01878 700101 or at Deirdre.steele@storasuibhist.com

For press inquiries, please contact: Norrie Maclennan, PR and Communications Coordinator, Community Land Scotland. m 07786702313,

Email: Norrie.maclennan@communitylandscotland.org.uk

Further information about Community Land Scotland can be found at: www.communitylandscotland.org.uk

The post Stòras Uibhist celebrates community success in special anniversary year. appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Following the recent Sealladh na Beinne Mòire director elections and September’s AGM, we are pleased to announce that Donnie Steele has been appointed as Chairperson of Lochboisdale Development Limited.

Donnie, who has served as a director of SnBM and LDL since 2020 was instrumental in the planning and execution of the new Marloch memorial and has been closely involved with recent events at Lochboisdale including this year’s Feis Gasaigh. Donnie has also taken a leading role in the Lochboisdale Regeneration Plan that Stòras Uibhist are leading on.

Speaking of his appointment Donnie said ‘I am thankful to my fellow directors for appointing me as Chair. This is an exciting and important time for Lochboisdale as we work closely with CMAL on the new ferry terminal project and also the wider regeneration project. We have already secured almost £200,000 of development funding this year for the first phase of work including the painting and new fencing, the rapid electric charging points and the technical survey and design work for the new path from Kenneth Terrace to Calabhaigh. We have ambitious plans for further investment both at the marina and in the wider Lochboisdale area and I look forward to working with my fellow directors, our staff and the community to drive these forward’.

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Stòras News – December 2023 – Final

The post December Newsletter appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

Thank you to all who have applied to the SnBM Community Fund throughout the year.  The final approvals were made recently and we congratulate the following applicants and projects;

£300            Cothrom – Uist Youth Café, Christmas Activity

£600            Ceòlas – Fealla Dhà fad an Latha

£750             Caraidean Uibhist – Towards transport for South Uist “Ladies That Lunch”

£850             Comann Dualchas Innse Gall – Towards Heritage Conference 2024 in Benbecula

£1,000          Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh – Towards IT equipment

£2,000          Uist Community Riding School – Towards transportation of new horse

£3,000          Carnan Stores – Towards refurbishment of store and IT upgrade

£3,480          Leeann MacKenzie Hairdressing – Towards equipment to open new salon

£5,000          Cothrom Og – Ath Bheothachadh Cothrom Og

Total support of £42,698 has been approved in 2023.  

The Community Fund will re-open in the new year 2024 with the following deadlines;

Tuesday 30^th January

Tuesday 26^th March

Tuesday 4^th June

Tuesday 3^rd September

Tuesday 5^th November

The post SnBM Community Fund – November Recipients appeared first on Storas Uibhist.

De a tha Gàidhlig a’ ciallaichadh dhut? – What does Gaelic mean to you?

Halo, is mise Eilidh NicDhòmhnaill, tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil Gàidhlig gu math cudromach dhòmh mar pàirt dhen ar Canan, ar Cultair agus ar Dualchas againn. Chaidh mi tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann an Loch Abar, air mo theagasg bho tidsearan Uibhistich. Bha mi daonnan a’ tighinn dhachaigh dhan croit againn ann an Gearraidh na Monadh a h-uile laithean saora. An uair sin, gluais mi dhan Croit ann an 2022.

Tha mi ag obair nam Rianaire Croitearachd agus Fearann aig Storas Uibhist. Bidh mi a’ cuideachadh daoine a’ bhios a’ fonadh neo a tadhal air an oifis le ceistean Croitearachd a tha aca. Bidh mi a’ cleachdadh Gàidhlig tric san obair laitheil agam. Bidh cuid mhòr dhen muinntir Choimhearsnachd seo a’ chiad canan aca agus na b’ e nas s’fhasa a’ bhruidhinn sa Ghàidhlig bidh iad nas cofhuirtail. Tha mi gu math moiteil gu bhith a’ bruidhinn Gàidhlig agus bidh mi a’ cleachdadh e cho tric s’urrainn dhòmh. S’ e “Co as a tha thu” a’ chiad ceist a’ bhios mi a’ fhaighinn gu tric.

Moran taing gun na tidsearean air leth Uibhistich tron na bhliadhnaichean – Christine MacRaild & Anne MacLellan (Leth Meadhanach), Catriona Caimbeul (Loch Baghasdail) agus Catriona Nic an t-Saoir (Loch a Charnain), tha mi gu math taingeil airson ur teagasg agus stiureadh a’ thuig sibh dhòmh thairis na bhliadhnaichean chun a latha an-diugh.

Hello, my name is Eilidh MacDonald, Gaelic plays a very important part in our language, culture and our Heritage.

I went through Gaelic Medium Education in Lochaber (With majority of my teachers hailed from South Uist). I always came home to the croft in Garrynamonie on every school holiday and I thoroughly enjoyed it so much so, I decided to move home to the croft in 2022.  Gaelic is very important to me and I certainly use this at every opportunity possible.

I work as a Crofting and Land Administrator at South Uist Estates. I help and support members of the Community with Crofting Queries and If I can use Gaelic with members of the Community may find it easier to communicate and feel more comfortable, as with many, Gaelic will be their first language. It’s the “Who do you belong to” is very often the first question I get asked.

Many thanks to my amazing Teachers who came from South Uist  – Christine MacRaild & Anne MacLellan (Leth Meadhanach), Catriona Caimbeul (Loch Baghasdail) and Catriona Nic an t-Saoir (Loch a Charnain), I am very grateful for your teaching and guidance through the years to get to where I am today.

The post Eilidh NicDhòmhnaill – World Gaelic Week | Seachdain na Gàidhlig appeared first on Storas Uibhist.