This exciting project is aimed at reducing social isolation and promoting social activities across the West Harris estate and wider community. This is more relevant now than ever before, with many still affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Social isolation is known to have a hugely negative effect on an individual’s health and well-being, and can impact everyone, no matter their stage of life.

 

During the project so far, we have sought to explore effective ways to prevent and reduce social isolation, bringing people together and enabling them to spend time with new friends and old, across the generations.

 

We have worked with local partners including businesses, social care organisations and charities to provide a range of activities and to help people spend time together, develop new skills and engage with our exceptional surroundings and culture.

 

Project highlights have included ceilidhs, Gaelic lessons, IT support workshops, the construction of a polycrub (and formation of our gardening group) and a busy summer programme for young people and families that included a beach school, story sessions for toddlers and surfing lessons. 

 

This project came about following previous community consultations in which a need was identified for greater opportunities for social activities. As this phase of the project draws towards a close, we are again looking forward to working with the community to develop a programme of social activities that meets local needs and can be sustained into the future.