The Community of Barra and Vatersay

Our vision recognises people as the key resource in Barra and Vatersay. Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh aims to promote projects which will make Barra and Vatersay a better place for people to live and work. Community led development is at the heart of Iomairt aig an Oir and is the focus for Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh.

People

Our Vision recognises people as the key resources in Barra and Vatersay. Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh aims to promote projects which will make Barra and Vatersay a better place for people to live and work. This will be done by supporting projects which benefit specific groups of people: • Children • Youth • Elderly • Special needs A great deal of work is currently done to support these groups. Community led groups on Barra and Vatersay provide invaluable support for the elderly, people with special needs and preschoolers. It should be noted that there is a large proportion of the population, including many parents and people in full-time employment, who do not fall into any of the above categories. In addition to supporting specific groups we need to consider what it is that underpins the people we are - our identity. • Language - ensure that the gaidhlig language continues to live and thrive on these islands. • Music, Song and Dance - promote the arts through various avenues, such as the Feis etc. • Heritage - This takes many forms, from features built into the land, to artefacts, genealogy, as well as written and spoken word. Our culture and heritage are important, not only for the benefit of those who live on the island, but also for those who have left but who still have ties, and perhaps most importantly, for the benefit of future generations to come.