Since 1985 Corra Foundation has distributed almost £193 million and made nearly 24,000 grants to charities, helping to improve the lives of individuals and communities experiencing disadvantage all across Scotland and in countries around the world.
Action for Children is a UK children's charity created to help vulnerable children and young people, and their families, in the UK.
Action for Children Eilean Siar Residential Unit - Hillcrest
Funded by the local authority and regulated by the Care Inspectorate, Hillcrest is a residential home based in Stornoway for Looked After children and young people who for various reasons need to be accommodated.
Adoption UK in Scotland operates from our office base in Edinburgh, providing information, support and advice to those parenting children who are no longer able to live with their birth families, across Scotland. Our services are provided through our helpline, online support systems, training workshops and support groups.
Alateen is for teenage relatives and friends of alcoholics. Alateen is part of Al-Anon. We believe alcoholism is a family disease that affects everyone in the family. Alateen meetings are for 12-17 year olds. They meet to share their experiences of having, or having had, a problem drinker in their lives. They help and support each other.
Apex Scotland’s work is about reducing re-offending, promoting desistance, tackling deprivation and making communities safer. In all that we do, we make best use of our resources to bring lasting value to individuals and society.
Autism Eileanan Siar is a local parent-led charity set up to support anyone living in the Western Isles who is affected by autism or additional support needs.
Bayhead Bridge Centre - Accommodation, Cafe & Launderette
The Bayhead Bridge Centre is a multi-faceted facility serving Stornoway and the Western Isles community, comprising: Public Shower, Stornoway Laundrette, Meeting and Conference Space for Hire , Guest Accommodation, Student Accommodation, Community Centre, Advocacy Western Isles and a Café .
Bosom Buddies Breastfeeding Support Group
Bosom Buddies is a relaxed peer support group for breastfeeding mothers and mums-to-be to meet, support and share their breastfeeding experiences.
The group is run by the NHS Western Isles Health Visiting Team and there is access to a health visitor each week for support and advice. It is a very warm and friendly group and new mothers are always welcomed and encouraged to attend. The group provides a safe and relaxed environment to breastfeed in the company of others. Come and join us for a chat and a play for the little ones!
The Care Inspectorate is a scrutiny body which supports improvement. That means we look at the quality of care in Scotland to ensure it meets high standards. Where we find that improvement is needed, we support services to make positive changes.
Our vision is that everyone experiences safe, high-quality care that meets their needs, rights and choices.
Our mission is to make life better for carers throughout the UK. We provide information and advice on caring, help carers connect with each other, campaign with carers for lasting change, and use innovation to improve services.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team is a group of professionals who all have specialised skills in working with children/young people and their families who are experiencing difficulties.
The CAMHS team sees children and young people and their families with a wide range of difficulties.
Its aim is always to help children and young people and their families understand about the factors that lead to mental health problems and help make sure that these factors do not lead to further difficulties.
The protection of children and young people is everyone’s job and everyone’s responsibility.
In the Outer Hebrides this is a shared responsibility and is promoted through the work of the multi-agency Chief Officers Group (COG) and the Child Protection Committee (CPC).
We deliver health and wellbeing services directly to children and young people and we are the only charity dedicated to informing, promoting, and campaigning on behalf of the needs and rights of all children and young people with health conditions.
We provide expertise and information to children and young people, families, carers, educators, and health professionals and are a national voice for health-related issues relating to children and young people. Our charity is also a champion for health-related play in hospital, in the community or at home.
Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) recruits, trains and supports around 3,000 volunteers across Scotland. Their volunteer roles are Panel Members and Area Support Team (AST) members. Panel Members make legal decisions with, and for, children and young people in children’s hearings, and AST members provide support and guidance to those Panel Members locally. You may have heard of us being referred to as the Children’s Panel too.
A unique community-run project which provides a range of services for the benefit both of the local community and our many visitors. These include a nursery, a popular and well-regarded café, a gift shop, food production and sales under the Hebridean Kitchen brand, internet access and meeting facilities, as well as a full programme of walks and talks and much more.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Council Offices
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) is the local authority for Na h-Eileanan an Iar council area of Scotland.
Your questions answered accurately and without judgement within 24 hours. A safe space for young people age 12 up to & including 25 living in Tayside, The Western Isles, Dumfries and Galloway and Argyll and Bute. Simply click the ‘Ask A Question’ button on the website to reach out and ask the cool2talk team your question, then check back to read an answer.
Working to strengthen and amplify people’s voices and their power to make change.
Cost of Living Support Scotland
Website offering advice from the Scottish Government on energy and bills; benefits and income; children and families; debt and money; health and wellbeing; and older or disabled people.
Crossreach - Dochas Project (Homelessness Prevention)
At Dochas, we offer practical support, advocacy and advice to those aged over 16 living on the Isles of Lewis and Harris.
Crossroads Care Harris was set up in 1985 in response to a need to provide respite care in the home to carers of ill, elderly or people with disabilities. As well as providing respite for family carers, we also provide support to vulnerable people living alone. We provide a trained care attendant to go into the home to take over the duties of the family carer or to provide support if the user lives alone. We are affiliated to Crossroads (Scotland) and are registered with the Care Inspectorate.
Crossroads Lewis supports approximately 50 carers and service users on a weekly basis over all our services. We provide home support to carers regardless of age, disability or illness and to those living alone, struggling with ill-health or loneliness. We also provide a valued Palliative service at home.
We are experts in online child protection. We work with schools, parents and local authorities to protect children in Scotland and around the world from online exploitation and abuse.
A life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.
The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life. 14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
FASD Hub Scotland provide a support service for parents/carers (adoptive and biological parents, foster carers, kinship carers and step parents) across Scotland who live with children, young people and young adults who have a history of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), with or without a foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) diagnosis.
Fostering, Adoption & Kinship Team (CNES)
We believe all children have the right to live in a family, but if they are not able to live with their birth family, fostering can provide a positive alternative.
Guiding is a fun and safe way for girls to explore and grow in a safe environment. As a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide or Ranger, your daughter will join a group of girls her own age, led by one of our trained and dedicated volunteers.
1 in 5 children and young people suffer from mental health illness in any given year. At Kooth, we believe every young person has the right to thrive and to access high quality mental health care.Kooth.com is commissioned by the NHS, Local Authorities, charities and businesses to provide anonymous and personalised mental health support for Children and Young People. With over 4000 logins per day, we provide end to end support whatever the need.
Macaulay College provides people with additional social and educational requirements with a programme of activities that encourages them to have meaningful and fulfilling working and social lives whilst achieving their full potential and reaching person specific targets.
Mental Health and Learning Disability Services
NHS Western Isles provides a comprehensive range of mental health services for people living in the Western Isles.
Mental Health Officers (MHO) are specially trained Social Workers who support people with mental health problems who sometimes have difficulty in recognising that they might benefit from treatment. MHOs inform people affected by mental health law about their rights and make sure people get the care they need. This includes helping people to access an Independent Advocate. The MHO Service is mostly used by Doctors (GP’s and Psychiatrists) seeking consent for the detention of people under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
The Western Isles Family Information Service provides access to information on early learning and childcare services available throughout the islands. You can search for the details of any of the following in your local area: Nurseries; Playgroups; Childminders; After School Clubs, and Parent & Toddler Groups. The Service also provides links to contacts and groups for family support and guidance.
One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) is the leading charity working with single parent families in Scotland. We provide expert advice, practical support and campaign with parents to make their voices heard to change the systems, policies and attitudes that disadvantage single parent families.
PAMIS - Promoting a more Inclusive Society
We support people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, PMLD - their families, carers and professionals.
Papyrus - Prevention of Young Suicide
Hopeline UK: 0800 068 41 41
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.
Through pregnancy and toddler tantrums, to starting school and all the way up to those tricky teenage years, we’re here to help. Offering tips and advice for all the challenges that family life throws up, from experts and parents and carers who’ve been there before.
Pointers Drop-in-Centre is a purpose built youth centre for 12 – 25 year olds funded by the Western Isles Council.
Phone: 0800 7311 888 - Textphone & RelayUK App: 0800 500 888
Relay UK (Previously Next Generation Text) helps deaf, speech-impaired, and hearing people talk to each other over the phone using the relay service. You can use the Relay UK app with your mobile, tablet or PC, or just use Relay UK via your Minicom or Uniphone. All you pay are your normal call charges. You pay nothing to use the service itself.
01851 827308 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Safe Families is a charity that works with 35+ local authorities around the UK. Safe Families offer hope, belonging and support to children, families and care leavers; we do this primarily, but not exclusively, with and through local churches.
Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)
We protect and support Scotland’s children and young people, by making high quality decisions, upholding their rights and working collaboratively as compassionate, inclusive Corporate Parents to enable the most positive and personalised experience of the Children’s Hearings System.
Scouts are do-ers and give-it-a-go-ers. Yes, we go camping, hiking, swimming, abseiling, cycling and canoeing. But we also get to hang out with our friends every week – having fun, playing games, working in a team and taking on new challenges.
SiMBA (Simpson's Memory Box Appeal)
SiMBA offers a range of support and services; they donate Memory Boxes to help families to gather precious items of the time that they have to spend with their baby. They also refurbish Family Rooms giving families and peaceful homely place in the hospital to send time with their baby.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is Scotland’s national skills body. We contribute to Scotland’s sustainable economic growth by supporting people and businesses to develop and apply their skills. We work with our partners to provide services that deliver the very best outcomes for Scotland’s people, businesses and the economy.
Tagsa Uibhist is a community-based charity whose aim is to promote health and wellbeing in Uist.
Taking a holistic approach, we help people to live life to the full and to access the care and support they need to reach their potential. We find ways to connect people with each other, to be physically active, to learn new skills and fulfilling activities, and to take an active part in community life. Since being founded in 1999, we have been providing support to people with a range of support needs as well as support for carers through a range of services, from Care at Home to Community Transport and Community Gardens. A lot of our work is with the wonderful elderly community in Uist, but we also work with young people and families.
The Shed is a youth & community facility opened in 2014 with a focus on helping people who are affected by drug and alcohol misuse. We also provide a safe and fun environment for young people at our youth club.
See below for contact details
Making the internet a great and safe place for children and young people.
We are a partnership of three leading organisations: Childnet International, Internet Watch Foundation and SWGfL, with one mission – to make the internet a great and safe place for children and young people.
Western Isles Foyer was initially established in 2003 in response to an identified need for support to assist young people with tenancy management and sustainment. The project initially provided a supported accommodation service. We continue to provide this service but expanded our support remit in 2011 to provide a drop-in service, deliver independent living skills training and provide support and training to assist young people to move into/onto education, training or employment.