Reason for the website
The information & links in this website aim to help the communities of Barra & Vatersay. The Area Forum intend to keep the site updated regularly on development projects and funding opportunities in the area
Please use the links to read the Draft plan for Barra & Vatersay & the feed back form for comment
About the Area Forum
The Barra and Vatersay Area Forum is a constituted group with the goal of achieving the following:
Discussing and promoting social and economic matters that affect both Barra and Vatersay.
Reaching agreed decisions that reflect the interests of both islands on specific topics and issues.
Supporting individual projects, especially those requiring assistance with funding applications.
Promoting communication and fostering collaboration between the various groups operating within the Barra and Vatersay communities.
Developing the Barra and Vatersay Plan.
Enhancing communication with the local community, keeping them informed about the work of the Barra and Vatersay Forum, its Development Officer, and its Member Organisations.
Background
Early in 2019 a group of representatives from community organisations, community councils and the Local Authority met to form the Covid Economic Recovery group to consider how we could build a secure, vibrant and sustainable community. In March 2024, recognising that work had already started the group applied for funding from the Crown Estate “to identify aspirations and priorities, and how the partners can add value, by working in closer partnership with a specific community.” This led on to the Re-formation of the Barra & Vatersay Area Forum and a part time Co-ordinator was appointed in September 2024 to realise the vision of the Forum
At a community level, we are seeing the break-up of traditional economic and social activities; the emergence and growth of new kinds of economic and social opportunities; the reduction and even withdrawal of public services and reshaping of crofting. Change is all around us. Across international, European, regional and local landscapes, many of the previous well-known and understood institutions and principles in life have been challenged, disappeared or been radically changed in recent years. Unreliable and stagnating economic systems create uncertainty in markets, placing limitation on businesses. Climate change will increasingly impact on places, people and livelihoods.
The Area Forum aims to overcome the challenges we have ahead of us. We aim to improve policy and funding decisions by engaging the public in different ways, making participation easier to do.