SLCVO Blog 19 June
- joford4
- Jun 19
- 12 min read
This week’s blog celebrates Small Charity Week and shines a light on the vital role small charities play across Skye and Lochalsh. It explores the scale and diversity of local charities, highlighting how these organisations support communities, often with limited resources, and showcases how small charities are making a big impact, from supporting health and wellbeing to preserving heritage, building skills, and connecting remote communities
What is Small Charity Week
Small Charity Week is an annual campaign that celebrates the vital role small charities play across the UK. It highlights organisations that often work quietly in the background, delivering essential services, supporting vulnerable people, and strengthening communities. While many people are familiar with large, national charities, this week focuses attention on the smaller organisations that are deeply embedded in local areas.
The week is an opportunity to recognise their impact, share their stories, and encourage people to support them through volunteering, partnerships, or funding. In rural areas such as Skye and Lochalsh, small charities are not just an added benefit — they are often essential to community wellbeing, providing services and connections that might otherwise not exist.
Small Charities in Skye and Lochalsh
A small charity is typically defined by its annual income. In the UK, this often refers to organisations with an income of under £100,000.
The Skye and Lochalsh 2025 Third Sector Profile records around 130 registered operating in Skye and Lochalsh. A significant proportion of these operate at a small scale, including 45 charities with an annual income of under £10,000, often referred to as micro-charities, 23 with an income between £10,000 and £25,000, and 34 falling within the £25,000 to £100,000 range.
Across Skye and Lochalsh, small charities work across a wide range of areas, reflecting diverse local needs. Many focus on community development, managing facilities and supporting local projects, while others support health and wellbeing, tackling isolation and creating spaces for connection. There is also strong support for children, young people and families through activities and early intervention.
The area has a rich mix of organisations working in culture and heritage, particularly around Gaelic and local traditions, alongside environmental and sustainability groups and advice services supporting people with finances, employment and access to services. Many charities work across several of these areas, reflecting how community needs are closely linked.
Rural challenges such as reduction in volunteers, disconnection from central policy making and ongoing funding pressures can make delivery more difficult. However, small charities bring important strengths. They are trusted, locally rooted and highly responsive, often acting as connectors and early responders within their communities. Their impact goes beyond service delivery, helping to build resilience, strengthen connections and ensure people remain supported, even in the most remote areas.
Small Charity, Big Impact – Skye Stroke Friends
Skye Stroke Friends is a powerful example of how a small charity can make a life-changing difference within its community. Registered as a charity in 2017 (Scottish Charity No. SC047765), the organisation is entirely community-led, with trustees, volunteers, members, and carers all playing an active role in shaping its work. Despite operating on a relatively small scale in terms of income, the impact of Skye Stroke Friends reaches deeply into the lives of stroke survivors and their families across Skye and Raasay.
Like many small charities in Skye and Lochalsh, Skye Stroke Friends works with limited resources. Its funding comes largely from donations, small grants, and community support, and all activities are provided free of charge to members. This places it firmly within the category of a small charity — yet its reach and importance far exceed what its income might suggest. Operating primarily through volunteers, the organisation delivers consistent, meaningful support that would otherwise be unavailable in such a rural setting.
At the heart of Skye Stroke Friends is its weekly peer support group, held at Skeabost Memorial Hall. These sessions offer far more than social interaction. Members take part in activities designed to support recovery, including exercises to improve memory, speech, mobility, and confidence. Monthly outings and community events also provide opportunities for people to reconnect with their surroundings, rebuild independence, and regain a sense of belonging.
What makes the organisation particularly valuable is its deep understanding of the lived experience of stroke survivors. The charity creates a safe and supportive environment where individuals can share challenges, rebuild confidence, and support one another. As reflected in its own report, members describe Skye Stroke Friends as a “life saver” and “a safe place,” highlighting not just physical recovery but emotional wellbeing and connection.
The need for this kind of support in a rural area cannot be overstated. Stroke survivors on Skye often face additional barriers, including limited access to services, transport challenges, and isolation. Skye Stroke Friends helps bridge these gaps, working alongside health professionals while also providing something distinct — peer-led, face-to-face support that complements formal services and continues beyond them.
Even with a relatively small membership — 21 stroke survivors engaged over the course of a year, supported by volunteers and carers — the organisation demonstrates significant impact. It shows how small charities often operate: reaching fewer people in numbers, but providing deep, ongoing, and transformative support.
Looking ahead, Skye Stroke Friends is working to strengthen its role further by improving coordination with NHS services and developing initiatives such as a small equipment fund to support recovery at home. However, like many small charities, its future depends on securing sustainable funding to continue and expand its work.
Skye Stroke Friends is a clear reminder that the size of a charity does not determine its value. Small charities like this are often embedded in their communities, built on trust, and shaped by lived experience. They may operate with modest budgets, but they deliver lasting, meaningful change — making them an essential part of the social fabric of Skye and Lochalsh.
Find our more about Skye Stroke Friends
Small Charity, Rich Heritage – Eilean Bàn Trust
Eilean Bàn Trust is a striking example of how even the smallest charities can play a vital role in preserving heritage, environment, and community identity. Registered as a Scottish charity (SC029021), the Trust operates on a very modest income — with recent reported income as low as £454 in 2023 and £251 in 2024 — placing it firmly within the category of a micro-charity. Despite this, its work is both wide-ranging and deeply significant, centred on the care and stewardship of the iconic island of Eilean Bàn.
Formed in 1998, the Trust emerged from a successful community campaign to bring the island into local ownership. When plans were made to sell Eilean Bàn following the construction of the Skye Bridge, local residents and the Born Free Foundation worked together to secure its future as a community asset. That effort led directly to the creation of the Trust, with a mission that continues today: to protect the island’s natural environment, preserve its heritage, and ensure it remains accessible and meaningful to the wider community.
The setting of Eilean Bàn itself is central to the Trust’s work. Positioned between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin, the small “White Island” has long held strategic and cultural importance. It became particularly significant in 1857 with the construction of the Stevenson lighthouse, designed by David and Thomas Stevenson. This 70-foot tower guided sailors safely through the narrow waters of Loch Alsh and became a powerful local landmark. Although the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1993, it remains a defining feature of the island and a symbol of its maritime history.
Eilean Bàn is also well known as the final home of Gavin Maxwell, author of Ring of Bright Water, adding another layer of cultural and literary significance. The Trust has restored the former lighthouse keepers’ cottages, transforming them into a museum space and accommodation that allows visitors to experience the island’s unique atmosphere while learning about its history and wildlife.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Trust is its approach to volunteering. Unlike many charities, Eilean Bàn Trust offers residential volunteer placements, giving people the rare opportunity to live and work on the island itself. Volunteers contribute to the upkeep of the island, support conservation work, and help maintain visitor facilities. In return, they gain an immersive experience — living in a place shaped by history, nature, and community effort. This kind of volunteering is not only practical but transformational, offering time, space, and connection.
The Trust demonstrates the essence of a small charity. With minimal financial resources and a largely volunteer-led model, it continues to manage a nationally recognised heritage site, protect wildlife, and create meaningful opportunities for people to engage with place and history. Its work spans environmental conservation, education, tourism, and cultural preservation — showing just how wide the reach of a small organisation can be.
Eilean Bàn Trust is a powerful reminder that small charities are often custodians of places and stories that define communities. While its income may be small, its impact is anything but — ensuring that this unique island, its lighthouse, and its history remain part of the living fabric of Skye and Lochalsh for generations to come.
Find out more about Eilean Bàn Trust https://eileanban.org/
Small but Mighty: The Skye Wind Band
The Skye Wind Band (SC052707) is a small but ambitious community charity that demonstrates how local organisations can make a meaningful impact. Registered in 2023, the band exists to advance public education and appreciation of music through performances, rehearsals and community engagement. Despite having no paid staff and relying on volunteers, it is driven by a clear purpose: to achieve musical excellence while connecting with local and wider communities and inspiring a lifelong love of music.
For participants, the band offers much more than the chance to play music. It provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where people of different abilities and backgrounds can come together regularly, build confidence and develop friendships. Rehearsals are open and accessible, even to visitors, and the group actively encourages new members to get involved. This is particularly important in a rural setting like Skye, where opportunities for creative and social participation can be limited. The band helps fill that gap by offering a consistent, supportive space for connection and creativity.
The Skye Wind Band also plays an important role in bringing the wider community together. Its events are varied and inclusive, ranging from themed concerts such as “A Night at the Musicals” to appearances at local festivals. The band regularly performs in community venues, helping to draw people into local halls and shared spaces, and often supports fundraising efforts and community causes along the way. Whether performing at established events like Skye Week or supporting smaller local initiatives, the band contributes to a vibrant community life across the island.
Behind the scenes, the band is supported by a dedicated and experienced team benefiting from a mix of professional musical expertise and strong volunteer leadership. This combination ensures that both the creative and organisational aspects of the charity are well managed, enabling it to grow and thrive despite its relatively recent formation.
What stands out particularly is the band’s strong approach to governance. Although small, it has established a clear structure with trustees responsible for oversight and decision-making, supported by a formal constitution. It also demonstrates transparency by making legal documents and policies publicly available on its website, including important safeguarding guidance that ensures the wellbeing of all participants and audiences. This level of openness and good practice is impressive for a small organisation and plays a key role in building trust within the community.
Overall, the Skye Wind Band is much more than a music group. It is a community hub that fosters belonging, supports local venues and events, and brings people together through shared cultural experiences. Its success shows how even a small charity, when well-led and community-focused, can have a significant and lasting impact.
Find out more about The Skye Wind Band https://skyewindband.co.uk/
From First Sail to Lifelong Skills: The Skye Sailing Club
The Skye Sailing Club (SC044451) is another strong example of how a small charity can deliver a wide and lasting impact for its community. Established as a charity in 2013, its purpose is to facilitate community participation in healthy recreation through boating, while promoting safety, training and care for the marine environment. Despite being a relatively small organisation, with a mix of staff and volunteers, the club plays a significant role in making sailing and water-based activities accessible to people across Skye.
At the core of the club’s work is its commitment to high-quality training. As a recognised Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre, it offers a wide range of structured courses across sailing, windsurfing and powerboating, all delivered to nationally recognised standards by qualified instructors. These include youth sailing programmes, adult beginner and intermediate courses, and specialist skills workshops, ensuring that there are opportunities for all ages and abilities to get involved. The club also runs a summer sailing school for young people, combining skill development with confidence building and fun, and offers additional activities such as powerboat training and “Wet & Wild” activity weeks. This variety ensures that participants can progress, stay engaged and develop a lifelong interest in water sports.
Beyond formal training, the club offers a broad programme of activities that bring people onto the water and into the community. From evening sailing sessions and race events to visitor “sailing experiences” in Portree Bay, the club creates opportunities for both residents and visitors to engage with Skye’s unique coastal environment. Its open and inclusive approach—keeping fees affordable and encouraging participation from all backgrounds—helps remove barriers and ensures that as many people as possible can benefit from what it offers.
A particularly important aspect of the club’s work is its engagement with young people and local schools. Through initiatives such as Primary 7 sailing taster sessions, pupils from across Skye are given the opportunity to try sailing, often for the first time, in a safe and supportive environment. These sessions not only introduce young people to a new sport but also help build confidence, teamwork and a connection to the local environment. The club also delivers summer activity programmes and sailing courses for children and teenagers, creating pathways for ongoing participation and skill development.
The club’s physical facilities also play an important role in the wider community. Following significant investment and redevelopment, the clubhouse provides modern changing facilities alongside a training and meeting space with views across Portree Harbour and the Cuillin Hills. Importantly, this space is not just for club members—it is available for community groups and businesses to book, adding valuable meeting and social space on the island. This creates additional benefits beyond sailing, supporting local organisations and strengthening community infrastructure.
Overall, Skye Sailing Club is much more than a sports club. It is a community-focused charity that combines high-quality instruction, inclusive access, youth engagement and shared facilities to deliver real impact. Through its wide range of courses, qualified instructors and strong links with schools and community groups, it creates opportunities for people of all ages to learn new skills, build confidence and connect with others. Like many small charities, its scale is modest—but its contribution to community life on Skye is anything but.
Find out more about The Skye Sailing Club https://www.skyesailingclub.com/
Small Charity, Big Journey: The Glenelg and Arnisdale Bus User Group
The Glenelg and Arnisdale Bus User Group (SC046425)—often known simply as BUG—is a powerful example of how a small, rural charity can tackle one of the biggest challenges facing remote communities: transport. Established in 2016, the charity exists to support community development by providing transport solutions in the extremely remote areas of Glenelg and Arnisdale, ensuring that residents remain connected, supported and included.
Operating in one of the most isolated parts of the Highlands, BUG focuses on a simple but vital goal—helping people access the services and opportunities that many others take for granted. Through a combination of a weekly community bus and an on-demand, subsidised taxi service, the charity connects local residents to key hubs such as Kyle of Lochalsh and the wider transport network at Shiel Bridge. These links are essential for accessing healthcare, shopping, employment and social activities, helping to reduce isolation and improve overall wellbeing in the community.
At the heart of the organisation is its innovative voucher scheme, which enables people to book a subsidised taxi journey for a low, fixed cost. Users can purchase a voucher and arrange travel that connects them directly to mainline bus services, effectively bridging the gap left by limited or non-existent public transport. Journeys typically link Glenelg, Arnisdale and Corran with the Citylink stop at Shiel Bridge, opening up access to the wider region and beyond. This flexible, demand-led approach ensures that transport works around people’s needs rather than the other way around.
This kind of service is particularly important in rural and island contexts, where traditional bus routes are often not viable. BUG’s model provides a lifeline—helping residents maintain independence, attend appointments, access essential services and stay socially connected. The charity explicitly aims to maintain independent travel and connectivity in an ultra-remote Highland area, highlighting the critical role it plays in sustaining everyday life.
The impact of the organisation extends across different groups within the community. From older residents and people with health conditions to young people and families, the service supports a wide range of users, ensuring that transport is not a barrier to participation in community life. By reducing isolation and improving access, BUG helps strengthen the resilience of the entire community.
Despite its small size and volunteer-led structure, the Glenelg and Arnisdale Bus User Group delivers a highly practical and effective solution to rural transport challenges. It shows how local knowledge, partnership with organisations such as Highland Council, and a clear understanding of community needs can lead to innovative and sustainable services.
Overall, BUG is much more than a transport service. It is a vital community connector—linking people to services, opportunities and each other. In doing so, it demonstrates the powerful role that small charities can play in addressing rural inequality and ensuring that even the most remote communities remain connected to the wider world.
Find out more about The Glenelg and Arnisdale Bus User Group
Supporting Small Charities How SLCVO Can Help
SLCVO plays a vital role in supporting small charities and community groups across Skye and Lochalsh, helping them build skills, confidence and resilience. As a community development organisation, we focus on strengthening the third sector so local groups can deliver real benefits for their communities.
A key part of this is our free support service, available to both new and established organisations. This includes help with setting up groups, governance advice, developing policies, and understanding roles and responsibilities. We also support organisations to become funding ready, helping to shape ideas, identify opportunities and strengthen applications.
For organisations needing more tailored input, we also offer enhanced support services such as community engagement, profiling, and in-depth project or funding development.
Find out more about SLCVO support
Blog produced with the support of Microsoft Copilot
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