VAL'S HISTORY

Voluntary Action Lewis (charity no. SC015053) was originally set up as Lewis Council of Social Service in 1968/69, but was reconstituted as a charitable company limited by guarantee in March 1996 with two former chairmen, Kenny John MacKay from Barvas and the late Angus MacLeod, Marybank, as its first Directors.

Later in 1996 Voluntary Action Training Ltd was established as a subsidiary company to help deliver its expanding employment training programmes.

1991 Volunteer workers, left to right:- the late Donald MacLeod,
Murdo Nicolson, Kenny Slater, John MacFarlane, Alistair Shaw, Murdo MacDonald.

In 1997 the new one-stop-shop building at 30 Francis Street was opened, becoming an exemplifier of innovation and good practice in rural development.

Voluntary Action Lewis Building at 30 Francis Street.

Since being established, the organisation has had a strong local network of member organisations from which it draws its volunteer management board.

Former Lewis Council of Social Service committee members along with
Catherine MacLeod, Alasdair Nicholson and AGM speaker Liz Burns.
Left to right: Catherine MacLeod, Kenny John MacKay, Pamela Elliott,
Chrissie MacRae, Calum John MacIver, Angus MacLeod, Liz Burns,
Sandra Fraser, John M. MacLeod, Alasdair Nicholson.

The organisation has successfully renewed both Investors In People and Scottish Quality Management Standards. It is affiliated to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Learning Link Scotland and other regional and national networks.