Guth Bharraidh

09/06/2026

Spot the drummer 🥁. Good Luck

09/06/2026

📍 Diabetic Eye Screening – Uist & Barra
If you have diabetes, regular eye screening is an important way to protect your sight 👁️
Local screening clinics are taking place in Uist & Barra this June and July. If you receive an appointment, please make every effort to attend — early detection can help prevent sight loss.

09/06/2026

🚨🎟️ BARRALIVE TICKET ALERT! 🎟️🚨

The countdown is on! The FINAL release of Barralive tickets lands on Friday 12th June! 🎶

If you haven't secured your spot yet, this is your last chance to join the party everyone will be talking about!

🎟️ Available from:
📍 Post Office
📍 Padula's
📍 Airport Café
📍 Butchers

A few important bits before the rush begins:
Maximum 6 tickets per person
Please don't ask businesses to keep tickets aside – they can't!
There is NO waiting list for this release
Once they're gone... they're gone!

So set those alarms, send your most reliable friend, bribe your mum with a cup of tea... do whatever it takes! 😂

Isle of Barra Distillers Co. Modular West Ltd Coimhearsnachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh Ltd - Barra & Vatersay Limited

08/06/2026

A warm welcome to all of the crews and lifeguards joining us in Poole this week!

It's a busy week both afloat and across the College, with courses including Crew Emergency Procedures, Pre-Commissioning Training, Seamanship, Lifeguard Development, and Afloat Mechanic PCT.

We are delighted to have so many trainees with us representing the following stations and areas - Aberdeen Lifeboat RNLI, Baltimore Lifeboat Station, Bembridge RNLI, RNLI Bridlington Lifeboats, RNLI Calshot Lifeboat, Cowes RNLI Lifeboat, Fenit RNLI, Aberystwyth RNLI, Barra Island RNLI Lifeboat, RNLI Blackpool, RNLI Buckie Lifeboat, Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat, RNLI Eyemouth Lifeboat, RNLI, Galway Lifeboat Station, Glenrothes Lifeboat, RNLI Ilfracombe, RNLI Lough Derg, Newcastle RNLI, Rosslare Harbour RNLI, Thurso Lifeboat, Tobermory RNLI Lifeboat, RNLI Hayling Island Lifeboat Station, RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station, RNLI New Brighton Lifeboat Station, RNLI Port Talbot, RNLI Teignmouth, RNLI Tighnabruaich Lifeboat, Youghal RNLI, Bridgend, Chichester, Jersey, Ramsgate, Catfield, Hastings, Mullacott and Skegness Support Centres.

Ever wondered how RNLI volunteer crew members and lifeguards are trained to save lives at sea? Join our 90-minute RNLI College Discovery Tour and experience it for yourself!

👩‍✈️ Go behind the scenes of our world-class training facilities
🚤 Take the helm in our exciting lifeboat simulator (subject to availability)
🧡 Learn what it takes to become an RNLI lifesaver

Each tour is led by one of our friendly volunteer guides and offers a fascinating insight into the lifesaving work that happens every day.

Find out more - https://rnli.org/rnli-college/whats-on/tours

08/06/2026

Western Isles Councillor Warns MCA Pay Cut for Volunteer Coastguards Puts Island Lives at Risk

Cllr Gordon Murray, SNP Councillor for Steòrnabhagh a Tuath, has today issued a strongly worded letter to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), UK and Scottish Governments, condemning the decision to stop paying volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) for emergency callouts and training.

The move follows a Court of Appeal ruling that classified responders as "workers" during paid duties. In response, the MCA has chosen to remove the hourly remuneration (around £11 per hour, with a three-hour minimum) later this year, shifting to a fully unpaid model despite acknowledging the volunteers’ vital role.

Cllr Murray said: "This decision is a hammer blow to our island communities. In the Western Isles, volunteer coastguards are not a luxury – they are a lifeline. Our remote geography, harsh seas, and limited infrastructure make their rapid response essential for saving lives.

Stripping away even modest recognition for their time and risk will damage morale, deter recruitment, and could lead to experienced volunteers walking away.

That is simply not a risk we can afford."He continued: "No one joins the coastguard for the money, but that small payment made volunteering possible alongside jobs and family life. Removing it shows a failure to understand the realities of island volunteering. We will not stand by while vital search and rescue capacity is eroded in some of the most challenging environments in the UK.

"The Western Isles host multiple Coastguard Rescue Teams covering an extensive and exposed coastline. These volunteers have played key roles in maritime rescues, cliff operations, missing person searches, and support during severe weather and other emergencies.

Cllr Murray is calling for an immediate pause to the changes, full consultation with island representatives, and the development of a sustainable model that protects the service’s effectiveness.

08/06/2026

Not long to go now....... everyone one on Barra and Vatersay please get ready to show this local nutter.... oops, sorry.... we meant to say, dedicated local charity runner, their whole heareted support in his latest challenge!! (Like his recent skye ultra challenge wasn't enough!?)

More info coming soon! (Probably from one of his chief supporters, Aileen Elder 😉)

Best of luck Alasdair Iain Elder!

08/06/2026

Welcome to a brand new week, with the sun currently beaming over Barra and Vatersay!!

Please remember, that if you would like any articles, press releases or adverts included in this weeks printed Guth Bharraidh to send to us via [email protected] by 12pm on Wednesday (10th June). Or give us a call on 01871 810 401.

Thanks, the Guth Crew
:)

P.S..At this time, we would ask not to dm any messages to our fb inbox due to some intermittentaccess issues.... any items sent there at the moment might be overlooked, and we would hate for that to happen!

06/06/2026

05/06/2026