Over £1000 raised for Western Isles Women's Aid through local fundraiser

£1200 has been raised for Western Isles Women’s Aid at our Christmas fundraiser at Lews Castle.

Women’s Aid provides vital refuge and advocacy services for women and children experiencing domestic abuse across the islands. 

The Songs for the Season in the Castle courtyard featured performances from Lewis musicians Colin Macleod and Scott C Park, and brought together local supporters to back an organisation that provides life-saving help, safe accommodation and specialist support in the Western Isles. 

Women’s refuge services across Scotland continue to face significant pressures, including rising demand, insecure funding, increasing complexity of cases, staffing challenges and the high costs associated with providing safe, accessible services in rural and island communities. 

WI Women’s Aid supported 180 women fleeing violence last year. Cases of domestic violence have risen markedly in recent years, in neighbouring Highland there were 1883 recorded cases in 2014, by 2024 that had spiked to 2789.  

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed so generously and helped raise £1,200 for Western Isles Women’s Aid. Their work is vital. Women’s refuge services are under immense pressure, particularly in rural and island areas where distances, housing shortages and cost pressures add extra challenges.

Thanks too to Colin and Scott who gave their time and their talents to create a great atmosphere and deliver a really entertaining evening. The money they helped raise will help support women and children at some of the most difficult moments in their lives.

The fundraiser follows my recent contribution in Parliament, where I highlighted the growing pressures on women’s refuge and domestic abuse services and emphasised the bravery required for women to seek support in rural communities. 

Raising these issues in Parliament is important but so is backing it up with practical support at a local level. Western Isles Women’s Aid does extraordinary work, often behind the scenes, and it deserves both recognition and continued investment.

Western Isles Women’s Aid supports women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse, offering refuge accommodation, outreach support and advocacy across the islands. 

If you need to contact Western Isles Women's Aid, you can do so by phoning 01851 704 750 or by visiting their website here.