The Laxdale Community Association have been the caretakers for the Laxdale Community Hall since the 1940’s. The hall has had various upgrades over the years, including the addition of a Sports and Games hall in the early 90’s. The committee was structured as a voluntary organisation up until 2021, when they converted to a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), to give an adequate legal structure for the Communities plans to refurbish the now cold and damp facility and restore it to its former glory.
Our aims are:
● To maintain the Laxdale Hall for the benefit of the Lewis community, welcoming membership from out with the area with an interest in the wellbeing of the community, as defined as the residents of the local authority Na h-Eileanan an Iar Council area - Ward 7 – “Steòrnabhagh a Tuath” villages of Marybank, Newvalley, Geurshader, Laxdale and Newmarket by:
● Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, ensuring the hall facilities are accessible to all, free to use to not-for profit groups and individuals with a voluntary donation
● To advance education by providing a space for training and a variety of classes, improving the knowledge in the community
● To improve the health and wellbeing of the local community by being close enough to encourage walking or cycling to use the facilities, providing a games hall and a variety of sports equipment, increasing participation in sport and recreational facilities
● To advance citizenship and community development by having an open membership to the wider society, ensuring involvement in the development and activities of the hall
●To advance the arts, heritage and culture by creating space in the hall for the Laxdale Historical Society to store and display artefacts of the history in the area, promoting community identity. To act as a centre for the local choirs to practice and music lessons and dance clubs to take place
● To be an inclusive facility, promoting equality and diversity by bringing all members of the community together in a communal space
● To ensure the energy efficiency of the Laxdale Hall building, taking responsibility to protect the environment
● To act as an anchor organisation to distribute relief to those in need by reason of age, illhealth, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage either by support of our volunteers or distribution of funds raised
● To ensure the sustainability of the organisation through private and corporate hire opportunities 4
● To organise and promote any other community-based activity which the Members shall consider to improve the conditions of life for the community and/or promote community participation.