During the year the HHP staff raise funds for local charities by hosting dress down days, monthly raffles etc.

At the end of the year two local charities are chosen to receive the funds raised.

While HHP’s aim is to improve the standards of rented housing by providing warm affordable homes and create employment opportunities for the construction industry, it works with partners to contribute to the economic well-being of communities throughout the Outer Hebrides as far as resources allow.

With this in mind its chosen charities this year follow the same theme with locally based charities The Western Isles Association for Mental Health and The Andrew Macleod Memorial Fund which is part of the CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) National Charity.

The Western Isles Association for Mental Health seeks to promote the mental health and well-being of members of the community. It offers support to people experiencing mental ill health by encouragement and support in their journeys of recovery. It offers a drop in centre which sees 5,000 annual visits.

The Andrew Macleod Memorial fund was set up by his family to help CRY reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac deaths by supporting their screening programme. The aim is to fund the screening of young people within the local community.

The cheques were presented by HHP corporate resources manager Angus Smith to Del Gunn of the Western Isles Association for Mental Health, and Murdo Macleod of the Andrew Macleod Memorial Fund.