Two community websites developed in Skye and Lochalsh are going head to head in a national contest which aims to recognise community efforts.

Raasay Community Website and the Skye and Lochalsh Community Toolkit, which have both received funding from Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise (SALE) and the European funded LEADER+ programme, have been short-listed for the Community Enhancement through the Internet Award of the prestigious Calor Scottish Community of the Year Awards for 2005.

www.raasay.com which has received funding from the Western Isles, Skye and Lochalsh LEADER+ community website scheme is operated by the Raasay Community Association from the island of Raasay just to the east of the Isle of Skye.

The website provides a portal to the Raasay community and covers everything from events, music and genealogy to activities, accommodation and Gaelic. As part of the project, members of the Association have undergone training to enable them to actively edit and update the website.

The Skye and Lochalsh Community Toolkit is project managed by Skye and Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations. The online resource has been developed for and with the help of local community groups and offers a wealth of information pooled from local agency resources.

Funding was received from SALE, Western Isles and Skye and Lochalsh LEADER+, and the Highland Council, as well as sponsorship from Sitekit Solutions Ltd.

The interactive toolkit resource provides guidelines on a range of topics including setting up and running a community group, legal requirements and good practice, planning and fundraising.  Featuring local community projects and groups, the project encourages the exchange and sharing of skills and experiences.

Claire Hannah, Western Isles and Skye and Lochalsh LEADER+ field officer, said: "It is very encouraging to see developments like these coming forward from the voluntary and community sectors as these can benefit greatly from the internet and information technology.

"They are valuable resources which help build capacity and leadership in local communities and we wish them both well in the final awards."

The winners of the Internet award and all other categories of the Calor Scottish Community of the Year Awards will be announced at an Oscars-style ceremony in Edinburgh in early December.

The awards are supported by Calor Scotland in association with Communities Scotland and are backed by The Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) and The Robert Gordon University (RGU).