Exclusive:Island charity sued by daughter of Oscar-nominated actress launches fundraiser to 'save' centre
Ms Kellerman, who is understood to have moved to Lewis about four years ago. Her aunt, and adoptive mother, was the actress, Sally Kellerman, who played the part of Major Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan in Robert Altman’s 1970 hit film, M*A*S*H.
A small charity on an island in the Outer Hebrides has urged people to donate to safeguard its future after being targeted with legal action amid a dog rights of access row.
Claire Kellerman, originally from the US, has raised a claim against the Bernera Community Association (BCA) regarding her dog allegedly being refused admission to a community café it runs. She is suing the association, which runs the café on a voluntary basis, for £10,000.
Ms Kellerman, who is understood to have moved to Lewis about four years ago, describes herself on her LinkedIn profile as a former regenerative farming community designer. Her aunt, and adoptive mother, was the actress, Sally Kellerman, who played the part of Major Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan in Robert Altman’s 1970 hit film, M*A*S*H.
The case has prompted a backlash from elected representatives on the Western Isles, who have described the legal action as “vexatious.” It is understood the association faces potential sequestration if the legal costs continue to mount.
Now the charity, which was set up to promote the wellbeing of the community, has launched a fundraising appeal on social media as it seeks to contest the claim. In a post on Facebook entitled ‘Save Bernera Community centre’, it stressed that it needed the help of its supporters.
“This year we are being faced with legal costs against our community centre and need your donations more than ever,” it stated, with a link to its appeal on the online fundraising site, Give a Little.
Over 340 people have liked the Facebook post promoting the donations appeal, while it has been shared on the social media platform upwards of 250 times since being uploaded on Sunday.
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The case, backed by legal aid, was raised at Stornoway Sheriff Court last week by Ms Kellerman via the publicly-funded Ethnic Minorities Law Centre in Glasgow. It was continued for legal debate in December.
The BCA was founded in 1973, and is run by volunteers who manage the community centre on Bernera, which serves as the central social hub for the island. It includes the café, as well as a community hall, doctors surgery, fire station, and a local museum.
According to its most recent accounts, the association had a net income before tax of just over £18,000 in the 12 months to 30 September 2025. It estimates that the annual basic running cost of the community centre is in the region of £25,000.
A spokesperson for the association said: “As the matter is now before the court, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further on the allegations or issues in dispute. The association remains focused on serving the local community and appreciates the support it has received.”
Ms Kellerman’s action was originally directed against Bernera Community Development Trust (GBCDT), a small charity which has nothing to do with the community café.
The trust ran up legal costs of over £7,000 before Ms Kellerman’s legal representatives made the court aware that the action was directed against the wrong organisation. The action was subsequently amended in order to sue the association, and it is understood the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) allowed the legal aid certificate to be transferred to the revised action.
In a post on her LinkedIn page, Ms Kellerman said she was grateful to her legal team for helping her in “supporting the normalisation of abuses” on Bernera, and said directors and members of the BCA “act righteously abusing, harassing, targeting and illegally discriminating against incomers”.
She added: “Until the day I moved here, July 1, 2025, and addressed this with legal action, the BCA charity had co-created an environment of vile, intentional, targeted hostility and unwelcome for those who are disabled with assistance dogs, due to their ignorance, and unwillingness to welcome all equally, despite the law protecting our human rights.”
A SLAB spokesperson said: “SLAB’s role is to assess whether the statutory tests for legal aid are met based on the information available at the time of application and throughout the life of a case. Decisions are made in accordance with legal aid legislation, regulations and guidance.
“We note that the case was called recently and the court allowed the action to continue. On that basis, there does not appear to have been any further change in circumstances that would require us to revisit the grant of legal aid.
“We are satisfied that our decision-making in this matter was, and remains, thorough, appropriate and fully consistent with the legal aid framework. Granting legal aid does not mean that SLAB supports a particular case or is financing a firm of solicitors; it means that the statutory tests for legal aid have been met.”
However, Torcuil Crichton, the Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, said the decision “raises wider issues” about why SLAB “continues to finance organisations which so clearly lack legal competence”.
He added: “The vexatious action against both these voluntary organisations threatens their financial stability and very existence. I seriously urge SLAB to cease funding these actions.”
Donald MacKinnon, the Scottish Labour MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, has written to the Scottish Legal Aid Board, asking for an “urgent review” of their position.
“This case raises broader concerns about the safeguards applied when public funds are used to support litigation,” he said.
“Legal aid serves an important role in ensuring access to justice. However, it is equally important that publicly funded litigation is subject to appropriate scrutiny regarding its legal basis, prospects of success and overall reasonableness.
“It is a matter of concern that a review of basic information was not pursued, such as publicly available documents and Companies House records, which would have confirmed that GBCDT was an erroneously named party.”
Ms Kellerman and the Ethnic Minorities Law Centre have been approached for comment.