Dores and Essich Community

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Citizens Advice Energy Support and Advise

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Dear Community Councils in the Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey Highland Council areas – good afternoon.

My name is Mike Youatt and I am based in the Inverness Badenoch & Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau. 

I am writing to let you know that our Citizens Advice Bureau has again been funded to provide free ‘Energy Support and Advice’ presentations this winter for vulnerable or low-income clients. 

As a Community Councillor myself, I am aware of how closely a Community Council can know the needs of its local residents and I thought you might find this (free) offer of interest or wish to advertise on your social media.

Our ‘Energy Support and Advice’ sessions provide practical information about how individuals, particularly those who are vulnerable or on a low income, can save energy costs and include the following:

•                  Schemes available to help people with their energy costs and needs

•                  Priority Services Register

•                  Energy efficiency measures 

•                  Smart meters

•                  How to refer clients to Energy Best Deal advisers at the Citizens Advice Bureau and what Inverness CAB can provide.

We expect our sessions to last between 30-60 minutes and be delivered to at least eight people at a time.  We will provide face-to-face or online delivery options, depending on circumstances.

If you would like your residents to have the opportunity to attend an event, please advertise the attached leaflet.  If you can raise the eight persons yourself – which may of course include members of your own Community Council –  just let me know and I’ll set up a dedicated event.  If not, I’d suggest that interested parties contact me directly at:Mike.Youatt@invernesscab.org or by phone on 01463 237664.  I shall then get back to them and let them know how, when and where they can attend an event.

With kind regards in the meantime,

Mike

Mike Youatt
GSS Training & Engagement Officer
Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau
29 Union Street 
Inverness 
IV1 1QA

T: 01463 237664

EBD-Project-Leaflet-2324-customersDownload

Community Briefing 06-10-23

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Dear Community Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

Welcome to The Highland Council’s fortnightly briefing containing information about support, resources, and events for local communities.

Important Note:

This briefing was originally started during the Covid pandemic to raise awareness of support and services available to communities, with a focus on resilience. Things have changed a lot since then and we are taking the time to review the briefing, including its format and contents to ensure it remains a relevant and useful tool for community groups. You may notice a slight change in the layout already and this may change further in the coming weeks as we refine it.

Part of this review is to do a refresh and update of the mailing list. One limitation of the current mailing list is we do not have information on the geographic areas each email address overs which meant we could not target specific areas/contacts with information that has a specific geographic focus that has a tight timeline meaning it cannot wait for our fortnightly briefing before being outdated.

As of the 17th of November, we will be moving to a new mailing list which will be made up of emails that have opted in to receive the briefing. You can opt by using this very short survey (link: https://forms.office.com/e/rSS3hXbGTa).

Please feel free to share the survey link with anyone you feel may benefit from the briefing and you are able to leave feedback or comments either in the survey or via email to policy6@highland.gov.uk.

Contents

Funding

Community Training & Events

Welfare & Poverty Reduction

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Community Safety and Resilience

Funding 

  • SCVO  is a key source of funding information for the third sector.
  • SSE Highland Sustainable Development Fund

SSE Renewables is delighted to announce that the latest round of the Sustainable Development Fund is now open to applications from the Highland region.

The £1M fund is available to help communities realise their ambitions for a net zero future and is open to non-profit making organisations, community groups and charities across the Highland region.  

Successful projects will be those that make a significant difference to the lives of people in the region and support communities in their transition to a low carbon future. For example, by de-carbonising community transport services, enhancing young people’s skills for the ‘green jobs’ of the future, or developing community-owned renewable energy.

The fund, established by SSE Renewables and our joint venture partners, is part of our voluntary community benefit arrangements linked to our onshore developments in the region, primarily the Stronelairg, Bhlaraidh, Dunmaglass and Strathy North Wind Farms. Through the fund, we have already invested over £8M in the Highland region and we look forward to increasing that when awards are made in the Spring.

The fund guidance and the application form are available on SSE’s website here.

The closing date for applications in 12 noon on Wednesday 10th January 2024. Award decisions will be made in April 2024.

If you, or any of the groups you support, have any questions about the Fund or the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact me at tom.black@sse.com or by telephone on 01738 351799.

  • The Highland Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
    Please visit the     WEBSITE for full details. Applications will be open between 29 September 2023 and midday 9 January 2024.
  • Applications received by the 27 October – assessed in November.
  • Applications received by the 29 November – assessed in December.
  • Applications received by the 9 January – assessed late January. 

The below online sessions will guide attendees through the form for anyone considering completing an application.

This fund can assist applicants reduce food waste and increase food security in their local area by hosting a community fridge.

information on how community groups can apply for grants to cover costs of democracy matters events. The organisation who are administering the grants will be attending the next event for community councillors this afternoon.

  • Community Regeneration Fund
    A funding boost of nearly £1million investment is set to benefit rural areas across Highland. During the first round of the 2023/34 Community Regeneration Fund 75 applications were considered for this fund and 61 have been approved. Follow the link for a full list of successful projects.

Community Training & Events

  • Community Councils Scotland webpage on Democracy Matters – The second phase has now bene launched and will give people across Scotland the opportunity to come together in to imagine how new and inclusive democratic processes can best help their town, village, or neighbourhood. 
  • SSE Cost of Living Project – Training Information – This SSE funded project will cover the whole Highlands Region, running until March 2024. Some of its activities include:
    • the creation of a website which will enable, and support community organisations help and support the people they work with.
    • Training to equip those working at grassroots level to identify people experiencing issues, start conversations, and respond to conversations about energy and fuel poverty, and signpost to further services.

Please see the attached document for the full information, links, and contact details.

  • Review of Highland Polling Districts and Places – The Highland Council is now asking for views and comments from people and groups regarding a review of its polling districts and polling places. This review will ensure that all electors have a reasonable facility for voting which is also easily accessible to all, including disabled electors.

Welfare & Poverty Reduction

  • Cost of living support – Highland Council webpages on support and information to help with the cost of living.
  • Help during the cost-of-living crisis – Scottish Government advice and information.
  • Energy Advice – Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau offer free, impartial energy advice to householders. They provide advice to help reduce household energy use, save money, and understand energy bills and support householders to manage energy debt. This can be done in person, over the phone or by video call. They can be contacted on 01463 219742 or email energy@invernesscab.org

Mental Health & Wellbeing

  • NHS Highland Mental Wellbeing – a collection of resources and signposts to help people of all ages to look after their own mental wellbeing. Register for the event by following the link.
  • Cost of living crisis and your mental health
    Many people are feeling the strain as the cost of living continues to increase.  This resource provides information on how you can maintain your mental wellbeing at this time, alongside information on how to manage your money as bills rise.

Community Safety and Resilience

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

Chance to comment on Review of Highland Polling Districts and Places 

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The Highland Council is undertaking its statutory duty to review polling districts and polling places.

The process starts on Monday 2 October 2023. It will seek to ensure that all the electors in the relevant constituency (or for local government purposes, the electoral ward) have such reasonable facilities for voting as far as practicable.  

The Council’s review also aims, as far as is reasonable and practicable, that polling places they are responsible for, are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled, and when considering the designation of a polling place, must have regard to the accessibility needs of disabled persons.

The Highland Council is now asking for views and comments from interested people and groups on these proposed arrangements.

The Returning Officer, The Highland Council’s CEX Derek Brown, said: “It is important that our polling places are in appropriate locations and can cater for everyone, especially those with particular needs.

 “We want to hear any concerns people may have and particularly want the views of those with an interest in accessibility.”

“This is an opportunity for you to have your say on the location and suitability of your polling place and ask people to have a look at the proposals and take part in this consultation to ensure we have the most appropriate polling places in place for next elections.”

Our Online map (external link) illustrating the Polling District and Places changes and details of the proposed polling districts and polling places is available on the Council’s website –  HERE.

The consultation starts today, Monday 2 October 2023 and runs until Tuesday 14 November 2023.  

Representations should be made in writing online via (https://forms.office.com/e/kcwJE1rvKk (external link)), or by email or by post to the address below. Please get in contact 01349 886657 if you require the information in an accessible form.

Online:           https://forms.office.com/e/kcwJE1rvKk (external link)

Email:             election@highland.gov.uk

Address:        The Elections Office – The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX

All representations will be open to public inspection and will also be published on the Council’s website. 

Summary details will be collated for inclusion in a report to The Highland Council on 14 December 2023 with any changes agreed being incorporated in a forthcoming publication of the Register of Electors, ahead of a forthcoming UK Parliamentary election.

B862 Closure for road resurfacing

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Received from Roads Dept if you look at the map it is in the Gorthleck area for anyone who travels that way regularly from the village

Dear All

I attach a copy of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice to enable the closure of the length of the B862, as shown indicated by red markers on the attached plan. The closure is required to enable road resurfacing works to safely proceed, and the road will be closed between 9am and 4pm daily between Monday 16th and Thursday 19th October 2023.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Alistair MacLeod: IEng FIHE,

Principal Technician,

Highland Council,

Infrastructure and Environment,

94 Diriebught Road,

Inverness,

IV2 3QN,

Tel: 07918 888692

B862-Temporary-Traffic-Regulation-Notice-October-2023Download

Community Resilience Briefing 22-09-23

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Dear Community Resilience Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

Welcome to The Highland Council’s fortnightly briefing for groups with an interest in local community resilience.

Community Council Elections

22 Community Councils have formed so far, with 136 Community Councils to form.

Candidate’s wishing to put themselves forward as a Community Council Member need to self-nominate themselves by completing the online form that will be available on our website. It’s simple and should take approximately 5 minutes to complete, all they have to do is submit their contact details, name of community council they wish to represent, confirm they are eligible and provide their electoral number.  In order for the Candidate to obtain their electoral number, this can be done by them completing the electoral number request form or it is available from the Electoral Registration Office by emailing ero@highland.gov.uk or telephoning 0800 393783. 

Deadline for submissions 3 October 2023.

Funding  

  • SCVO  is a key source of funding information for the third sector.

Bids can be made by non-profit organisations based in rural Highland communities (fewer than 1,000 residents) to organises activities that will help people of all ages secure employment or advance in their current job. Funding applications should prioritise helping vulnerable families more at risk of experiencing poverty. Deadline 2 October 2023. 

  • Highland Communities’ Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund for AdultsSupports community-led initiatives promoting and developing mental health and wellbeing or mitigating and protecting against the impacts of distress or mental ill health for people in Highland who are 16 or over. These can be new projects or for significant expansions to existing projects. This is for small-scale, grassroots community activity and most grants will be less than £10k.

Applications will be open between 29 September 2023 and midday 9 January 2024. 

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  • Applications received by midday, Friday 27 October will be assessed in November
  • Applications received by midday, Wednesday 29 November will be assessed in December
  • Applications received by midday, Tuesday 9 January will be assessed late January

Projects must start before the end of April in the financial year 2024/25.

Nature Restoration Fund

The deadline has been extended to 4 October 2023 and all projects should be completed by the end of June 2024.

The Fund has a focus on addressing the main drivers of the decline of biodiversity on land and sea. To deliver this aim, the fund has five strategic aims:

·        Habitat and species restoration

·        Freshwater restoration

·        Coastal and marine restoration/recovery/enhancement/resilience

·        Control of invasive non-native species

·        Enhancing and connecting urban and nature areas 

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

  • Highland Third Sector Interface Training Day – this event will be hosted on Wednesday 4 October from 9 15am – 4 45pm. Join the Samaritans, GamCare, Mikeysline, and Families Outside for a day of face-to-face training, lunch, and networking with HTSI, each session will last around 90 minutes. To register and find out more click here and contact enquiry@highlandtsi.org.uk with any questions.
  • Fuel Poverty Staff Training – this free online training is intended to help front line staff who are responsible for looking after the health, wellbeing, and social welfare of vulnerable people. The training will include appropriate and effective advice and information on energy efficiency as well as details of help and support that is available. The training will take place throughout October and involves two sessions, part 1 delivered from 10am-12pm followed by part 2 from 2pm-4pm. See the attached document for booking information and dates. 
  • Next Steps for National Parks in Scotland – Individuals, groups, or organisations can register their interest in nominating their local area to be designated as a new national park. National parks play an important role in tackling biodiversity and climate crises and supports local communities and businesses. Registering interest will allow the Scottish Government to update interested parties with important information throughout the process.
  • CyberScotland September Bulletin – Topics this month include information on a new scam targeting jobseekers with fake job opportunities and an article explaining the benefits of hiring Neurodivergent people, the barriers that face them, and how to make workplaces more inclusive.
  • Cost of living support – Highland Council webpages on support and information to help with the cost of living.
  • Help during the cost-of-living crisis – Scottish Government advice and information.
  • Energy Advice – Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau offer free, impartial energy advice to householders. We provide advice to help reduce household energy use, save money, and understand energy bills and support householders to manage energy debt. This can be done in person, over the phone or by video call. We can be contacted on 01463 219742 or email energy@invernesscab.org

Mental Health and Wellbeing

  • NHS Highland Mental Wellbeing – a collection of resources and signposts to help people of all ages to look after their own mental wellbeing. Register for the event by following the link.
  • Cost of living crisis and your mental health
    Many people are feeling the strain as the cost of living continues to increase.  This resource provides information on how you can maintain your mental wellbeing at this time, alongside information on how to manage your money as bills rise.

Emergency Planning 

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council