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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. 

Covid, Colds, and Flu related information 

• Scottish Government – Covid, Colds, and Flu  

• NHS Inform Covid data  
• NHS Highland local vaccination information – this includes information on the winter Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Flu vaccination programme which is now underway.

Funding  

SCVO  is a key source of funding information for the third sector. Funds that may be of interest include:

• The Robertson Trust – Community Vehicle GrantsContributes to the costs of a vehicle used to support or address the impacts of poverty and/or trauma under financial wellbeing, emotional wellbeing and relationships, and/or educations and worth pathways. Apply at any time.
• SportScotland – Sport Facilities FundSupports projects that create or improve places that people take part in sport and physical activity. They will provide additional support to projects within or serving the most deprived communities, according to the Scottish Index of multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Next deadline 1st September.
• Silverhill TrustPromotes mental, physical, and social development of young people, especially those in poor circumstances. Apply at any time.

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

• Emergency Alerts – Reminder that a test alert will be sent out to all mobile phones at 3pm 23^rd of April. This test message will be accompanied by a loud siren for 10 seconds, it will play despite being on silent mode, but not through aeroplane mode.

Attached to this email is a document containing further information on the new Emergency Alert Service. This will allow people to be contacted via their mobile phone if their lives are at risk in an emergency. 

• ALISS – ALISS helps communities work together to find and share information about local groups, services, and activities. Please see the attached document for information on upcoming ALISS sessions in Inverness and online. For more information about the ALISS Programme, click here.
• Community Climate Adaption Routemap – Adaptation Scotland have developed this resource to develop community resilience to climate change and provide practical steps for communities.
• Cyber Security Resilience: Cyber Security Guidance for UK Organisations – An alert has been issued to critical national infrastructure organisations warning of an emerging threat from state-aligned groups. Attached is a document from Police Scotland detailing cyber security and additional resources for small/medium enterprises and the general public.
• 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.

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 

• Met Office Weather Warnings – https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2022-11-04
• Met Office Weather Ready https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/weatherready 
• Scottish Flood Forecasting – Provides up to date information on when and where flooding is expected to occur over a three-day period.
• Floodline Scotland https://floodlinescotland.org.uk/ 
• Ready Scotland – preparing for emergencies https://ready.scot/

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

Partners,

Please see attached poster which I have previously sent to you all.  Can I ask that you share this far and wide across your networks to encourage all community organisations, groups and clubs whether they are large or small who support health and wellbeing to attend the workshops to find out about ALISS.  They could be a knitting club, befrienders group, a support group, or just somewhere people can go for a chat, anything  that supports the health and wellbeing of our communities.  

ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland) is a digital system that helps communities work together to find and share information about local groups, organisations, activities and services that can support health and wellbeing. 

Information added to ALISS is made available through the www.aliss.org website as well as a range of other websites, systems, and apps so it can be accessed by people searching directly for themselves, as well as by professionals involved in social prescribing and signposting roles, through a range of channels where different people may choose to look for it.

Adding your own group or organisation to ALISS helps people who are looking for support or to get involved in community activities, to find them more easily. You can also then ‘claim’ your organisation on ALISS to take editorial responsibility for managing your information to make sure it stays accurate and up to date.

ALISS is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) so is completely free to use for anyone wishing to add or search for information.

Please can you share the attached poster across your networks and social media platforms to encourage as many organisations and groups as possible to attend these workshops. 

To book a place at an in person event please email [email protected] stating the date that you wish to attend and how many people will be attending. 

For more information about the ALISS Programme, click here.

If you have any questions about using ALISS or would like any help to add or claim your own information, please get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Regards

Lynn McNeil

Community Support Co-Ordinator

Inverness Town House

High Street

Inverness

IV1 1JJ

Tel: 07799 910494

Email: [email protected]

Please find attached a briefing note on a schools consultation proposal likely to be put to a future meeting of the Highland Council’s Education Committee for approval. 

The requirement for the Council to set up Gaelic Medium catchment areas is set out in Statutory Guidance on Gaelic Education.

The note is intended to provide Community Councils with advance notice of the proposal being put to Committee.  I would be happy to attempt to answer any questions you might have.

Ian Jackson

Education Officer

Highland Council

07435 982557

The Local Access group are looking for volunteers to help clear some of the overgrown gorse and bushes from the paths in the area. If you are able to help tools can be provided or if you prefer you can bring your own. Afternoons preferred. If you are able to help please contact Candy [email protected] Mobile & WhatsApp:  00 44 7973 815208   House: 01463 751251

Many Thanks

Dear Community Council members,

I am writing to inform you of SSEN Transmission’s plans to engage with communities within your Community Council boundary and surrounding areas to consult on our route options for Beauly Blackhillock New Deer Peterhead 400kV project.

Background

Based on requirements outlined in the Electricity System Operators’ Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design, which sets out the blueprint for the electricity transmission network infrastructure required to enable the forecast growth in renewable electricity across Great Britain, we have developed proposals to build new onshore infrastructure between Beauly and Peterhead via Blackhillock and New Deer. To facilitate these connections, and others as part of the wider strategy, new additional 400kV substations and associated infrastructure is also required in these four locations. 

These reinforcements will play a key role in supporting the transition to net zero emissions and includes the following project elements:

This reinforcement project spans a significant length of the North East of Scotland. Due to this, the project can be split into the following sections, including the identified project elements required for each:

Beauly – Blackhillock

• Construct a new 400 kV connection, between the new Beauly 400kV and new Blackhillock 2 400kV substations

Blackhillock – New Deer

• Construct a new 400 kV connection from the new Blackhillock 2 400kV substation to the new New Deer 2 400kV substation.

New Deer – Peterhead

• Construct a new 400 kV connection from the new New Deer 400kV substation to the new Peterhead 400kV substation

The developments at the Peterhead Net Zero 2023 Developments include:

• Peterhead 400kV Substation 2 
• Peterhead 132kV Substation 2 
• Spittal to Peterhead HVDC Link Converter Station
• Peterhead to South Humber HVDC Link Converter Station
• HVDC Switching Station

The additional substations required to connect these projects have now been through the first stage of public consultation. Further information on these projects can be found at the links below.

New Beauly 400kV Substation: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/new-beauly-area-400kv-substation/

New Blackhillock 2 400kV Substation: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/blackhillock-400kv-substation/

New New Deer 2 400kV Substation: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/new-deer-2-400kv-substation/

Peterhead Net Zero 2023 Developments: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/peterhead-net-zero-2030-developments/

Due to the criticality of these works, there is a requirement for accelerated development and delivery to meet the 2030 connection dates, therefore quality community engagement will be essential to enable us to develop informed and balanced proposals. 

Public Engagement

In September and October 2022, we carried out the first public engagement on this project where we presented our Corridor Option, a 10km wide pathway through which we would develop our route options. These events were well attended and feedback helped significantly shape our proposals as we move into the routeing phase of the project.

Since then, we have carried out a range of assessments to help inform potential route options which take account of the environmental, engineering, and economic factors we must closely consider. This includes things such as proximity to properties, environmental designations, existing infrastructure, and historical landmarks.

We have scheduled public consultation events equally spread across the project route. These events will allow us to share our route options, which include our preferred route at this stage, with stakeholders and seek views which will help us to further shape our proposals.

To help inform the development of a suitable route, we actively encourage stakeholders to submit any views or questions ahead of the consultation. The contact details to do so are available via the project web page: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/beauly-blackhillock-new-deer-peterhead-400kv/

Attached is a poster advertising the events, times, and locations. Any assistance you may be able to provide in sharing this information with any interested parties/communities via existing communications networks such as social media and notice boards would be much appreciated. 

Dates	Location
17 April	Peterhead – Balmoor StadiumLord Catto Park, Peterhead, AB42 1EU
18 April	New Deer Public HallFordyce Terrace , New Deer Aberdeenshire AB536WE
19 April	Turriff – Baden Powell CentreBaden Powell Rd, Turriff AB53 4FA
20 April	Keith – Keith Longmore HallBanff Road, Keith AB55 5ET
21 April	Huntly – Stewart Hall15-17 Gordon St, Huntly AB54 8AJ
24 April	Elgin – UHI Moray College
25 April	Forres -Forres Town HallTown Hall, High St, Forres IV36 1PB
26 April	Inverness – Kingsmill Hotel
27 April	Beauly – Phipps Hall Station Road, Beauly, IV4 7EH

We have arranged mailing of our postcard invites to properties within affected areas. We are aware that there were some communities that didn’t receive postcards in certain areas and more recently, postcards have arrived later that expected. We have posted these out First Class to ensure they are prioritised for delivery.

I look forward to meeting you at one of our events if you, or any representative from the Community Council are able to attend.

In the meantime, should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me by email.

Kind regards

Ryan Davidson

Ryan Davidson

Community Liaison Manager

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission

M: +44(0)7901133919

E: [email protected]