Dear Community Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

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

To join the mailing list for this briefing please complete this short survey: https://forms.office.com/e/rSS3hXbGTa

Contents

Highland Council Budget Challenge 2024/25

Funding

Community Training, Events, & News

Welfare & Poverty Reduction

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Community Safety and Resilience

Highland Council Budget Challenge 2024/25

The Council is currently in the process of planning for setting its Budget for 2024/25.  As a Council we, like other public services, face increasing costs and at the same time, we are experiencing increasing service demand.  It is therefore critical that we focus our resources on key priorities.

To help us do this we want to understand the priorities of the people of the Highlands.  We want to know what services matter to people most, what services people want to protect and where people think we could generate additional income.  

We are asking for feedback from individuals but also from groups in the following ways:

• Completing our Budget Simulator – allows you as an individual to make choices to try and balance the Council’s budget. What services matter to you most?  Which services do you think we should protect? Which services do you think we could reduce?  If you choose to reduce any area of spend, the Simulator will tell you what the impact will be.  You can also choose to increase income by increasing the charges for services.

• Completing our Budget Survey – the survey asks for your thoughts as an individual or a family on priorities, how you think the Council could generate new income and how it could change what it does.

• Completing our Community Group Survey – this survey is specifically for groups to complete and to provide a group or organisation’s view.

We would appreciate it if your group could take the time to complete our Budget Challenge but also to share this across your networks.

Many thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback.

Funding 

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

Community Training, Events, & News

• Cost of Living Training for community groups
  Thurso Community Development will be delivering online training sessions between 28th November and 14^th December for community groups and workers across the Highlands. The training will cover how to provide guidance and advice to those struggling with the Cost-of-Living Crisis. Part of the training will also demonstrate a web resource that has been developed to provide easy to access information relating to emergency help, benefits, and more.

For additional information or queries contact: [email protected]

Highland community groups can book a session via Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/highland-cost-of-living-support-tickets-757769778807?aff=oddtdtcreator

• See Me 
  NHS Education for Scotland and Public Health Scotland invite you to join a masterclass led by See Me, Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination, exploring the impact of mental health stigma on access to and experience of healthcare.

The 1-hour online session, which will be hosted via MS Teams on Tuesday, 12th December 2023 at 11.00am, provides the opportunity for those working and supporting mental health within their roles to hear a range of views from the See Me panel of experts by experience and healthcare leaders. Register via the link: https://forms.office.com/e/NFdnDa2XqY

For further details see the attached flyer.

• Opportunity To Join Local Outdoor Access Forums

There is an opportunity for new members to fill vacancies on the six local outdoor access forums in Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Inverness & Nairn, Skye & Lochalsh and Lochaber. 

• The Highland Council YouTube Channel

The Highland Council promotes Council projects and initiatives, broadcast live events including elections, conferences, and webinars on our YouTube channel.

We also host all our Area Committee meetings on the channel – allowing you to find out the latest local information for your area.

Our live broadcasts will include coverage of the upcoming Community Council elections on 27 November 2023 and the forthcoming UK General Election. 

You can subscribe to our channel for free – head on over to www.youtube.com/thehighlandcouncil and click on the Subscribe button.

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.
• CAB Energy Advice – 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. 0800 028 1456 will bring you to an interactive service which will connect you to the relevant service or you can enter your postcode here to find your local Citizen Advice bureau.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

• Mental Health Training Survey – The Mental Health Delivery Group have created this survey that can be completed by anyone involved in or aware of any organisations offering mental health training opportunities within the Highlands. The information will be made available at the Highland Mental Health and Wellbeing website.

• 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

• https://www.cyberscotland.com/november-2023/

• 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/

Village Hall UpdateNovember 2023

We had a great curry night in September. Thanks to everyone who came!
In addition to our ongoing events at the hall, we have a jazz concert coming up on Saturday, 25th November at 7:30 pm. Jazz duo Brian Molley on saxophone and Tom Gibbs on keyboard will be performing and it will be a special night of beautiful music. Check out their YouTube videos to get a taste of what you’ll see live at the hall. There will also be a wine and cheese stall. Tickets are £12 on the door, or at Ness Gifts (cash only). If you have any questions, email [email protected].
Further out, plans are coming together for the New Year’s Dance on 1st January – stay tuned for more details on this event. 
Also, the Burn’s Night Supper planning is in its early stages. Again, more information will be forthcoming including details on the help needed to make it another big success.
As the nights draw in, be sure to check out the ongoing events at the hall. These include:

• Tai Chi and Qigong with instructor John Grocott – Mondays at 7:00pm – £7 per hour. All levels are welcome. Call John at 07512 732361 or email [email protected]
• Craft Night at the Hall – Alternating Tuesdays (14th, 28th November, 12th December) – £5. Contact Heidi Seaton at [email protected].
• Meg’s Mindful Movement with Meg Somerville – Gentle Yoga Wednesdays at 7:30pm –  Contact Meg via her Facebook page with any questions.

Dear Community Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

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

As of the 17^th 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 – https://forms.office.com/e/rSS3hXbGTa

Contents

Funding. 1

Community Training & Events. 2

Welfare & Poverty Reduction. 2

Mental Health & Wellbeing. 3

Community Safety and Resilience. 3

Funding 

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

Community Training & Events

• Highland Third Sector Representation

Nominations are open to anyone who has a significant connection to the third sector in Highland or has relevant skills or knowledge for the area of interest. The role will include attending Community Planning Partnership, gathering information and feedback, and providing feedback and input on community planning. See the above link for full details and responsibilities.

• My Place Awards

The Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards celebrate projects and people that work to improve places and communities in Scotland. They are funded by the Scottish Government.

The My Place Awards have two categories:

Community-led Projects: recognises recent community-led built environment projects, including new buildings, historic buildings or monuments that have been reused or refurbished, designed public realm schemes such as street-works or parks, and designed landscapes such as gardens or public green spaces.

Community Champions: celebrates individuals in communities across Scotland who have made a significant contribution to their local area through achieving positive change in the built environment, whether through built heritage, public spaces, or access to these by communities.

Winners of the Awards are celebrated at a ceremony attended by major stakeholders in the built environment and heritage sectors, as well as representatives from local and national government.

The My Place Awards are a great opportunity to showcase a project’s success to the community, stakeholders, and funders by receiving much-deserved exposure and media attention, as well as thank community members for their hard work and dedication to their local place.

How to enter?

Entries to the My Place Awards 2024 can be made via the My Place Scotland website. The deadline for entries is 14 January 2024.

For more information, email Erin Burke, Scottish Civic Trust Communications and Events Officer, at [email protected].

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 [email protected]

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

• Ready Scotland – The below is a list of resources shared by Ready Scotland that work well in printed form as well as a couple of presentation injects at the end of the list:
  • The Home Emergency Plan (ready.scot) (2 page PDF) is really useful to give out at events. You can print it off double sided and give out at your event, but also signpost to online after the event and attendees can print more or share with others in their communities.
  • There’s a full Guide to emergency planning for community groups | Ready Scotland. You may not want to print the whole thing, but perhaps a few copies for event attendees to flick through would be useful. It‘s all available in word format on the website so that community groups can just lift all the templates and use them to create their own plan.
  • Attached is a printable (2 page, double sided and fold to create leaflet) version of the advice note on insurance and health and safety, which again is available on the website here Annexes | Ready Scotland
  • Attached is a promotional leaflet for Ready Scotland LEARN which you are welcome to print and hand out too.
  • If you are delivering in person presentations, here are a couple of narrated PowerPoint presentations from me that you can slot in if you have time to fill on your programme: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fD_yhECIsbgwoNHsE2gYgnJLOejdAWDa?usp=sharing  These are saved as video files. If you can’t access or play them, please let me know.
  • Social media toolkits | Ready Scotland  with suggested messages and images for you to use on your own social media channels which all help to raise awareness of risks and the actions that the public can take. Many of our partners also have social media channels with vital information about emergencies and preparedness which would be valuable to share, for example:  @metoffice @SEPAFlood @nwatchscotland @trafficscotland @LifelinesScot

• SEPA Update – November – Information includes preparing for flooding this winter and ongoing consultations.
• Fire Scotland Survey: Living with Wildfire in the UK and Ireland

Do you live in the UK or Ireland? Have you been impacted by wildfire or experienced smoky conditions, or do you live or work in an area that is at-risk from wildfire, or where fire is used as a land management tool? 

If so, you are invited to participate in a 15-minute online survey that focuses on community wildfire resilience.

The survey aims to learn from people who live or work in rural, urban and interface areas in the UK and Ireland. It is the first stage of a research project that will also include in-depth interviews with people on their properties or places of work. 

For more details and to participate in the survey, please follow this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/firesukie 

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

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

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:[email protected] 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

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 17^th 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 [email protected].

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 10^th 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 [email protected] 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.

• Session One: Monday, 9 October 2023 2 – 3pm
• Session Two: Friday, 13 October 2023 10am-11am

• Community Fridge Fund 2023

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

• Scottish Government webpage on Democracy Matters – Grants for Democracy Matters events

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 [email protected]

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

• 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

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:             [email protected]

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.