Dores and Essich Community

News

Community Council Election Nominations Notice

by

If anyone in the community would like to put themselves forward for the Community Council ,please see the following notice released by the Highland Council.

I attach a copy of the notice of Election that will be published on Monday 4 September 2023 on the Council’s web-site at www.highland.gov.uk/ccelections

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 only 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 [email protected] or telephoning 0800 393783.

The cut of date for submitting an online form is 12noon on Tuesday 3 October 2023 and published thereafter by Wednesday 4 October 2023 will be the statements of persons nominated on the community council elections webpage.  

The Elections Team or Ward Managers are available to assist anyone that has difficulty accessing or completing the online form by emailing[email protected] or telephoning 01349 886657.

We want to have all our 156 Community Councils formed so please share and use our resources toolkit to download posters, leaflets or share messages on social media that may useful to notify local residents about Community Council elections.

To encourage participation, some of the Council Fleet vehicles will be driving around the highlands with our magnetic signage on display as per sample below and we will be issuing press releases and sending out key messages on social media.  

Candidates will have up until 12noon on Tuesday 10 October 2023 if they wish to withdraw their candidacy and ballot papers will be posted put on Tuesday 31 October 2023 for any that require to be contested.

Existing Community Councils must be dissolved by 11.59pm on the key dates listed below.

  • uncontested on Tuesday 10 October 2023
  • contested on Monday 27 November 2023

King Regards

The Highland Councils Election Team

Tel – 01349 886657

Email – [email protected]

Web –  www.highland.gov.uk/ccelections

Consultation on Highland Health and Social Care Partnership Joint Strategic Plan for Adult Services

by

NHS Highland and the Highland Council are consulting on the Strategic Plan for Adult Services 2024-27. This is the strategic plan for the delivery of integrated health and adult social care services in the region covered by the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership.

You can read the plan and view a video summary on the NHS Highland website.

Please complete this survey to give your thoughts on the plan. The consultation is open until 30 September. Prefer to fill in a printed copy? Email nhsh.pmoadmin.nhs.scot and we will send you a paper version.

You can also let us know what you think about the Joint Strategic Plan for Adult services in Highland by joining us online:

Tuesday 5th Sept 23 from 1-2pm by clicking here!

Friday 8th Sept 23 from 1.30-2.30pm by clicking here!

Thursday 28th Sept 23 from 9-10am by clicking here!

Highland Health and Social Care Partnership.

Community Resilience Briefing 25-08-23

by

Dear Community Resilience Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

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

Funding  

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

  • Paul Hamyln Foundation – Youth FundSupports organisations whose main purpose is working with young people (14-25) experiencing disadvantage in a way that builds on their strengths and potential. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no defined deadline.
  • Inspiring Scotland – Support in the Right Direction Aims to ensure people who use social care have access to independent support, advice, and advocacy. Next deadline 15 September 2023.
  • Marsh Charitable TrustProvides funding to help small organisations pay for various running costs, including volunteer expenses, training days, and equipment maintenance. Applications can be submitted at any time.

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

  • Community Map Scotland – This software is available to community councils for free for 12 months. It is useful for enabling communities for creating Local Place Plans. It incorporates many different datasets about the local environment, pollution, planning, transport, and community features. IT could also be a way for community groups to engage with their communities and highlight specific local areas of interest or concern.      
  • Think Before You Link (TBYL) – The National Protective Security Agency has launched a new app which will assist users of social media to identify fake profiles used by malicious actors to gather sensitive information by approaching individuals offering unique business opportunities.
  • 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 [email protected]

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

School Consultation – Gaelic Medium catchments for Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, Dingwall Primary, Millbank Primary, Inverness Royal Academy, Dingwall Academy & Nairn Academy

by

Proposal to establish Gaelic Medium catchment areas for Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, Inverness Royal Academy, Dingwall Primary, Dingwall Academy, Millbank Primary and Nairn Academy

Please find attached letters in both English and Gaelic along with the list of schools and libraries relating to the above school consultation sent on behalf of Ian Jackson, Education Officer.

Kind regards

Linda

Linda MacIver

Administrative Assistant 2

Business Support

Council Offices

High Street

Dingwall

IV15 9QN

Tel: 01349 868692

List-of-schools-and-librariesDownload
Letter-to-Stakeholders-GM-Aug-23-GAELICDownload
Letter-to-Stakeholders-GM-Aug-23-ENGLISHDownload

Community Resilience Briefing 11-08-23

by

Dear Community Resilience Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

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

Funding  

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

  • The Tree Council
    Assists schools and community groups proposing to undertake well-planned tree planting projects during National Tree Week. They will fund trees, hedges, and orchard trees and reasonable costs of supports and aids. Next deadline 3 December 2023
  • LocalGiving – Magic Little GrantsWelcome applications from projects in a variety of areas including improving mental health, reducing poverty, and responding to climate change. Next deadline 31 October 2023.
  • Volant Charitable TrustSupports groups who are addressing poverty and deprivation, with an emphasis on women, children, and young people. Next deadline 2 October 2023.
  • Highland Cross Grants
    They will fund capital assets, including minibuses, buildings, and equipment that will benefit people in the Highlands for the foreseeable future. Next deadline 30 September 2023.

HTSI Funding Opportunities – Attached to this email are also details of funding opportunities compiled by HTSI. Further information, resources, and advice is available from their funding development officer at: https://www.highlandtsi.org.uk/funding 

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

  • Bird Flu Reporting – Due to the continued threat of bird flu please do not touch any sick or dead wild birds you may find. If you do spot dead birds in the numbers shown below, please call Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on 03459 335 577 or report online:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds. 1 dead bird of prey (including owls), 1 or more dead waterfowl (swans, geese, ducks…), or 5 dead birds of any other species.
  • SEPA Water Scarcity in Scotland – Businesses using water are being urged to build water efficiency into their business plans as despite above average rainfall recently, periods of water scarcity are becoming more frequent and can escalate quickly. Further information is attached to this email and the latest SEPA Water Scarcity can also be viewed here.
  • Suicide Intervention and Prevention Programme Training – This training is delivered over 2 x 2hr sessions and complies with Heath Scotland’s requirements for suicide prevention training. Attendants will learn about recognising a person at risk of suicide, how to ask about suicide including the ability to display listening and questioning skills, an awareness of the impact of attitudes on suicide, and how to signpost to appropriate support. View the attached document or follow the above link and select SIPP Training under ‘available courses’ for a list of upcoming dates up to December and how to apply.
  • Cyber Scotland August Bulletin – Contains information on the latest cyber threats and scams.                 
  • 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 [email protected]

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