Dores and Essich Community

News

Community Resilience Briefing 10-2-23

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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. 

Covid, Colds, and Flu related information 

Funding  

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

  • Sport Facilities FundSupports projects creating or improving places used for sport or physical activity. Next deadline 1 Apr 2023.
  • Trusthouse Charitable Foundation – Major GrantsProvides assistance to organisations working directly with families in need, including early intervention, coping with addiction, and prisoners’ families. No submission deadline.
  • Garfield Weston Foundation – Supports organisations making a positive impact on their communities, including topics relating to arts, education, youth, and environment. No submission deadline.

UK Youth Fund – Provides support to youth organisations whose work is being hindered, curtailed, or cut back due to rising core costs or unprecedented demand. The application process will remain open until the fund has been exhausted.

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

  • Resilient Communities 2023 – A series of online workshops during March and April for anyone with an interest in community resilience to emergencies. More information is available in the attached documents and places can be booked by following the link.
  • Flood Forecasting – This online service provides an early indication of flooding to communities by looking ahead three days. Further information is available attached in the Official Launch Briefing.
  • CyberScotland – February 2023 Bulletin – Includes information on the latest cyber threats and scams.
  • CyberScotland events 2023 – CyberScotland Week 2023 (27th February – 5th March). A week of events focused on cyber awareness, developing skills, and promoting innovation. Free webinars, resources and learning opportunities will be available throughout the week. These will help people and organisations become more informed about cyber risks and learn how to become more cyber resilient.
  • 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.
  • 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

Highland Senior Citizens Network Newsletter

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Dear HSCN Members and Supporters, 

Here is your first news-sheet of 2023, bringing with it our best wishes for the New Year. Along with the good wishes, there is information about activities and new service developments, opportunities to be sociable and learn new skills, requests for your views, and recommendations from other members.  Hopefully, it will set you off into the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, with a spring in your step. 

In Chinese astrology, the Rabbit, or specifically the Water Rabbit, is a sign of longevity, peace and prosperity, meaning 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. I came across these recommendations for the year ahead which seemed good advice and very much in line with HSCN plans for the year.  The Rabbit is associated with: 

  • It’s ability to create and maintain harmonious relationships.  In 2023 let’s focus on building strong connections with loved ones, colleagues, and anyone else in our lives. As ever, HSCN is all about making connections, and we are really looking forward to doing even more of this during 2023. 
  • Trustfulness and an easy-going attitude, but it’s essential to be vigilant regarding potential scams or frauds. Trust, but verify, fits very well with our focus on scams and fraud. Come to a Tea-break and learn more. 
  • Creativity and artistic talents, so let’s tap into our inner artists and explore our creative side, which you could do at the UHI / Inverness Open arts open mornings in February. 
  • Taking care of oneself, so let’s prioritise self-care and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  Be inspired by Head Gardener Uisdean and start making plans for the year ahead! 

Hopefully by following these tips we can take advantage of the positive energy and opportunities that 2023, The Year of the Rabbit, brings. 

As ever, we look forward to hearing from anyone who wants to share information or their experiences with us.  

The Highland Senior Citizens Network Team 

Our Co-ordinators Contact Details: 

Jo Cowan                                     Anne McDonald  

Co-ordinator                                   Co-ordinator  

Highland Senior Citizens Network                  Highland Senior Citizens Network  

Mobile Number: 07933 653585                   Mobile Number: 07933 653313  

E-mail: [email protected]                     E-mail:[email protected]  

Our Co-ordinators work part time, 21 hours a week, so may not be able to check and reply to emails every day 

HSCN-News-sheet-Jan-2023-emailDownload

Community Resilience Briefing 27-01-23

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Community Resilience Briefing – 27 January 2023

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 

Funding  

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

  • The Robertson Trust – Large GrantsFocuses on work addressing the impacts of poverty/trauma on financial wellbeing, emotional wellbeing/relationships, or educational and work pathways. Apply anytime, decisions can take up to three months.
  • Foyle Foundation – Schools Library ProgrammeAccepts applications from state funded schools, giving priority to primary schools and focusing on funding library/reading books. Apply anytime, decisions can take up to four months.
  • Home Heating Support FundProvides financial relief to energy consumers experiencing financial hardships regardless of the fuel or payment method used. Applications open until 31 March or until funds are exhausted.

The Household Hardship Fund
Provides small grants to groups who can pass the funding on directly to low-income individuals and families. Grants are only available to groups who did not receive funds from the previous round (Nov/Dec 2022) and once applications worth over the total amount available have been received no new applications will be accepted.

Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships Local Improvement Fund Small Grants 
The Local Improvement Fund allows HTSI to offer grants of up to £5,000 for agencies and community groups in the third sector, to support delivery of the Highland Alcohol & Drugs Partnership Strategy in 2023. The purpose of the funding is to enable activities and services to develop in ways that prevent and reduce alcohol and drug related harm.

Grants will be awarded using a style of participatory budgeting at six local events across the Highlands from 6 – 24 March 2023.

How to apply

Applicants will be asked to submit a brief online form, providing details of what you intend to do. This may be running a pilot project, scoping out existing provision or alternative ways to research solutions for your community. 

Application form HERE

Application deadline is Wednesday, February 15, 12:00pm

If you’re invited to pitch, you will have three minutes to describe your proposal, along with a few minutes to answer questions. You may not use power point, but props/costumes are encouraged (not provided). 

You may invite as many people to the event as you like, but only five of your guests will be allocated a vote. Other attendees will vote for their favourite bid and those with the highest percentage of votes at each event will be awarded the grants, subject to the amount available at each event.

If you have any questions please contact:

Marion MacNeil m:07826821545 email: [email protected]

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

  • Money Counts Courses 2023 – Attached is information on courses aimed to build the confidence of staff working with people who could benefit from income maximisation help and what support services are available. The courses are delivered online across a variety of dates.

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.
  • 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 

Other

Cairngorms National Park Authority Elections – Nomination forms are now available for anybody wishing to stand as a candidate in the Cairngorms National Park Authority board election. Candidates must be over 21 years of age, but do not need to be a resident in the park area. Five board members are directly elected for a period of four years, and the deadline for nominations is 4pm Wednesday 15 February.

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

Annual Litter Pick

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ANNUAL SOUTH LOCH NESS LITTER PICK

Would any of our community members be interested in organising the Dores end of the south Loch Ness litter pick this year? 

I’ve organised it for the past 6 years, but I’ve just not got the capacity this year. It involves liaising with the Foyers end to agree a date, confirming a Council roadside collection along the route on the Monday, collecting litter pickers and encouraging locals to take part. We cover the roadside from Makar to beyond Balachladaich, the village and the beach. There are a good number of regular volunteers along the route, and Aldourie Estate and MOWI fish farm help too, but it would be great to get more people involved. Please email me at [email protected] if you’d be willing to take this on – it makes a real difference if everyone does a little each year so it would be really unfortunate if the litter pick didn’t happen this year.


Fiona Cairns

Balachladaich Bed & Breakfast

Loch Ness, Dores, IV2 6XP

www.lochnessbedbreakfast.co.uk

For more information about the south Loch Ness area, please visit www.visitsouthlochness.com