Dores and Essich Community

News

Heating Fund

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(See attached application form download below )

The Inverness Winter Payment Scheme extends to
people who live in Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness
West, Inverness Central, Inverness Ness-side,
Inverness Millburn, Culloden and Ardersier and
Inverness South. If you live in one of these areas
and believe you may be eligible you are invited to
apply for a payment as soon as possible, and no later
than 28th February 2023.

This covers everyone eligible who lives in the Dores and Essich Community Council area,

Winter_Payment_Scheme_Application_FormDownload

Community Resilience Briefing 16-12-22

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

Winter Vaccination Programme

  • Public Health Scotland colleagues have recently translated information on the Covid and Flu vaccinations being offered as part of the Winter Vaccination Programme. This includes 36 community languages and British Sign Language versions, accessible here: Other languages – winter vaccines | NHS inform

Covid related information 

Funding  

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

  • The Naturesave Trust – Promotes the adoption of sustainable development relating to environmental and conservation projects, social enterprise projects, community renewable energy grants, and environmental performance reviews. Next deadline 28 Feb 2023.
  • SportScotland – Sport Facilities Fund – Supports projects that create or improve places people can take part in sport and physical activity withing clubs and schools. Next deadline 1 April 2023
  • Help the Homeless – Financially support charities operating homelessness hostels, drop-in centres, and the like. Next deadline 15 March 2023.

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

  • Priority Services Register – This is a free service proving extra help to priority customers when there is an interruption to electricity, gas, or water.Examples of eligibility include use of medical equipment reliant on electricity, have a disability, or are over 60. More information and registration forms are available from the link
  • Winter Road Maintenance – Information from The Highland Council about road maintenance this winter, including gritting route maps.
  • HTSI Winter Resilience Services – this document available from the HTSI homepage is a non-exhaustive list of services offering winter support.
  • Citizens Advice – If you are struggling to afford energy bills this winter you may be eligible to some of the grants and benefits listed here.
  • SSEN Powering on This Winter – Attached are the answers to questions relating to power supply this winter received by SSEN in a recent stakeholder meeting.
  • Scottish Water – Advice and resources to help protect your pipes this winter.
  • CyberScotland – This bulletin update contains information regarding staying safe shopping online and the latest holiday scams to watch for.

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

  • Reporting Tool for Dead Wild Birds – You should use this service to report dead wild birds if you find:
    • 1 or more dead birds of prey (such as an owl, hawk or buzzard)
    • 3 or more dead birds that include at least 1 gull, swan, goose or duck
    • 5 or more dead wild birds of any species
    • You can use this service to report other types or numbers of dead wild birds.

APHA has released a new online reporting tool for dead wild bird finds, this covers the whole of GB https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds.

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

Etape Loch Ness 2023

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Etape Loch Ness 2023- Key information 

  • 2023 Event ( 9th edition ) – Sunday 23 April 2023. This is the events regular weekend which is prior to the May Bank holiday and after Easter
  • 5000 cyclists are expected to participate in the event
  • The event route and road traffic management timings remain unchanged other than one section: adjustment of the road closure from the Catholic Church junction ( B852/ B862 junction) above Foyers, to Lower Foyers junction to include up to the Pass of Inverfarigaig junction. This will enable the earlier reopening of the Lower Foyers junction to Inverfarigaig Pass by 1 hour than has been possible at previous events ( reopening at 1120 instead of 1220)
  • Attached is the event route that describes traffic management plans
  • 26% of participants are from outside Scotland
  • 81% of participants are from outside Highlands & Islands
  • Planned escorts during the event are possible for vital trips where and when it is safe to do so. eg for care workers
  • Macmillan Cancer Support is the Official event charity and are aiming to raise £300,000. Cyclists will also raise money for many other charities
  • The event will provide a donation to the charity or community group of a volunteers choice- please contact [email protected] to get involved
  • Donation will be provided to Community Council for distribution to a local community project or charity