News

McGowan Environmental Engineering Ltd

SSEN

Torbreck Lane

Cable Installation Works

UPDATE – 21^st October 2022 

Good afternoon,

I hope you are all well.

The final phase of the works for the Moy to Inverness Grid Cable Remediation works are due to start on the 31/10/2022. We will now require a closure of 3 weeks on Torbreck Lane to allow for the cable connection and the reinstatement of the parking area at the woodland walk and associated cable tracks within the carriageway. The closure will be lifted on the 18/11/2022 at the latest.

Once again thank you for your patience and understanding as we near the completion of the works.

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below or by email.

Best wishes,

Douglas Munro EngTech MICE

Senior Project Manager | McGowan Environmental Engineering Ltd   | Mobile: 07508217996 | E Mail: douglas.munro@mcgowanltd.co.uk

The hall had a successful AGM and has a new committee.

We are happy to announce we’ve got some funding to repair our roof and paint the exterior. We’ve also got plans to upgrade the kitchen.

Upcoming Events

Karen Marshalsay on Scottish Harp

•  There will be a Scottish Harp Concert by Karen Marshalsay on Saturday 29th October. Doors open 7:00pm for 7:30pm start. We’ll have a cheese and wine stall. Tickets are £12 on door cash/card, or from Ness Gifts or Heidi Seaton.

•  By popular demand, the next Curry Night will be on Saturday 19th November at 7:00pm. Bring your own bottle. Bring a curry or pudding if you like or put a donation into the hall donations box. All are welcome.

•  The New Year’s Dance for 1st January 2023 is also being planned – details to follow.

• The Burns Supper is being planned for January – details to follow.

Anyone interested in Emergency First Aid training, let Heidi know: Lucky 2 Be Here can come back and run training – free of charge, but donations are accepted.

Dear Community Resilience Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

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 

• Scottish Government Covid-19 Guidance   
• NHS Inform Covid data   
• NHS Inform Covid information and guidance   
• 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 Scottish Hydro Electric Community Trust
  This trust offers help to customers faced with high charges for an electricity connection withing the Scottish Hydro-Electric Distribution area. Applications are considered four times a year.
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise – Community Asset Ownership 
  Designed to assist communities purchasing land or other fixed assets. Offers financial assistance with capacity building, start-up assistance with early investigations of proposed purchases, and technical assistance in the pre-acquisition stage and bid preparation. Applications can be made at any time.
• HISEZ – Fusion Young Enterprise Continuation Fund
  provides grants to school groups who have started a school-based business to take it forward as a serious business with the intent of generating income. Apply at any time.

• Winter Discretionary Payments Scheme – Members of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee have agreed to continue the Winter Discretionary Payments Scheme for eligible people in the Inverness area for 2022/23.
• Employability Challenge Funds – Utilising Scottish Government funding in support of No One Left Behind, Highland Council on behalf of the Highland Employability Partnership has launched two challenge funds designed to help people living in the Highlands who could benefit from employability support services.

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

• Help During the Cost of Living Crisis – The Scottish Government have created this webpage to signpost to support available during this cost-of-living crisis. Support is available for:
  • Energy and bills
  • Benefits and income 
  • Children and families
  • Debt and money
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Older or disabled people
  • Support for businesses 
• Electrical Safety Fund – The Fund aims to keep people safe in their homes, with a focus on tackling risks associated with electrical products, increasing the public’s awareness of electrical safety, and promoting changes in behaviour.  

Applicants are invited to apply for up to £5,000 per organisation (potentially up to £10k for joint     or larger projects). The grants are available to  consumer safety organisations in the community, such as Fire & Rescue Services, Trading Standards teams and charities, to deliver effective electrical safety initiatives at local level aimed at addressing the problems of misuse and/or lack               of maintenance of electrical products. Deadline 23 October 2022.

• Cyber Scotland
  • CyberFirst Girls Competition – The CyberFirst Girls’ Competition (S2) provides a fun but challenging environment to inspire the next generation of young women to consider a career in cyber security. Registration is open.
  • Introduction to cyber security for staff – This free online resource provides non-technical advice aimed at individuals looking to improve their cyber security practices.
• Highland Council Help with the Cost of Living – The Highland Council has created this webpage to provide information and resources to assist with the current cost of living crisis, including mental health and consumer advice.

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 

• Met Office Weather Warnings  https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2022-10-07  
• Met Office Weather Ready https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/weatherready 
• Floodline Scotland https://floodlinescotland.org.uk/ 
• Ready Scotland – preparing for emergencies https://ready.scot/

Other

• The National Counter Terrorism Security Office has published The Blue Book, a handy guide offering advice options around the implementation of a personal security plan. The Blue Book signposts to valuable sources of information, guidance, whilst providing advice on how to stay safe at home, on the move and online.

To access you must be registered to the ProtectUK platform.
Read this practical guide and increase your personal security knowledge: https://matomo.protectuk.police.uk/434b11

Douglas Crawford
Business Analyst

Community Support and Engagement

Highland Council

A veterans support fund is now open to help improve the lives of former service personnel and their families.

A key priority for this year’s Scottish Veterans Fund is to make sure veterans and their families are supported in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The fund will also target support for veterans who have left the Services early, as well as promoting collaboration between both veterans charities and non-veterans organisations.

Since the Scottish Government created the fund in 2008 almost 200 individual projects have been supported, receiving more than £2.3 million. In 2021, the annual funding provided was more than doubled to £500,000, with individual projects now able to bid for up to £50,000 a year.

Cabinet secretary for justice and veterans, Keith Brown, said: “Scotland’s veterans community has given a great deal to society and it is right that we do all we can to provide the best possible care and support when they return to civilian life.

“It is important that the fund responds to issues that veterans are currently facing and this year we are looking to support projects that will help veterans and their families through the cost of living crisis.

“We will continue to target projects that provide new and innovative approaches to aiding our veterans community. In particular, bids that promote collaboration within and between the veterans charity sector and other non-veterans organisations, as well as support for early service leavers, are being prioritised.”

Scottish veterans commissioner Susie Hamilton, who chairs the independent panel that assesses bids for the Fund, said: “I am delighted to see the continuation of this support to those leaving the Service, veterans and their families. The priorities of supporting vulnerable early service leavers and those most affected by the current cost crisis are particularly welcome and important in the current difficult circumstances. Organisations working together can produce a powerful impact, so I hope to see collaboration and partnerships feature in this year’s applications.

“We all benefit when veterans and their families are able to prosper after military service and I look forward to seeing the range of bids that will be put forward to help make that happen.”

The Scottish Veterans Fund is due to close on 19 November 2022.

Bids received for the Scottish Veterans Fund are assessed by an independent panel which is selected and chaired by the Scottish veterans commissioner.

https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/new-ps500000-fund-opens-to-help-former-armed-forces-personnel