Dores and Essich Community

Community Briefing 15-12-23

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Contents

Funding

Community Training, Events, & News

Welfare & Poverty Reduction

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Community Safety and Resilience

Funding 

  • SCVO  is a key source of funding information for the third sector.
  • UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Applications are invited relating to projects that will deliver:
    • Place based investments, regeneration, and town centre improvements
    • Community assets and infrastructure improvements
    • Digital infrastructure for local community facilities

Projects must start from 1 April 2024 and conclude 1 March 2025.

Community Training, Events, & News

  • Democracy Matters – Scottish Government and COSLA announced that people across Scotland are being invited to suggest ways of increasing local control over decision-making.

The second phase of the Democracy Matters national conversation will give people the opportunity to come together in their communities to consider how the democratic process can best help their town, village, or neighbourhood. Communities can use the discussion documentDemocracy Matters which covers several themes such as powers, representation, accountability and participation to aid their discussions.

Democracy Matters is part of the wider Local Governance Review, led jointly with COSLA, which is considering how powers and resources should be shared between national and local government and with communities. It will inform future legislation on local governance.

The closing date for responses is 28 February 2024 and Information about how to apply for grants to help cover the costs of hosting events is available online.

  • Highland 20mph Consultation – Highland Council have launched a public consultation for the Highland-wide 20mph roll-out project and is looking for feedback from communities.

125 Highland settlements are part of the project which equates to around 610km of roads across the Highlands, 590km of which are on Local Authority Roads.

This scheme is being fully funded by the Scottish Government who invited Highland Council to be an early adopter of 20mph limits.

Although the questionnaire is designed to capture individual comments, any groups wishing to submit feedback as a group can do so by emailing[email protected]

  • Think Health Think Nature Newsletter – This monthly newsletter contains information on news, links, funding opportunities, and events. To sign up use this link: http://eepurl.com/hYqj7n and if you’d like anything included please email: [email protected]
  • Interim Community Council Elections in 2024

Following the declaration of election results for the 10 contested community councils on Monday, 27 November 2023, we will now proceed to prepare for the next round of interim elections to take place in January 2024.

This news release confirms the timetable and we have made available an online digital toolkit to help communities spread the word

  • My Place Awards – Two categories for awards 1) Community-led Projects and 2) Community Champions. The deadline for entry is 14 January 2024.
  • Area Committees on YouTube – All Highland Council Area Committees videos are viewable on our YouTube Channel. We’ve been uploading recordings of the Area Committees since 2020, with 145 meetings now available online.

You can find out what is happening in your local area by visiting our Area Committee playlist on YouTube:  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFuwpBbJK3-JS1Q1SyPgSar1qSP8Kodm1&feature=shared

Strategic Committees are still broadcast live on The Highland Council website.

Welfare & Poverty Reduction

  • Emergency Help in Inverness – Attached are information sheets for sources of emergency food and help within inverness.
  • Future Focus – The Highland Council has partnered with Triage to launch this service aimed at helping people who face multiple barriers to work to find and sustain meaningful employment.

Future focus will support unemployed people with up to 12 months pre-employment and 6 months in work support. The referral form is attached that can be used to refer clients to Future Focus. Completed forms or questions should be sent to [email protected]

  • Inverness Warm Welcome – Attached is the schedule detailing organisations that will be offering assistance over the winter period, including free meals and refreshments.
  • 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.
  • Armed Forces & Veterans: Education, Health & Housing – Information to support and signpost Highland’s Armed Forces Community:

Mental Health & Wellbeing

  • Positive Activities Service – Works with individuals in recovery from alcohol or substance dependencies.
  • Mental Health Focus Group –  Inspiring Young Voices will be hosting an online focus group for 18-26 year olds to voice their thoughts and opinions on mental health in the Highlands. For more information or to get involve please contact Hannah at [email protected] or 07510890219  
  • Armed Forces Family Blog – The MLG group work within an educational context with children, young people, and their families to ensure they have no disadvantage due to being a military family.
  • 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