Dores and Essich Community

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. 

Kings Coronation

  • Community Champions – In honour of Their Majesties’ service to the country, Royal Voluntary Service is launching the Coronation Champions Awards for volunteers, an official Coronation project. Together with Her Majesty The Queen Consort the awards will celebrate extraordinary volunteers across the country who have been contributing to their communities. RVS is asking communities to help by nominating a volunteer for a Coronation Champions Award. The deadline for nominations is 2nd April – more information can be found at Coronation Champion Awards | Volunteer Nominations | Royal Voluntary Service
  • If you are planning a coronation street party the Eden Project can provide ideas and advice – more information can be found at The Big Lunch | Eden Project Communities
  • The National Lottery Community Funds can support coronation events. The deadline for this funding is 24th March – though if you are planning a coronation event later in the year you can still apply after that deadline. More information at https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/under10k. 
  • TV Licensing – A dispensation has been given to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort and Live Ceremonial Coverage on Saturday 6th May and The Coronation Concert on Sunday 7th May 2023.

    This dispensation allows events to be organised for communities in venues where TV is not usually watched to screen live programmes throughout the weekend without needing to purchase a licence. This includes, for example, community venues such as churches, town halls, community centres, libraries and streets across Britain as well as commercial premises acting as community venues such as concert halls, performing arts venues, cinemas and shops. It also applies to any outdoor venues which have the facilities to screen.

    BBC coverage should be free to watch, so please don’t charge anyone for the viewing. Even if your screening is taking place at a venue which normally has a commercial purpose you must not charge for tickets, and the public should be allowed to bring their own food and drink.

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:

  • Hugh Fraser Foundation
    Considers applications from any registered charity working in many different sectors, with particular interest in applications from parts of Scotland where local circumstances/economy make fundraising difficult. Next deadline End of April
  • The Fore Trust
    Offers development funding and strategic support to early-stage charities and social enterprises. In addition to grants, they will match successful applicants with friendly professional support including mentoring and strategic advice. The next funding round will open between noon April 11 until noon April 17
  • Birkdale Trust for Hearing Impaired Ltd
    Supports organisations linked to deaf young people. They offer grants to advance the education of young people with a hearing impairment and offer assistance purchasing specialist hearing equipment or other aids benefiting individuals or organisations. Applications can be submitted anytime.
  • Wooden Spoon

Funds projects that enhance and support the lives of children and young people disadvantaged physically, mentally, or socially. Applications can be made at any time.

Highland Green Health Small Grant Fund 2023
Aims to contribute towards sustained green health action and capacity, this includes networking, training, and resource creation. More information is available attached and atwww.thinkhealththinknature.scot/funding. The fund will open for applications March 13th and close March 31st.

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

The aim of the seminar is to share learning around resilience and expand understanding about the connection between strong communities and their ability to respond to crisis and to officially relaunch the Highland Resilience Network.

They will be discussing the importance of informed communities in emergency response, Highland and National resilience structures and planning, and the role of Ward Managers and the Council.

They will also be discussing the third sector organisation’s experience of resilience response, alongside five case study inputs on:

  • Extreme Weather and Power Outages
  • Rural and Wildfires
  • Pandemic
  • Counter Terror
  • Missing Persons
  • Lifeline – Offer advice and support to workers or volunteers with the emergency services to help them stay safe and well. The Lifeline Scotland Staying Well Road Trip is an interactive, self-directed course covering factors which protect or threaten wellbeing, that can be done solo or in a group session.  
  • Neighbourhood Watch Scotland – This is a community led initiative aimed at bringing local people together to address crime and other safety issues. As well as advice and support, Neighbourhood Alert allows communities to opt in to regularly receive the type of information they choose from trusted organisations, including Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
  • HTSI Good Governance Toolkit – This new resource provides information to help guide the process of starting and managing an organisation, involving and supporting people, and what to do when things go wrong.
  • ALISS – A national digital database funded by the Scottish Government enabling information on resources, services, groups, and support to be found and shared within their local communities. Community Groups are encouraged to check if they have been listed on ALISS and are free to add themselves to ALISS if not.
  • CyberScotland March Bulletin – This month’s topics include information on donating to charities safely and how to spot scammers posing as charities, and new guidance for recording, storing, and using information from suppliers. 
  • 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. 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