Dores and Essich Community

Community Resilience Briefing 11-08-23

by

Dear Community Resilience Group/Community Council/Colleagues,

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

Funding  

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

  • The Tree Council
    Assists schools and community groups proposing to undertake well-planned tree planting projects during National Tree Week. They will fund trees, hedges, and orchard trees and reasonable costs of supports and aids. Next deadline 3 December 2023
  • LocalGiving – Magic Little GrantsWelcome applications from projects in a variety of areas including improving mental health, reducing poverty, and responding to climate change. Next deadline 31 October 2023.
  • Volant Charitable TrustSupports groups who are addressing poverty and deprivation, with an emphasis on women, children, and young people. Next deadline 2 October 2023.
  • Highland Cross Grants
    They will fund capital assets, including minibuses, buildings, and equipment that will benefit people in the Highlands for the foreseeable future. Next deadline 30 September 2023.

HTSI Funding Opportunities – Attached to this email are also details of funding opportunities compiled by HTSI. Further information, resources, and advice is available from their funding development officer at: https://www.highlandtsi.org.uk/funding 

Welfare, poverty reduction and resilience

  • Bird Flu Reporting – Due to the continued threat of bird flu please do not touch any sick or dead wild birds you may find. If you do spot dead birds in the numbers shown below, please call Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on 03459 335 577 or report online:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds. 1 dead bird of prey (including owls), 1 or more dead waterfowl (swans, geese, ducks…), or 5 dead birds of any other species.
  • SEPA Water Scarcity in Scotland – Businesses using water are being urged to build water efficiency into their business plans as despite above average rainfall recently, periods of water scarcity are becoming more frequent and can escalate quickly. Further information is attached to this email and the latest SEPA Water Scarcity can also be viewed here.
  • Suicide Intervention and Prevention Programme Training – This training is delivered over 2 x 2hr sessions and complies with Heath Scotland’s requirements for suicide prevention training. Attendants will learn about recognising a person at risk of suicide, how to ask about suicide including the ability to display listening and questioning skills, an awareness of the impact of attitudes on suicide, and how to signpost to appropriate support. View the attached document or follow the above link and select SIPP Training under ‘available courses’ for a list of upcoming dates up to December and how to apply.
  • Cyber Scotland August Bulletin – Contains information on the latest cyber threats and scams.                 
  • 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.
  • Energy Advice – Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau offer free, impartial energy advice to householders. We 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. We can be contacted on 01463 219742 or email [email protected]

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