SLCVO

This week’s blog shares highlights from the past two weeks, including team updates, Quarter 4 reporting, and ongoing support for unpaid carers. It also features new funding and volunteering opportunities, a Highland‑wide employability survey, and the launch of the Highlands and Islands Climate Collective for young people. Team Update This week’s blog covers two weeks of SLCVO’s work, and it has been a very busy fortnight. Last week, SLCVO welcomed Kal to the team. Kal is th

This weeks blog brings together practical guidance for community groups and social enterprises, covering charity trading, starting a social enterprise, funding options in Scotland, and support programmes like Just Enterprise. It also explains the key differences between charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs), helping groups understand their options and decide which structure is right for their purpose, plans, and capacity. Team Update This week was busy with a mix

This month's Community Social Care & Wellbeing Forum focused on Adult Services looking at the increasing complexity of adult mental health needs, ongoing gaps in support for unpaid carers, and potential changes to adult social care. It also shared updates on the rollout of Community Outreach Hubs, promoted upcoming local events and training opportunities, highlighted new social policy reports on fuel poverty and food insecurity, and outlined wider strategic developments shapi

This week’s blog explores online hubs where people can access support and information. With the launch of the Skye and Lochalsh Community Hubs just two weeks away, and the development of SLCVO’s own online information hub underway, we thought it would be a good time to highlight some of the useful online hubs we’ve come across. Particularly the new Highland Neurodivergent Hub hosted by Thriving Families. Team Update This week was a shorter working week due to the long bank ho

This week’s blog explores why members are so important for community groups, and how third sector organisations can benefit from being active members of local networks and forums. We also share an update on what the SLCVO team has been working on and take a closer look at Michelle’s work with SLCVO members. Team Update This week, third sector support has seen Michelle begin work with someone exploring the idea of starting a new social enterprise. She spent time understanding

This week’s blog highlights the work of Uig Community Trust, explores key discussions from the Children & Young People Wellbeing & Support Forum, and considers how NDTi can support the development of our local Community Outreach Hubs. It also provides a brief update on SCDC’s review of co‑production within the HWWS Collaboration and outlines recent changes to SLCVO’s team structure, including the introduction of a new role. Team Update With Michelle away on a well‑earned holi

This month’s Forum focused on children’s and young people’s services. Members from Mikeysline, The Highland Council, Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association, Public Health Scotland, and SLCVO explored a number of issues that have emerged over recent months and began working together on ways we can collectively address them. If you would like to find out more about the Forums or register for the next one, please visit: https://www.slcvo.org.uk/community-wellbeing-and-support-f

In this week’s blog, we explore what data protection really means for community groups and charities. We look at the common pitfalls organisations can fall into—and how to avoid them—along with the core data protection policies every group should have in place. We also explain how the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) can support you to stay compliant, highlight recent changes in legislation, and provide a simple checklist that boards and committees can use to strengthe

In this week’s blog, we take a look at a week full of learning, collaboration and useful tools to support community groups across Skye and Lochalsh. We share updates on our committee governance training, highlights from Michelle’s funding workshop and review our online Cybercrime and Online Fraud Awareness resource hub. There is an update on the new Highland CPP report on health inequalities, insights on volunteer minibus use, and a quick guide to using PowerPoint Live in Tea

This week’s blog highlights a range of consultations and opportunities for groups to get involved in — from funding and childcare to onshore community benefits and Cross‑Party Group meetings on islands. It also reflects on the team’s week and shares useful resources to support young trustees. Team Update This week, the SLCVO team have once again been out and about across the area — covering around 350 miles between us. When not on the road, the team held six 1:1 meetings with

The Skye and Lochalsh Community Wellbeing and Support Forum is a collaborative space for community groups, third sector organisations, and public sector partners to share ideas, propose projects, and shape local health, wellbeing, social care, and welfare. Part of the Skye and Lochalsh Health, Wellbeing, Welfare and Social Care (HWWS) Collaboration led by SLCVO, the forum was created in response to community feedback calling for a shared, inclusive platform to support joint p

This week’s blog highlights the rich tapestry of cultural, recreational, and sports third sector organisations across Skye and Lochalsh, alongside an update on SLCVO’s Spring Training Sessions and what the team has been working on. Team Update This week, Jo-Anne and Matt have been focusing on adult social care—an area where our Befrienders Service contributes alongside many other community groups across Skye and Lochalsh. Early in the week, we were preparing for next week’s D

This week’s blog highlights support for older people across Skye & Lochalsh, signposts useful local services, and explores why intergenerational work is so important for our communities. Team Update This week, Jo-Anne and Michelle met with Jo Cowan, Age Scotland’s National Community Development Officer, who is planning a series of events over the coming months to bring together local lunch clubs and other groups supporting older people. It was great to catch up with Jo and di

This week we explore how to get involved in volunteering, what a group needs to consider when changing their governing documents, and take a look at support for village halls including SCVO’s Village & Community Halls Handbook and OSCR's guidance. This week, the SLCVO team was working at around 50% capacity as Jo‑Anne was off ill for three days. When she was working, Jo‑Anne supported a couple of groups looking to update their governing documents and met with a couple of peop

This week we highlight new collaborations supporting cancer bereavement, update on the Community Outreach Hub project, and shine a spotlight on vital local services shaping community wellbeing. Third Sector Support Services This week, Michelle has been busy working on our Service User Survey and Membership Review, along with planning our spring training week at the start of March. She has also been reviewing the updated UK‑wide Charities Statement of Recommended Practice: A

This week we explore how the third sector brings investment into Skye and Lochalsh. We highlight the scale of funding flowing through local charities—almost £30 million—and where that investment is going, from community facilities and health projects to support for young carers. Nearly £30 Million Flowing Into Our Communities Through Charities Charities bring a significant and often under‑recognised level of investment into our local communities. New analysis from publicly av

In this week’s blog, we’re sharing a round‑up of key activity across SLCVO, including team highlights, our latest performance statistics, an update from the ‘Gaps in Services’ workshop held in November, and a short introduction to governing documents Third Sector Support Services On Wednesday, Michelle hosted the second Reduce, Recycle, Reuse event, bringing together a range of community groups to explore actions in more depth and establish a working group to take forward th

The First Blog of 2026 by Jo-Anne Ford SLCVO Chief Officer The SLCVO team is excited about the year ahead, with several new projects on the horizon. We’ll continue to build on our training and support services for community groups and deliver regular outreach sessions across the area. I kicked off the new year at the Skye and Raasay Future Board meeting, where partners including The Highland Council, HIE, Development Trusts, SLCVO, and the West Highland Chamber of Commerc

As we wrap up for the year and prepare for the Christmas holidays, this will be our final blog before the SLCVO team takes a well-deserved break. We’ll be back on Monday, 5th January, ready to continue supporting our communities in Skye and Lochalsh. The focus of this blog is helplines and support services available over the festive period. We know Christmas can be a challenging time for many, so we’ve pulled together key contacts for mental health, wellbeing, food support,

This week, SLCVO has been supporting groups with governing documents and policies, so our latest blog explores why these are vital for community organisations. It covers the risks of relying on old trust deeds, the advantages of incorporating as a SCIO, and the key elements every governing document should include. Village Halls and Deed of Trust Across Skye and Lochalsh, there are around 30 village halls and community spaces serving as vital hubs for local life. These spaces