SLCVO

This week, SLCVO is looking at some of the fundraising groups and charities making a difference to local communities and beyond. Across Skye and Lochalsh, volunteers give thousands of hours each year to support causes that matter to local people. From improving healthcare facilities and supporting people affected by cancer to enhancing play opportunities for children and funding music education, community fundraising groups play a vital role in strengthening our communities.

This week, Michelle and Jo-Anne had the pleasure of visiting Waternish, taking time to meet with Trustees and volunteers of Waternish Community Hall and learn more about the fantastic work taking place across the peninsula. It was wonderful to hear about the hall's activities and future plans, and even better to see the Waternish Community Garden in full bloom, showcasing the hard work and dedication of local volunteers. The visit was particularly special as SLCVO has had t

This week’s blog looks at the Skye and Lochalsh Children and Young People's Services Forum held on the 19th August and the work of the organisations attending. The Skye and Lochalsh Children and Young People's Services Forum was held on Wednesday 19 August at UHI Broadford. The forum takes place every quarter and provides an opportunity for community members, third sector organisations and public sector teams to come together, share updates on their services, and explore oppo

The Skye and Lochalsh Children and Young People's Services Forum was held on Wednesday 19 August at UHI Broadford. The forum takes place every quarter and provides an opportunity for community members, third sector organisations and public sector teams to come together, share updates on their services, and explore opportunities for collaboration. This meeting was attended by 12 representatives from both the third and public sectors, including several new participants. It wa

This week’s blog is about the volunteers who help keep our communities safe when emergencies happen. Across Skye, Raasay and Lochalsh, volunteers support many local rescue teams, their skills, commitment and local knowledge help save lives and support people when they need it most Volunteers Behind the Emergency Services When an emergency happens, we often think about firefighters, ambulance crews and police officers. But many volunteers also play an important role in keeping

This week, we're exploring the heritage organisations of Skye, Raasay and Lochalsh, and the important role they play in preserving local history, culture and traditions while supporting lifelong learning within their communities. Across Skye, Raasay and Lochalsh, heritage organisations play an important role in helping people connect with their communities, culture, and local history. From historical societies and museums to archives and community trusts, these groups preserv

After a short break for the summer holidays, we're taking the opportunity to look back at SLCVO's first quarter. Between April and June 2026, we continued to support community groups, charities and social enterprises across Skye and Lochalsh, while representing the interests of the third sector through local planning, partnership and strategic forums. Quarter 1 (April to June 2026) headline figures 48 organisations provided with one-to-one support. 110 recorded support cases

This week's blog looks at six inspiring community-led initiatives that are helping to meet the needs and aspirations identified by local people through the many area plans, place plans, community action plans and thematic reports developed across Skye and Lochalsh. What Communities are Telling Us Across Skye and Lochalsh, communities have spent recent years developing local place plans, community action plans, development strategies and thematic reports. From Broadford to Por

This week's blog highlights some of the fantastic groups and organisations supporting the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (RRR) agenda across Skye and Lochalsh. We also provide an update on SLCVO's work to support the development of a new collaboration that will bring together third, public and private sector partners to tackle waste, increase reuse and repair opportunities, and strengthen the local circular economy. Supporting the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Collaboration This week, Mi

This week’s blog looks at the many third sector groups in Skye and Lochalsh that support water-based activities, helping keep communities safe, skilled and connected to the sea during the busy summer months. Third Sector on the Water in Skye & Lochalsh Summer in Skye and Lochalsh brings a real shift in pace. Longer days, better weather (well sometimes), and an increase in visitors mean more people out on the water, whether that’s sailing, paddling, swimming, or simply enjoyin

This week’s blog celebrates Small Charity Week and shines a light on the vital role small charities play across Skye and Lochalsh. It explores the scale and diversity of local charities, highlighting how these organisations support communities, often with limited resources, and showcases how small charities are making a big impact, from supporting health and wellbeing to preserving heritage, building skills, and connecting remote communities What is Small Charity Week Small C

With the World Cup now underway, this week’s blog takes a look at the clubs and groups bringing football in all its forms to Skye and Lochalsh. As with all sports clubs across the area, these are run by dedicated groups of volunteers who govern the clubs, support fundraising efforts, provide transport to matches, and help create opportunities for people of all ages Grassroots Football: More Than Just a Game Across Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber, community football plays a huge r

This week’s blog takes a closer look at the different volunteer roles that support SLCVO's work. To mark Volunteers’ Week, we’re also exploring some wider topics, why people choose to volunteer, how volunteering has changed in recent years, and where organisations can promote their opportunities. We’ll also share some simple guidance on how to get started in volunteering, as well as spotlight the chance to get involved with Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau. Team Upd

This week’s blog marks the recent sad passing of someone whose dedication made a positive impact on the lives of many people in Skye and Lochalsh. The SLCVO team (past and present) would like to take some time to reflect on, and celebrate the work of Patricia Walsh – known fondly by many as Mrs Pat. Dedicated to improving the health and welfare of our local communities she leaves a legacy that continues in the work of many Third Sector groups still active in Skye and Lochal

This week’s blog shares highlights from across the team, including a look at this week’s Community Hub and how SLCVO reports on our work to the Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI). We also explore how to make monitoring and evaluation work for your group, introduce Red Chair Highland—a digital inclusion CIC looking to expand into our area—and round up a range of news, opportunities and updates that local groups have asked us to share. Team Update This week has been another

This week’s blog shares highlights from across the team, alongside a look at three key themes: why governance structures matter, the relationship between boards and sub‑groups and how to get the balance right, and the importance of making meetings matter to ensure time is used effectively and groups can focus on delivering impact. Team Update This week has been quite busy for Jo‑Anne, with Michelle unexpectedly having to take some time off, resulting in a whirlwind of meeting

This month's Forum focused on Children and Young Peoples Services with participants looking at future work of the Forum, a round up of news from across the area and local initiatives. Guest speaker Vicki Clark, Health Improvement Specialist for Planet Youth, provided an overview of the recent Planet Youth school report for Plockton High School. This report is based on data gathered through the September 2025 S3 and S4 Health and Wellbeing Survey. Within the school, the findin

This week’s blog shares highlights from across the team alongside a deeper look at community profiling and engagement—key building blocks for strong, effective community projects. Whether you’re starting something new or improving an existing service, taking time to involve your community is essential. Team Update With the May Bank Holiday, election-related school closures, and Michelle taking some well-earned leave, it’s been a shorter week for the team. Matt and Kal have

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