SLCVO

​​Children and young people’s services include a wide range of support to help children, young people, and their families stay safe, healthy, and thrive.

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The HWWS Collaboration has identified six priority areas for work with children and young people:

• Helping families early so problems don’t get worse and they can manage day to day

• Supporting disabled children and young people 

• Helping with emotional wellbeing and connecting people to mental health support

• Supporting youth activities and mentoring to build skills and confidence

• Helping young people get ready for adulthood, including living independently and transitioning to adult unpaid carer role

• Working together to support children and young people with additional needs, including learning disabilities and development issues

• Services are delivered by both third and public sector organisations, ranging from small voluntary youth clubs to specialist additional needs services.

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​​​We host a dedicated forum on a quarterly basis, both in-person and online. These sessions provide an opportunity to discuss current issues, share updates on local activity, and agree actions moving forward. The forum is open to community members, third sector staff and volunteers, public sector teams, and anyone with an interest in developing children’s and adult services in Skye and Lochalsh.

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Alignment to the Skye and Lochalsh Caring Communities Plan

Our six priority areas strongly align with the aims, objectives, and outcomes of the Skye and Lochalsh Caring Communities Plan 2025–2030, particularly under the “People and Communities” priority. Together, they reflect a clear focus on early intervention, prevention, and holistic support, helping individuals and families manage challenges before they escalate. This directly supports the plan’s aim of building resilient communities and improving wellbeing through early intervention and investment in effective services.

 

The actions also contribute to improving equitable access to services, particularly for disabled children, young people with additional needs, and those transitioning into adulthood or caring roles. By strengthening youth activities, emotional wellbeing support, and joined-up responses to complex needs, they reflect the plan’s commitment to reducing inequalities and ensuring services are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to local needs.

 

Alignment with Area and Strategic Plans

There is also alignment with both the Lochalsh Community Action Plan (LCAP) and Skye and Raasay Future (SARF) Area Place Plan, demonstrating how local delivery supports broader place‑based outcomes.

• Helping families early reflects LCAP’s focus on improving support for children, parents and families through early help and childcare, while also supporting SARF’s aim of building stronger, more resilient communities through prevention.

• Supporting disabled children and young people aligns with LCAP’s  priority to improve support for people with disabilities and additional needs, and with SARF’s aim of ensuring fair access to essential services for all.

• Emotional wellbeing and mental health support directly contributes to LCAP’s call for better access to mental health services, while also supporting SARF’s focus on improving health outcomes and service provision across communities.

• Youth activities and mentoring reflect LCAP’s priority for more activities and opportunities for young people and contribute to SARF’s aim of building community resilience and future opportunities.

• Supporting transitions to adulthood aligns with LCAP’s focus on supporting under‑30s through skills, training and independence, while helping deliver SARF’s longer‑term goal of sustainable, thriving communities where people can stay and contribute locally.

• Joined‑up support for additional needs reflects LCAP’s strong emphasis on partnership working and improving access to services, and supports SARF’s aim of better coordinated, integrated service delivery.

   

In addition, the six priorities align strongly with key strategic plans that guide support for children, young people and families in Highland, including:

• Highland Integrated Children’s Services Plan 2023–2026

• Highland Whole Family Wellbeing Programme Funding Activity Overview and Analysis Report 2026

• Highland Children and Young People’s Needs Assessment 2026

• Highland Children and Young People’s Participation Strategy

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Update on Collaboration Activity 

To keep up to date with the actions of the Children and Young People’s Forum, associated HWWS collaboration projects, and third sector groups delivering services and strategic developments at both a Highland and national level, please visit our dedicated blog, which is updated every quarter following Forum meetings. Children & Young People Services​