SLCVO

The Skye and Lochalsh Health, Wellbeing, Welfare and Social Care (HWWS) Collaboration  brings together community groups, public services and local people to improve how community-led social care, wellbeing, health and welfare support is shaped and delivered across the area. It helps partners connect, share ideas and work together so services are easier to access and more joined‑up.

​

CONTACT 01478 612921

EMAIL jo.ford@slcvo.org.uk

​

In a rural region like Skye and Lochalsh, community-led organisations face real challenges, increased demand with fewer resources, unstable funding, staff/volunteer shortages and limited access to development support. The HWWS Collaboration tackles these issues head-on by uniting third sector and public sector partners to co-produce sustainable, community-led services that reflect the needs and voices of local people.

 

What the collaboration does

• Brings together third sector and public bodies to align services with local priorities

• Supports the co-production of services that improve health and wellbeing outcomes

• Builds long-term sustainability for community organisations

• Embeds third sector-led solutions into regional health and social care planning

• Drives innovation, shared learning, and inclusive decision-making

​

What We Achieved in Year 1: Research & Engagement (2024–25)

In our first year, we focused on really getting to know the local landscape and building strong foundations for the HWWS Collaboration. Thanks to support from the Community Regeneration Fund, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and SLCVO’s own reserves, we were able to gather the insights and partnerships needed to move forward confidently. 

​

Year 1 Highlights

• Brought partners together by setting up the HWWS Collaboration Steering Group, giving the third sector a stronger, united voice in local health and social care planning.

• Mapped all third sector health, wellbeing and social care services across Skye and Lochalsh to understand what support already exists.

• Updated the Third Sector Area Profile and created regular ways to share funding news, learning and policy updates.

• Produced the first draft of the Third Sector Health, Wellbeing, Welfare and Social Care Plan. 

• Carried out community research and local needs assessments to make sure people’s voices shape the work. 

• Built stronger relationships with NHS Highland and Highland Council, linking our work with wider planning and commissioning.

​​​

Year 2: Development & Delivery (April 2025 – March 2026)

With the research and groundwork complete, Year 2 was focused on putting plans into action. This phase focuses on strengthening partnerships, building community capacity and making sure services are more connected and easier to access.

​

Year 2 Highlights

• Collaboration & Community Resilience - Established the Skye and Lochalsh Community Social Care and Wellbeing Forum a monthly collaborative space for, community groups, local people and the public sector partners to bring forward ideas, propose projects, and shape the future of social Care, wellbeing and welfare in our communities.

• Public Sector Integration - deepened public‑sector integration by participating in statutory planning groups and working closely with NHS Highland to align with commissioning and funding priorities.

• Capacity building -we delivered a Spring training programme covering committee roles and responsibilities, writing strong funding applications, and improving cyber resilience. We also provided direct support to individual organisations to help strengthen their governance and leadership.

• New Initiatives & Service Design - we ran a series of community and stakeholder engagement events to identify gaps in social care delivery. We also completed feasibility studies, developed funding bids, and took forward a range of collaborative projects.

• Monitoring and Evaluation – We introduced shared frameworks to help consistently track progress and measure outcomes.

​

April 2026 onward - Delivering the Skye & Lochalsh Caring Communities Plan

From April 2026 onward, our work will centre on delivering the outcomes set out in the Skye & Lochalsh Caring Communities Plan 2025–2030, ensuring that everything we do contributes directly to stronger communities, a more sustainable third sector and better‑connected services. The plan’s priorities—empowering people and communities, strengthening the third sector, and fostering integrated partnerships—will guide how we design, deliver and evaluate support across Skye and Lochalsh. 

​

By continuing this systems‑change approach, we will focus on prevention, improve equity of access, support community‑led design, and address the wider factors that influence health and wellbeing. This ensures that vulnerable groups, unpaid carers and isolated individuals receive support that is early, accessible and shaped by lived experience. 

​

As the collaboration moves into its next phase, we will:

• Continue to build local capacity and resilience, supporting organisations with leadership, governance and workforce development.

• Improve outcomes for vulnerable and underserved groups, including unpaid carers and people experiencing isolation, by ensuring services are visible, easy to access and aligned with local needs.

• Support the development and delivery of services that are inclusive, accessible and sustainable, using prevention‑focused approaches and better signposting so people know where to go for help.

• Embed community‑led solutions into statutory systems, ensuring that local voices continue to guide design, commissioning and long‑term priorities.

• Lay the foundations for long‑term transformation, strengthening integration between the third and public sectors and ensuring services remain resilient into the future.

 

This work will not only strengthen the third sector but also create a more joined‑up, responsive and community‑led system of care for everyone across Skye and Lochalsh.

​

To learn more or join the collaboration, contact: Jo-Anne Ford, SLCVO Chief Officer Jo.Ford@slcvo.org.uk