The Skye and Lochalsh Health, Wellbeing, Welfare and Social Care (HWWS) Collaboration is a transformative, three-year initiative led by SLCVO to reshape how health and social care services are developed and delivered across our communities.

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In a rural region like Skye and Lochalsh, local organisations face real challenges—fragmented services, short-term funding, 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

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

The first year laid the essential groundwork for the collaboration's long-term success. With support from the Community Regeneration Fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and SLCVO’s own reserves, Year 1 focused on understanding the landscape and building strong foundations.

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Highlights from Year 1 include:

• Established the HWWS Collaboration Steering Group to give the third sector a united voice in health, social care, and community planning

•  Mapped all third sector health, wellbeing, and social care services in Skye and Lochalsh

• Refreshed the Third Sector Area Profile and established regular communication channels to share funding, learning and policy updates

• Created a draft Third Sector Health, Wellbeing, Welfare and Social Care Plan

• Engaged in community research and developed local needs assessments

• Built relationships with NHS Highland and Highland Council, integrating our work with strategic commissioning and place-based planning

 

Year 1 set a strong, collaborative foundation that now allows Year 2 to focus on delivery, partnership, and long-term impact.

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

With Year 1 research complete, the focus now shifts to delivery and integration. From launching new partnerships to building capacity, this phase is all about action.

Key focus areas:

• Collaboration & Community Resilience

  • HWWS Collaboration Forum (4 meetings/year)

  • Formal partnership agreements to guide delivery

  • Shared frameworks to track progress and outcomes

• Public Sector Integration

  • Participation in statutory planning groups

  • Aligning with NHS Highland on commissioning and funding

• Capacity Building

  • Training programme (6 sessions, 60 participants)

  • Strengthening governance and leadership

• New Initiatives & Service Design

  • Community engagement events

  • Feasibility studies, funding bids, and collaborative project development

  • Dedicated project officer to coordinate delivery and support groups

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Why it matters

This project is more than a service redesign—it's a systems change. It gives the third sector a meaningful seat at the table, strengthens local organisations, and ensures that community-led solutions are integrated into statutory frameworks.

By Year 2, the collaboration will:

• Boost local capacity and resilience

• Support vulnerable groups, unpaid carers, and isolated individuals

• Deliver more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable services

• Lay the groundwork for long-term transformation in how we care for our communities

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