Forum Notes 18 February
- joford4
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
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 planning, improve service coordination, and ensure voices from across our rural communities are heard.
As part of SLCVO’s commitment to sharing information, this blog will be updated after each Forum so that groups unable to attend can stay informed about discussions and actions. 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-forum
Adult Wellbeing & Support Forum 18 February
Draft Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy and Intentions 2026-2029
At SLCVO, we are committed to ensuring that communities and local service providers have a strong, meaningful voice in shaping the systems that affect them. In January, NHS Highland shared its draft Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy and Intentions for 2026–2029, which builds on two key pieces of work already completed by NHS Highland:
These documents lay out the needs, challenges, and aspirations for adult social care across Highland. The new draft Commissioning Strategy brings these together and sets out how NHS Highland plans to commission (or purchase) adult social care services over the next three years.
Local groups and third sector organisations are essential to the delivery of adult social care across Skye and Lochalsh. Much of the support that helps people live independently, stay connected, and maintain wellbeing
.
All commissioned adult social care providers have been invited to respond to the draft document and many of the local commissioned groups took part in the Adult Social Care Market Facilitation Plan Meeting this week.
Through The Skye and Lochalsh HWWS Collaboration and forums we will
Share updates and summaries
Provide space for collective discussion and shared responses
Support organisations to understand and influence the commissioning process
Ensure providers who cannot attend meetings are still represented
Local collaboration is already strong across Skye and Lochalsh. This is another opportunity to demonstrate that community‑led services—and the organisations delivering them—are central to the future of adult social care.
For more information about the Highland health and Social care Partnership visit https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/about/highland-health-and-social-care-partnership/
Invitation for Unpaid Carers: Join a Conversation About Your Right to Breaks
Unpaid carers in Highland are invited to join an important conversation with the Scottish Government about their Right to Breaks on Monday 9th March from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. This online Zoom session is part of ongoing work to ensure carers’ voices directly inform national social care policy, and the insights shared will contribute to decisions that shape future support
If you would like More information and details about joining contact
Becs Barker Operations Manager: Community Contacts, Involvement, Quality and Innovation Phone 01546 886285 or email Becs Barker becsbarker@carrgomm.org
Social Isolation and Loneliness Conference: Book Your Place
Befrienders Highland and Befriending Networks are hosting a Social Isolation and Loneliness in the Scottish Highlands Conference in Inverness on the 10 March 2026. The event will bring together organisations, practitioners, and community leaders to explore current data, share learning, build connections, and support action planning to reduce social isolation and loneliness across the Highlands. Places are limited, so early booking is encouraged.
This event is open to all senior practitioners, befriending organisations, community leaders, strategic stakeholders, and policy and decision-makers from the third and community sector, health, housing, public authorities, and the private sector who have an interest in improving health outcomes in the Highlands.
Find out more and book your place: https://befriending.co.uk/product/highland-conference/
The Future of the Drug & Alcohol Forum: Moving Under the Community Wellbeing & Support Forum
Over the past two years, the Skye and Lochalsh Drug & Alcohol Forum has acted as a space for sharing updates, highlighting local concerns, and connecting people working to support those affected by substance use. As participation has reduced and our role has shifted towards sharing information rather than driving collective action, it’s time for us to evolve.
We’re pleased to share that our themes and discussions will now move under the Skye and Lochalsh Community Wellbeing and Support Forums. This transition will help ensure drug and alcohol issues are considered within the wider context of health, social care, community wellbeing, and prevention—where they naturally belong.
Our final stand‑alone Drug & Alcohol Forum meeting will take place on: 26th February, 11am (online via Microsoft Teams). After this, we’ll continue our conversations in a more holistic space—where topics like substance use, youth wellbeing, community safety, and wider health concerns can be addressed together. One of the first issues we’ll carry forward is the growing use of nicotine pouches among young people, which will be explored in the Children & Young People’s Forum this spring.
We’re grateful to everyone who has contributed to the Drug & Alcohol Forum over the years. We’re looking forward to continuing these important conversations—now with even more voices at the table.
Have Your Say: Planning Aid Scotland Wants to Hear from Island Communities
Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) is gathering views from people who live on Scottish islands or support island communities—including groups on the Isle of Skye—to help shape future training on how communities engage with planning.
They want to understand what support islanders need to take part in:
Community‑led planning (Local Place Plans, Community Action Plans)
Planning for electricity and renewable energy developments
How to Get Involved
Your feedback will shape a proposed training programme linked to the draft National Islands Plan, focused on helping island communities—Skye included—participate confidently in planning processes.
The next Skye and Lochalsh Community Wellbeing and Support Forum will take place on 18 March in Broadford, with a focus on Children and Young People’s Services. To register, visit:👉 https://www.slcvo.org.uk/forum-registration
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