SLCVO Blog 01 May

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 the Skye and Lochalsh Community Hub and Service Coordinator and, on just his third day, was already in the middle of delivering our first Community Hub in Dunvegan. Kal will be working closely with SLCVO’s Service Manager, Matt, to deliver the Community Hub project and support our Befrienders Service.

With the first hub taking place on Thursday 23 April, Matt’s focus was ensuring everything was ready for the opening day. The event saw 12 groups come together to bring services directly into the heart of a rural community. There was a lot of learning from this first hub, and the team is now focusing on direct promotion in the Dunvegan and Duirinish area ahead of the next hub on 21 May at Dunvegan Hall.

Over the past two weeks, Michelle has been on the road working closely with community groups. Support provided has included helping a new food‑based enterprise explore legal structures, with a focus on CICs; supporting a village hall through an organisational health check and developing a plan for one‑to‑one coaching to help the group move forward; and helping to establish a new network by developing a memorandum of understanding and exploring how groups can work together on partnership projects. She also joined the SLCVO team at the Community Hub in Dunvegan, using it as an opportunity to catch up with some of the groups she has been supporting.

Jo‑Anne’s fortnight was a mix of meetings, quarterly reporting, and group support. A key meeting was the Planet Youth Lochalsh Community Action Group (CAG) meeting, which brought partners together to explore key findings from the Planet Youth survey carried out with S3 and S4 pupils at Plockton High School in September 2025. The meeting focused on a detailed report produced from data shared by local young people, providing valuable insight into their lived experiences. The report covered a wide range of topics, including substance use, mental and physical health, screen time, sleep and factors affecting sleep, self‑harm, self‑esteem, school experiences, views on the local community, access to activities, and online experiences. The data offered a rich picture of life for young people growing up in Lochalsh, highlighting both strengths and challenges. This will now form the foundation of the Planet Youth Community Action Group’s work, helping to identify how protective factors in the community can be strengthened to reduce the likelihood of younger children engaging in risk‑taking behaviours in the future.

Jo‑Anne’s work with community groups was particularly hands‑on during this period. She supported groups with operational issues, including trading arms and insurance, attended the Caithness Local Partnership Network Group (LPNG) meeting to present on the H&HWS Collaboration and the development of Community Hubs, sharing learning from SLCVO’s experience in Skye and Lochalsh, and presented at Uig Community Trust’s community engagement event on the role of the Third Sector and Development Trusts.

SLCVO Quarter 4 Review

Each quarter, SLCVO is required to submit a report to HTSI as part of its Third Sector support contract for Skye and Lochalsh. Over the quarter, SLCVO focused on strengthening third sector capacity, coordinating collaboration, and responding to increasing health, wellbeing, and social care pressures across the area. One‑to‑one and group support for community organisations continued, with a particular focus on governance, funding, project development, and sustainability, helping volunteer‑led groups navigate growing complexity and demand.

This final quarter of the year saw an increase in direct one‑to‑one support, with assistance provided to 45 organisations across 72 individual support sessions. Most of this support related to governance (27 instances), alongside funding support (12) and project development (12), highlighting the ongoing need for strong organisational foundations and sustainable planning. Additional support included signposting (13), advice on trading models, start‑up development, engagement with statutory partners, and support for individuals looking to volunteer.

Alongside frontline support, SLCVO continued to play a strong connective role across the third sector. This included chairing two Highland Working Group meetings for Community‑Led Social Care, hosted by Highland Hospice, and facilitating a range of forums for third sector participants. These included two Community Wellbeing Forums focused on adult services and children and young people’s services, one Skye and Lochalsh Drug and Alcohol Forum, and one Skye and Raasay Development Trust Forum.

To ensure the voice of the third sector was represented in key strategic discussions locally and regionally, SLCVO also took part in a range of forums and networks. This included participation in community planning through attendance at a Skye, Lochalsh, Wester Ross and Raasay Community Planning meeting, as well as wider health and social care discussions. Representation was provided at the NHS Highland Skye, Lochalsh and Raasay Redesign Steering Group, local unpaid carers’ service meetings, an adult social care market facilitation planning session, and meetings of the Highland Health and Social Care Network Steering Group.

In addition, SLCVO contributed to community investment discussions through engagement with SSEN and supported place‑based planning by attending a Skye and Raasay Future Board meeting focused on the Area Place Plan. Through this continued involvement, SLCVO helped amplify third sector perspectives, share local insight, and influence decision‑making processes that shape services, investment, and future planning across the area.

Supporting Unpaid Carers: Carers Scotland Roadshow Comes to Inverness

Carers Scotland, in partnership with NHS Highland, is bringing the Carers Scotland Roadshow to Inverness on 2 June 2026, hosted at High Life Highland Inverness Leisure. This practical, hands‑on event aims to support unpaid carers across Highland by bringing together statutory services, third sector organisations, and local businesses in one accessible space.

The roadshow is designed to go beyond information stands and leaflets. Instead, it will focus on real, interactive support—creating opportunities for unpaid carers to have meaningful conversations, explore services, and get help that is relevant to their everyday lives.

Who are unpaid carers?

Unpaid carers include adult carers, young carers, and kinship carers who provide support to a family member, friend, neighbour, or other person due to illness, disability, mental health needs, addiction, or frailty. Often this care goes well beyond what would normally be expected in a personal relationship and plays a vital role in helping someone manage day‑to‑day life.

Why get involved?

By taking part, organisations can help ensure unpaid carers receive the support they need within their communities. The roadshow also offers an opportunity for employers to learn more about becoming Carer Positive, supporting better recruitment, retention, and wellbeing for staff with caring responsibilities.

How to get involved

Carers Scotland is keen to hear from organisations interested in supporting or participating in the roadshow, as well as those who would like to be involved in co‑designing the event. This is a chance to shape the day so it reflects local needs and strengths.

Organisations are invited to complete a short form to register their interest and outline how they could contribute. Working together, partners can help make this a valuable and supportive event for unpaid carers across Highland.

Please fill out this form to indicate your interest and how your organisation could contribute.

Who Is an Unpaid Carer?

Many people don’t realise they are an unpaid carer. Caring often starts gradually, as part of everyday life, and before you know it you’re providing regular support for someone you care about—without ever using the label “carer”.

An unpaid carer is anyone who helps support a family member, friend, or neighbour because of illness, disability, mental health needs, addiction, or frailty, and who is not paid for that support. This care often goes beyond what would normally be expected within a relationship and can take many different forms.

You might be an unpaid carer if you help organise appointments, manage medications or finances, provide emotional support and companionship, or assist with practical day‑to‑day tasks such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, or transport. Some people think of themselves as “just helping out”, “being there for them”, or “keeping things ticking over”, but these roles still count as caring.

Unpaid caring can also have an impact on your own life. Your time may revolve around someone else’s needs, you may feel emotionally drained, or find yourself juggling caring responsibilities alongside work, family, or other commitments. Whether your role is coordinating, supporting emotionally, or helping practically—or a mix of all three—your contribution matters.

Recognising yourself as an unpaid carer is important because support is available. Understanding your role can help you access advice, information, and services that may reduce pressure, support your wellbeing, and ensure you don’t face the challenges of caring alone.

If you provide regular support to someone in your life and aren’t paid to do so, you are likely an unpaid carer—and help is out there for you.

Find out more here Unpaid carers | NHS Highland

Connecting Carers: Support for Unpaid Carers

Connecting Carers provides dedicated support for unpaid carers across the Highlands. This includes adult carers, young carers, and kinship carers who support a family member, friend, or neighbour because of illness, disability, mental health needs, addiction, or frailty.

Their work focuses on helping carers access clear information, understand their rights, and find the right support at the right time. Connecting Carers offers one‑to‑one advice, helping carers navigate health and social care systems, access local services, and explore practical and emotional support options.

Alongside individual support, Connecting Carers delivers training, workshops, and events that help carers build confidence, develop skills, and feel less isolated. Opportunities for peer connection allow carers to share experiences and learn from others who understand the realities of caring.

Connecting Carers also plays an important role in ensuring carers’ voices are heard, working with partners across health, social care, and the third sector to influence service design and improvement. Through this work, they help raise awareness of the vital contribution unpaid carers make to families, communities, and wider services.

To find out more about the support available visit https://connectingcarers.org.uk/

Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers

Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers (SLYC) is a dedicated local organisation supporting young carers aged 5–18 across Skye and Lochalsh. Established in 2000, SLYC works to ensure that young carers are recognised in their caring role and have the same opportunities, support, and life chances as other children and young people of a similar age.

A young carer is a child or young person who provides care or support to a family member, such as a parent, sibling, or grandparent, due to physical illness or disability, learning disability, mental health issues, long‑term conditions, or substance dependency. Often this caring role can have a significant impact on a young person’s wellbeing, education, and social life.

SLYC offers a range of tailored support to meet these needs, including one‑to‑one support, weekly groups, and respite activities that give young carers time away from their responsibilities. Practical support such as help with transport enables young people to attend groups and activities safely, while trusted relationships with workers help young carers talk about their experiences and feel less isolated.

At the heart of SLYC’s work is helping young carers build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging. By providing safe spaces to connect with others who understand, and by advocating for young carers’ needs, SLYC plays a crucial role in supporting both immediate wellbeing and longer‑term outcomes for young people across the area.

To find out more about Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers, make a referral, or learn how to support their work, visit:https://slyc.org.uk/

Training Opportunity for Unpaid Carers: Managing Behaviour That Challenges

Connecting Carers is hosting an upcoming training session focused on Managing Behaviour That Challenges, offering valuable support for unpaid carers who are supporting someone with complex needs. The session is designed to help carers better understand behaviours that can be difficult or distressing and to explore practical ways of responding with confidence and compassion.

Challenging behaviour can arise for many reasons, including communication difficulties, stress, changes in routine, health needs, or emotional distress. For carers, these situations can feel overwhelming and isolating. This training aims to provide a supportive space to explore why behaviours may occur and to develop strategies that help reduce stress for both carers and those they support.

The session will share practical tools and approaches that carers can apply in everyday situations, helping to build confidence, resilience, and understanding. It also offers an opportunity for carers to connect with others who may be facing similar experiences, reinforcing the importance of peer support and shared learning.

Events like this play an important role in recognising the vital contribution of unpaid carers and ensuring they have access to meaningful, practical support. Carers are encouraged to find out more about the session, including dates, format, and how to book, by visiting the Connecting Carers website.

Further details and booking information can be found here:Managing Behaviour That Challenges – Connecting Carers Managing Behaviour that Challenges | Connecting Carers

Unpaid Carers Community Lunch: Connect Skye

Connecting Carers is hosting a Community Lunch: Connect Skye, creating a relaxed and welcoming space for unpaid carers on Skye to come together, connect, and share a meal. The event offers an opportunity for carers to step away from daily pressures, meet others with similar experiences, and enjoy time in a supportive, informal setting.

Community lunches like this play an important role in reducing isolation and helping carers feel seen, valued, and connected. Taking time to meet face‑to‑face can make a real difference, offering space for conversation, mutual support, and simply the chance to take a break in good company. For many carers, opportunities like this are as much about wellbeing as they are about connection.

The Connect Skye lunch is part of Connecting Carers’ wider commitment to supporting unpaid carers through practical support, peer connection, and accessible events that respond to what carers say they need. Whether someone is new to their caring role or has been caring for many years, the lunch is intended to be inclusive and welcoming.

Carers are encouraged to visit the Connecting Carers website to find out more about the event, including dates, venue details, and how to book a place.

Find out more and book: Community Lunch – Connect Skye | Connecting Carers Community Lunch & Connect | Connecting Carers

Volunteering Support for Local Communities from SSEN Transmission

SSEN Transmission is offering practical volunteering support to community groups and charities across the north of Scotland, with a clear commitment to making a positive and lasting difference in the areas where it operates. Through its volunteering programme, SSEN Transmission provides employee volunteering days to support local projects, particularly in communities that host electricity infrastructure or proposed energy developments.

The programme supports both physical volunteering—such as beach cleans, tree planting, and community gardening—and skilled volunteering, where staff can share professional experience and expertise to support local initiatives. Volunteering activity is closely aligned with SSEN Transmission’s wider Sustainability Strategy, which aims to deliver a net‑zero electricity network in a way that is fair, respectful, and beneficial to local people and places.

Community groups and charities based in areas including the Highland, Argyll and Bute, Moray, Perthshire, the Islands, and other parts of the north of Scotland are invited to apply. Requests for support can be made through a short Volunteering Nomination Form hosted by the SSE Group. Once submitted, requests are reviewed by the SSEN volunteering team, who will work to match opportunities with available volunteers, recognising that coordination can take some time due to volunteering demand.

This programme offers a valuable opportunity for local organisations to access extra capacity, skills, and support, while building meaningful connections with a major regional employer. By working together, SSEN Transmission and community groups can help strengthen local projects and leave a positive legacy across the north of Scotland

Find our more here Volunteering in Local Communities - SSEN Transmission

Introducing the Supporting Community‑Led Action Fund

A new funding opportunity has been launched to support community groups and organisations working to make a positive difference locally. The fund is designed to back community‑led ideas, strengthen local capacity, and support practical action that responds to identified local needs.

The fund information has been shared through a Sway, bringing together key details about the purpose of the funding, who it is for, and the types of activity it aims to support. Presenting the fund in this way allows groups to easily explore the opportunity, understand what the fund is seeking to achieve, and consider how their work might align.

This funding forms part of a wider commitment to investing in communities and enabling locally driven solutions. By focusing on community knowledge, partnership working, and sustainable impact, the fund aims to support initiatives that are rooted in place and reflective of local priorities.

Community groups, charities, and other eligible organisations are encouraged to review the Sway in full, consider how the fund could support their work, and explore whether this opportunity aligns with their plans. Sharing information in this accessible format also supports transparency and helps ensure more groups are aware of funding opportunities available to them.

The full details of the fund, can be found here CLLD small grants are now open!

Highland Support into Work, Skills and Volunteering Survey

Helping the HTSI to understand employability support across the Highlands

This is for organisations of all kinds, not just those who would describe themselves as delivering employment support. Many organisations are already helping people move closer to work through things like wellbeing, community activity, or volunteering.

We want to recognise that full picture, what’s happening, who it’s reaching, and where there may be gaps or opportunities to connect things better.

By taking part, you’re helping build a shared understanding across the Highlands. We’ll bring this together and invite you to a follow-up event to reflect on what we’ve found.

About the survey

It takes around 10 to 20 minutes to complete. It uses smart routing, so you’ll only see questions that are relevant to you. You can also save your progress and come back to it.

Don’t like ticking boxes? If you’ve got any questions, or would prefer to talk it through over the phone or a coffee, you can contact Fiona Macleod at fiona@highlandtsi.org.uk

Take Part here https://form.jotform.com/253065975285367

The New Highlands and Islands Climate Collective

the Highlands and Islands Climate Collective is a new space for young people aged 16–30 across Highland, Orkney, and Shetland who are passionate about taking action on the climate emergency.

The Climate Collective has been created to bring young people together, amplify their voices, and support them to play an active role in building a fairer, greener future for the Highlands and Islands. It shines a spotlight on the many ways young people are already driving climate action and creates opportunities to get involved at a local and regional level.

At its heart, the Climate Collective is about connection and opportunity. It supports young people to link up with community groups, organisations, and projects working on climate action, while also helping them develop the skills, confidence, and experience needed to move towards sustainable careers. Whether someone is just starting to explore climate issues or is already actively involved, the Collective offers a welcoming space to learn, share ideas, and take practical action.

By bringing together youth‑led energy and community‑based action, the Climate Collective aims to strengthen local climate responses and ensure young people are supported to shape solutions that matter to them and their communities.

You can find out more about the Climate Collective and how to get involved via the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub: Climate Collective — Highlands & Islands Climate Hub

Climate Collective — Highlands & Islands Climate Hub