SLCVO Blog 13 February

This week’s blog highlights support for older people across Skye & Lochalsh, signposts useful local services, and explores why intergenerational work is so important for our communities.

Team Update

This week, Jo-Anne and Michelle met with Jo Cowan, Age Scotland’s National Community Development Officer, who is planning a series of events over the coming months to bring together local lunch clubs and other groups supporting older people. It was great to catch up with Jo and discuss the new Community Outreach Hubs, as well as early plans for Volunteers’ Week in June.

Matt spent a significant amount of time on the road meeting volunteers and new clients, and also joined Jo-Anne and Michelle for a working lunch in Portree. He has been developing a case study of our Befrienders Service for Highland Hospice. One particularly impactful quote came from someone who spoke about forming a friendship outside of their family—an outcome that reflects a key aim of the service in helping people connect more widely with their community.

Michelle held an initial meeting with a group seeking to review their services and organisational aims, and continued to provide support around updating governing documents. She also put the final details together for our week of back to basic sessions to kickstart the season starting March 2^nd at Dunvegan hall, find out more here https://www.slcvo.org.uk/training-registration

Jo-Anne took part in the Highland Community Health and Social Care Working Group, which is looking at establishing a new strategic group representing third sector. She also met with SLCVO’s Chair, Siobhan, to review resource planning and development proposals for the next few years.

All in all, it has been a busy week, with all three team members out and about across the area.

Age Scotland: Supporting Older People to Live Well, Connected and Valued

Age Scotland is the national charity for older people, working to ensure that everyone in Scotland can grow older with security, dignity and the opportunity to stay active and connected. Their mission is to inspire, involve and empower older people across Scotland, while influencing others to help make later life better for everyone.

Age Scotland’s work spans a wide range of essential services designed to improve the lives of people aged 50 and over. One of their core services is their free, confidential helpline, which is open Monday to Friday and offers friendly, expert support on issues such as benefits, social care, housing, energy, and legal matters. Older adults, carers and families can phone for practical advice or simply for someone to talk to when they need connection.

Tackling loneliness is another central part of their work. Age Scotland’s Friendship Service provides regular telephone companionship and helps people link into local groups and activities. This service plays a crucial role in helping older people build confidence, form connections and reduce feelings of isolation.

The charity also supports local community groups across the country—such as lunch clubs, walking groups and social circles—by offering tools, resources, training and guidance to help strengthen community activity and create age‑friendly places to live. Alongside this, Age Scotland delivers workshops and resources covering topics such as dementia awareness, benefits, healthy ageing and energy advice, supporting both individuals and community organisations.

Age Scotland is also a strong national voice for older people. They campaign on key issues including accessible social care, pensioner poverty, cost‑of‑living challenges, loneliness and the development of age‑inclusive communities. Their policy work and research are shaped by what older people identify as the most pressing issues in their lives, ensuring their advocacy remains grounded in real experience.

For information or support, the Age Scotland Helpline is available on 0800 12 44 222. You can learn more about their work by visiting their website: https://www.agescotland.org.uk/

Supporting Independent Living in Skye & Lochalsh: The Handyperson and Care & Repair Services

The Handyperson Service and Care & Repair programme, run by Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association in partnership with NHS Highland and The Highland Council, offers practical support to help older people and those with disabilities live safely and independently at home.

The Handyperson Service is available to anyone aged 65 or over, as well as people of any age with a disability, and provides help with small jobs such as changing light bulbs, moving furniture, putting up shelves or curtains, unblocking sinks, and fitting grab rails or handrails. The team can also offer advice on arranging tradespeople for larger repairs and can refer individuals to the Care & Repair service when more substantial work is needed.

Care & Repair supports people over 65 and people with disabilities living in privately owned or rented homes by offering free guidance on home repairs, improvements and adaptations. This includes help with organising surveys, gathering contractor quotes, applying for grants and coordinating the work from start to finish. Together, these services provide practical, reliable support that helps people across Skye and Lochalsh stay safe, confident and comfortable in their own homes.

For more information, call 01478 612035 (option 6) or email info@lsha.co.uk.

Connecting Communities: Lunch Clubs and Community Lunches Across Skye & Lochalsh

Lunch clubs play a vital role in rural communities, offering far more than a hot meal. They create welcoming spaces where people can meet, talk, reconnect and build friendships that help reduce loneliness and isolation.

In areas where distances are long and services are limited, these gatherings become important lifelines—supporting wellbeing, strengthening community ties and giving people a regular opportunity to come together. Across Skye and Lochalsh, a wide range of community lunches and cafés provide friendly, affordable and accessible places for people of all ages to enjoy company and conversation.

Dunvegan Christian Fellowship Community Café – Community Mondays Open during the summer period for Skye residents of all ages, offering food by donation to support local charities. Email: dunvegancommunitycafe@gmail.com

Portree Bread Basket – St Columba’s Church, PortreeRuns every Wednesday from 11am–2pm, offering a friendly space, company and a cooked lunch. Donations welcome but not required. Email: stcolumbas.portree@btinternet.com

Staffin Lunch Club Meets the first Wednesday of every month at Columba 1400, serving a three‑course meal with tea/coffee. Contact: Janet – 01470 562374 / 07930 614452

Waternish Thursday Coffee & Cake Held weekly from 10.30–11.30am at the Waternish Free Church building, free of charge and open to all. Email: info@waternishfarm.co.uk

Loch Duich Lunch Club (Loch Duich, Inverinate & Letterfearn) An intergenerational lunch club meeting every Wednesday from 12.30pm–3pm at Inverinate & Loch Duich Community Centre. Contact: Agnes Stoddart – 01599 511287

Cosy Corner Café – Balmacara Pensioners’ lunch every Thursday from 12pm–2pm, £6 per meal. Booking recommended. Phone: 01599 566700

Plockton Community Lunch – Plockton HotelCommunity lunch held on alternate Thursdays. Phone: 01599 544 274

Dunvegan & District Senior Citizens Lunch ClubMeets every second Monday at The Old School Restaurant, Dunvegan. Two‑course subsidised lunch. Email: lornamackenzie@yahoo.co.uk

Glendale Over 60s Lunch ClubMeets fortnightly on Monday at 12:30pm in Glendale Community Hall, offering a two‑course meal plus tea/coffee for £6. Phone: 07706 675861 Email: david.atherton7@btinternet.com

Minginish Community Café – Minginish Community HallRuns from October to April on Thursdays from 2pm–3.30pm. Open to all ages with tea, biscuits or cake and time to chat for £1 per person. Contact: Fiona Towers – 01478 640466

Supporting the Wellbeing of Older People in Skye & Raasay: The Budhmor Fund

Across Skye and Raasay, older people play a vital role in shaping the identity, strength and vibrancy of our communities. Ensuring that they are supported, connected and able to enjoy a good quality of life is at the heart of the work carried out by the Skye Older People’s Welfare Committee, the organisation that manages The Budhmor Fund.

The Budhmor Fund provides grants of up to £5,000 to voluntary groups working with older people, helping them deliver activities, social opportunities, practical support and wellbeing initiatives. These grants enable local organisations to run clubs, events and services that reduce loneliness, improve health, encourage independence and strengthen community connection. By supporting grassroots groups, the fund ensures that help reaches older people where it matters most—right in the heart of their local community.

Skye Older People’s Welfare Committee is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) and is regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), under charity number SC034783. Their long-standing commitment to the welfare of older residents reflects a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those living in rural and island settings, where distance, transport and isolation can all impact day‑to‑day life.

Through The Budhmor Fund, the Committee helps ensure that older people across Skye and Raasay have access to support, companionship and meaningful activities that enrich their lives. Community groups interested in applying for funding or learning more about the fund can visit www.budhmorfund.com or contact the team directly at Budhmorfund@gmail.com

Staying Active, Curious and Connected: Isle of Skye u3a

The Isle of Skye u3a offers a warm welcome to people who are no longer in full‑time work, or who simply have time during the week to meet others, learn new skills and enjoy shared activities. With around 100 members across the island, the group brings together people with a wide range of interests—some join for the social side and monthly meetings, while others take part in the many activity groups on offer. Like other u3a branches across the country, the Skye group is built on the idea of learning, community and staying active at any age.

Walking is a big part of the u3a’s activity programme, with four different walking groups to suit all levels. Step It Up offers a weekly walk of up to three miles, ideal for those wanting regular activity at a steady pace. Trundlers provides an inclusive monthly walk for those who prefer an easier option. For those looking for more of a challenge, Explorers takes members on routes between three and five miles, while Trekkers offers longer adventures ranging from five to ten miles. These groups give members the chance to enjoy Skye’s landscape while meeting new people and keeping active.

Beyond walking, the u3a is a great place to learn new skills or revisit old interests. Members can join indoor bowls sessions, meditation, art groups, play‑reading circles, photography meet‑ups, bridge lessons and a variety of other interest groups. Whether you’re looking to try something new or develop an existing hobby, the group offers plenty of opportunities to get involved at your own pace.

Every month, the Isle of Skye u3a holds a meeting featuring a guest speaker, followed by refreshments and time to socialise. These gatherings are friendly, welcoming and a great way for new members to get to know the group. Membership costs £15 per year, or £10 if joining later in the membership cycle, making it an accessible option for those looking to expand their social connections and pursue new interests.

If you’d like to find out more or join the group, you can visit the Isle of Skye u3a Faceboook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/911974242227836?locale=en_GB .

Bringing Generations Together: Why Intergenerational Work Matters in Skye’s Communities

In rural places like Skye and Raasay, people have long lived, worked and celebrated side by side across generations. From ceilidhs and community gatherings to shared work and neighbourly support, older and younger residents have traditionally learned from one another and helped sustain the social fabric of island life.

Today, however, social changes, digital barriers and increasing distances between families mean these natural opportunities for connection can fade. Yet the need for meaningful relationships between age groups has never been greater.

Intergenerational work isn’t just a “nice idea”—it’s vital for building resilient, thriving communities. Research consistently shows that when different generations come together with purpose, it reduces loneliness, challenges stereotypes, boosts confidence and strengthens community cohesion. These benefits ripple outward, supporting families, neighbourhoods and the wider community.

One organisation championing this work across Scotland is Generations Working Together (GWT). As the nationally recognised centre for intergenerational practice, GWT provides training, resources, events and practical tools that help communities bring people of all ages together. Their mission is simple but powerful: to improve and expand intergenerational practice so that Scotland’s communities become more inclusive, fairer and better connected.

GWT offers a wide range of support—including online learning, local networks and professional training—all grounded in strong evidence that intergenerational activity reduces loneliness, tackles ageism and improves wellbeing across the life course. Their work helps nurture lasting, meaningful friendships between generations, echoing the close-knit, cross‑generational relationships that have always been part of Skye’s identity.

In 2026, GWT will host the Global Intergenerational Congress in Glasgow, welcoming practitioners, researchers and communities from around the world. The Congress will explore innovative ways to strengthen relationships between generations, focusing on themes such as education, health, community resilience, climate action, ageism and social connection—all deeply relevant to life in rural island settings.

For groups in Skye and Lochalsh, GWT’s resources and expertise can spark ideas and support the development of local intergenerational projects. These might include bringing young people into lunch clubs, sharing traditional and modern skills, creating community gardens, or providing spaces where stories, culture and island heritage can be shared across generations.

At their heart, GWT’s programmes reflect something local communities have always known: when people of all ages come together, everyone gains. Older people contribute knowledge, skills and wisdom; younger people bring energy, creativity and fresh perspectives; and communities become stronger, happier and more connected.

To explore ideas, training or inspiration—or to join their Scotland‑wide network—visit Generations Working Together: https://generationsworkingtogether.org/