SLCVO Weekly Round-up 03 - 07 November
- joford4
- Nov 7
- 7 min read
This week’s blog is full of action and a lot of miles travelled by the team. With highlights from the Highland Hospice Inverness Conference, tips for trustee recruitment, and a call for new Befrienders in South Skye. There’s exciting progress on the Skye & Raasay Community Benefit Fund, plus new funding for reuse, repair, and nature projects.
SLCVO at the Highland Hospice Community Partnership Conference 2025
This week, Jo Ford, SLCVO’s Chief Officer and Matt Davis, our Befrienders Manager, attended the Highland Hospice Community Partnership Conference 2025 in Inverness. With over 90 delegates from across Highland and beyond, the event was a valuable opportunity to share learning and explore new ways of working together.
Jo gave a short presentation on the collaborative work taking place in Skye and Lochalsh, highlighting how local third sector groups have come together to build a shared approach to health, wellbeing, and social care. She spoke about the importance of trust, shared values, and dedicated resources in enabling this work, and how initiatives like the Community Outreach Hub are helping to bring services directly to people in rural areas.
The wider conference discussions echoed many of the themes Jo raised. Delegates expressed a strong appetite for transformational change, with one quote capturing the tone of the day:“If a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” – Alexander Den Heijer
Participants recognised the essential role of families, volunteers, and community organisations in delivering adult social care. They called for more consistent funding, less bureaucracy, and better support for unpaid carers. There was also strong support for creating a network of community-led groups to improve collaboration, share resources, and strengthen local care.
Nearly 75% of delegates voted in favour of exploring this idea further, and a working group is now being formed to take it forward. The conference was a starting point for deeper conversations and co-design, and SLCVO will be part of the working group to help shape a more connected, community-focused approach to care across the Highlands.
If you would like to connect to the Skye & Lochalsh Health, Wellbeing, Welfare and Social Care Collaboration join our next forum https://www.slcvo.org.uk/community-wellbeing-and-support-forum
Planning for the Future: Trustee Recruitment and Succession Planning
This week, we continued to support local groups as they prepare for their AGMs—particularly around the recruitment of new trustees. With Trustees’ Week underway, it’s a timely reminder of the vital role trustees play in leading charities and community organisations, and an opportunity to encourage more people to get involved. But trustee recruitment isn’t just something to think about once a year—it should be part of a continuous process of succession planning.
Succession planning isn’t just about replacing trustees when they step down. It’s about ensuring your board remains strong, diverse, and equipped to lead your organisation into the future.
Many groups find themselves in a difficult position when long-standing trustees leave without a clear plan for who will take over. That’s why it’s important to think ahead and build trustee recruitment into your regular governance cycle.
Here are some key steps to consider:
Plan early: Start conversations about succession well before a trustee’s term ends. This gives you time to identify gaps and prepare new recruits.
Review your board’s skills: Use a simple skills audit to see where you might need fresh perspectives or expertise.
Be open and inclusive: Reach out beyond your usual networks. Think about who’s missing from the table and how you can make your board more representative of your community.
Create clear role descriptions: Help potential trustees understand what’s involved and what support they’ll receive.
Offer a warm welcome: A good induction and ongoing support can make all the difference in helping new trustees feel confident and valued.
Succession planning is also a great opportunity to bring in new energy and ideas, and to ensure your organisation continues to thrive.
If your group would like support with, trustee recruitment, or reviewing your governance arrangements, we’re here to help.
📞 01478 612921
We're Looking for New Volunteer Befrienders in South Skye!
The Befrienders service at SLCVO is currently looking for new volunteers in South Skye to support people in the area through face-to-face visits.
We’ve recently received a number of new referrals and are keen to match individuals with volunteers who can offer regular, friendly contact. This might be a chat over a cup of tea, a short walk, or simply spending time together in a relaxed setting.
Volunteering as a befriender is a small commitment that can make a big difference. For someone who may not see many people day to day, your time and presence can bring a real sense of connection and brighten their week.
We provide full training and ongoing support, and we’ll work with you to find a volunteering arrangement that suits your availability.
If you live in South Skye and would like to find out more about becoming a befriender, please get in touch with our Befrienders Manager Matt Davis :
📞 01478 272058
Skye and Raasay Communities Working Together on Future Community Benefit Fund
On Thursday, Jo Ford attended the latest meeting of the Skye and Raasay Community Benefit Fund Working Group, where representatives from community councils and development trusts across the area are collaborating to establish a new organisation that can manage and distribute community benefit funds from renewable energy developments.
The group, which includes representatives from most community council areas, has been working together over the past two years to explore how best to structure a Skye-wide approach to managing these funds. The aim is to ensure that future income from wind farm developments—such as Glen Ullinish II—is distributed fairly, transparently, and in line with local priorities.
So far, the group has:
Held webinars and in-person sessions to learn from other areas, including Shetland and Ayrshire
Explored legal structures with support from Burness Paull
Engaged with developers like Muirhall Energy and Wind2 to discuss benefit splits and shared ownership
Consulted with Foundation Scotland to see how they could provide a mechanism for distributing fund
Agreed on the need for a legal entity to manage a Skye and Raasay fund
The group is now focused on formalising its structure, increasing community engagement, and aligning future funding priorities with Local Place Plans and Community Action Plans. A key next step will be broader engagement to ensure all communities are informed and involved.
This collaborative approach is a significant step toward ensuring that the long-term benefits of renewable energy developments are shaped and shared by the communities of Skye and Raasay.
If you would like to know more about these discussions contact your local community council https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/772/politicians_elections_and_democracy/364/community_councils
Perfect Timing: Local Collaboration Aligns with New Funding for Reuse, Repair and Nature Projects
Last week’s Reduce, Reuse and Recycle event in Kyleakin couldn’t have come at a better time. Just days later, The Highland Council launched two major funding opportunities that align perfectly with the ideas and energy shared at the event.
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The Highland Council has launched two exciting funding opportunities to support community-led environmental action across the region.
Highland Reuse & Repair Fund – Up to £50,000 Available
Community groups and organisations can now apply for a share of £500,000 through the new Highland Reuse & Repair Fund. The fund is designed to help reduce waste, extend the life of materials, and build local skills for sustainable living. Projects should align with at least one of the following themes:
Community-led Waste Reduction: Initiatives that promote reuse, repair, and upcycling.
Skills for Sustainable Living: Workshops and activities that teach repair, mending, and creative reuse skills.
Examples of eligible projects include:
Repair cafés, reuse hubs, and upcycling workshops
Community swap events
Tool libraries and resource hubs
Intergenerational skills-sharing initiatives
Grants range from £2,000 to £50,000, and both capital and revenue costs are eligible. Projects with match funding or in-kind contributions are likely to score higher in the assessment process.
Deadlines:
Round 1: 12 noon, 1st December 2025
Round 2: 12 noon, 6th March 2026
Nature Restoration Fund – Capital Support for Biodiversity Projects
The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is also open for applications, with £300,000 available to support projects that restore nature, protect wildlife, and address biodiversity loss.
Eligible projects include:
Habitat restoration
Biodiversity enhancements
Climate resilience initiatives
Upcoming Deadlines:
Round 2: 21st November 2025 (decision by mid-December)
Round 3: 23rd January 2026 (decision by mid-February)
Both funds are excellent opportunities for community groups, development trusts, and social enterprises to take forward practical, place-based environmental action.
If you’re interested in applying or want to explore how your ideas from the Kyleakin event could be developed into a funding bid, please get in touch. Michelle Seviour is working with groups to take this work forward and would love to hear from you.
📞 01478 612921
Skye and Lochalsh Collaboration to be Shared with Highland Poverty and Equality Commission
This Friday afternoon, Jo Ford, Chief Officer at SLCVO, will meet with members of the Highland Poverty and Equality Commission to share the work of the Skye and Lochalsh Health, Wellbeing, Welfare and Social Care Collaboration—with a focus on its partnership with the Skye and Lochalsh Community Partnership and the development of Community Outreach Hubs.
These hubs are a practical response to the challenges of delivering services in rural areas, bringing together third sector and public sector partners to offer flexible, accessible support directly within communities.
About the Commission
The Highland Poverty and Equality Commission was established by Highland Council in 2025 with a dedicated budget of £300,000 to accelerate efforts to tackle poverty and inequality across the region. Its aims include:
Identifying sustainable solutions to rural poverty
Improving early intervention and integrated service delivery
Developing collaborative, cross-sector approaches
Listening to communities and shaping services around their needs
The Commission includes elected members, public sector partners, and third sector representatives, and is chaired by an independent expert. One of the appointed members is Maggie Lawson, who brings valuable experience from her work in Lochalsh, where she has been instrumental in developing the Lochalsh Community Action Plan in partnership with Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust.
Maggie’s involvement ensures that the voices of rural communities—and the practical realities of delivering services in areas like Skye and Lochalsh—are well represented in the Commission’s work.
You can read more about the Commission and its members here: https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/16608/chairs_appointed_to_poverty_and_equality_commission_for_highland
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