SLCVO Weekly Round-Up 6th - 10th October

It’s been a week full of collaboration, creativity, and community impact. From engaging workshops and strategic meetings to preparations for our upcoming AGM. Read on to discover highlights from the SARF Board meeting, exciting developments in community transport, and how we’re supporting local groups through outreach and events.

Skye and Raasay Future Board Meeting – Monday 6^th October

This week, the SARF Board met to reflect on progress and plan the next steps for community-led development across Skye and Raasay. The meeting brought together representatives from Eilean a' Cheò Councillors, HIE, SLCVO, Uig Community Trust and Highland Council. The meeting focused on engagement, priorities, programme delivery, and future planning.

A key theme was sense checking SARF’s existing priorities set in 2021 with current community needs. While the Board agreed there’s no need for a full review of existing priorities, they supported refining the wording and remaining open to new priorities.

Much of the discussion was shaped by input from the September Development Trust meeting in Elgol. Trust representatives highlighted six priority areas: housing, social care, essential services, transport connectivity, land ownership barriers, and the role of culture and heritage in economic growth. There was also a call for clearer definitions—especially around sustainable tourism—and stronger community involvement in setting future priorities.

The Board welcomed these insights and committed to incorporating them into ongoing planning. A proposal was made to cross-reference SARF priorities with Local Place Plans and Community Action Plans. This would require additional resources, and members will explore funding options to support the work.

To improve communication, SARF updates and resources—including priorities, project listings, and a new communications page—are now available on the SLCVO website. Community Councils and third sector groups will be invited to subscribe to the newsletter and identify local projects.

The Board also discussed ways to strengthen links with regional planning efforts and ensure future initiatives deliver meaningful benefits for communities. Updates were shared on emerging community benefit initiatives aimed at supporting long-term, locally driven investment and collaboration.

Find out more about SARF here

Preparing for the AGM: A Look Back at a Year of Impact

With our AGM just around the corner, the start of the week was a flurry of activity as the team worked hard to finalise the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024–2025. It was a year marked by growth, resilience, and meaningful community impact.

In her reflections, our Chair, Siobhan Barker, highlighted the progress made across Skye and Lochalsh in championing community development and civic engagement. Initiatives like the Skye and Raasay Future (SARF) Plan and the Empower Skye & Lochalsh Programme have helped ensure the third sector’s voice is heard in local planning. Our support reached over 80 organisations, and we’ve seen volunteering flourish through outreach, networking events, and drop-in sessions. The Befrienders Service continued to be a lifeline for many, with over 300 hours of support delivered to 26 individuals.

Beyond the numbers, our activities have made a real difference. We delivered dozens of support sessions to volunteers and organisations, hosted a successful Third Sector Conference, and facilitated collaboration through local forums and national consultations. Our advocacy work helped bring lived experiences to the Scottish Parliament and supported place-based commissioning with NHS Highland.

As we head into the AGM for 2024-2025, we’re proud of what we’ve achieved. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey—your support continues to shape a stronger, more connected Skye and Lochalsh

Register for AGM here

SLR Implementation Steering Group Meeting – A Valuable Exchange

Jo Ford, Chief Officer of SLCVO, attended the SLR Implementation Steering Group meeting held on 8th October 2025. The session provided a valuable opportunity for partners across the area to share updates and reflect on progress in key areas of health and social care. From urgent care developments in Portree and Glenelg to the challenges for Raasay’s Care at Home service, the meeting highlighted both achievements and ongoing efforts to improve service delivery in rural communities. Updates on housing, accessibility, and the Centre for Excellence initiative added further depth to the discussion. Jo noted it was a productive and informative meeting, providing  insight into the evolving landscape of health and social care across the region.

Community Transport Workshop: A Creative and Collaborative Session

On Thursday, 9th October, SLCVO staff participated in a dynamic and collaborative Community Transport Workshop hosted by Dunvegan Community Trust. The session was expertly facilitated by Jenny Milne from the Scottish Rural and Islands Transport Community and Rachel Milne of North East Transport Training CIC. It brought together a diverse group of voices—from public sector representatives to local residents—to explore how transport challenges in rural Skye could be tackled through community-driven solutions. The atmosphere was open and constructive, with participants encouraged to share ideas, experiences, and practical approaches to improving access and connectivity across the region.

SLCVO was represented both online and in person, with Chief Officer Jo Ford joining remotely and Third Sector Support Officer Michelle Seviour attending in the hall. Jo found the session engaging and well-structured, despite some sound limitations online. She praised the creative drawing exercise, which encouraged participants to express ideas visually and sparked fresh thinking around online workshops and communications. Jo noted that this kind of workshop could be hugely beneficial if replicated in other areas of Skye where transport options are limited.

Michelle, attending in person alongside around a dozen others, appreciated the opportunity for face-to-face discussion and collaboration. Ideas emerged around a potential dial-up car or minibus service, with suggestions that such a model could be supported through community benefit funding and coordinated by local development trusts.

Over lunch the event afforded networking opportunities and contacts for Michelle to take forward in assisting a further 3 community groups…. But as Michelle said that’s for next week! 

The workshop left a lasting impression—not just for the ideas shared, but for the genuine spirit of collaboration that filled the room and online space. It showcased the strength of community-led approaches in shaping transport systems that are inclusive, responsive, and rooted in local needs. With thoughtful facilitation and active participation, the session demonstrated how grassroots planning can build real momentum toward solving challenges in rural transport.

Find out more on the Dunvegan Community Trust website here

The rest of the week.

With both Jo and Michelle attending key meeting the rest of our week was filled with making new connections for local groups, planning for even more community events and completing our reporting requirements.

Michelle continued dialogue with Branch Development Officer at the National Autistic Society looking at how they might support the Skye Autism Support Group. She will be attending the local groups meeting at the weekend, ensuring that they have enough information to make an informed decision about possible affiliation with the national charity.

She Progressed plans for the Reduce Reuse and Recycle Event taking place in Kyleakin on 29th October Michelle spent time sending out reminders and reaching out to both Circular Communities Scotland and Keep Scotland Beautiful.  The event is taking shape with nearly 20 people now registered to attend. Register here

Michelle also continued her efforts to raise awareness around digital safety by promoting and organising the upcoming Cybercrime and Online Fraud Awareness session on Tuesday 28th October. Delivered by Gordy MacDonald, Cyber Crime Protection, Incident Support and Training Officer with Police Scotland, the session is open to all community groups. It offers practical, non-technical guidance on how to protect your organisation online, covering legal obligations, incident response planning, identifying vulnerabilities, managing digital assets, and handling suspicious emails. Register here

Jo worked on preparations for two key events taking place on Wednesday, 15th October. First up is the Skye and Lochalsh Community Wellbeing and Support Forum, a hybrid gathering at Broadford UHI that will bring together organisations and individuals working across health, wellbeing, welfare, and social care. The forum will offer space to share updates, discuss challenges, and explore ideas for strengthening whole-community services. Read more here

Immediately following the forum, SLCVO will host its Annual General Meeting at the same venue. Jo has been finalising preparations for the AGM, which will include a review of the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024–2025, a vote on proposed changes to SLCVO’s governing documents, and an open invitation for new members to join and help shape the organisation’s future. Read more here

Alongside this, Jo has also been working with SLCVO’s Befrienders Manager, Matt Davis, to begin planning an exciting new workshop focused on the future of social care at home. The session will explore how community-led organisations—like Befriender Skye and Lochalsh—can play a vital role in meeting growing social care needs. With increasing pressure on statutory services, the workshop will offer space to reflect on challenges, review data, and generate practical, third sector-led solutions. It will also look ahead to what social care could look like in five to ten years, with strong community involvement at its heart.

To top off a busy week, we were thrilled to receive printed copies of the Skye and Lochalsh Wellbeing and Community Support Directory on Wednesday evening—fresh from the printers and looking fantastic. We’re now finalising a distribution list to ensure reference copies reach GPs, Community Link Workers, District Nurses, Broadford Hospital reception, service points, libraries, and other key locations across the area. really pleased with how they have turned out!   WE are currently finalising a distribution list to provide reference copies for GPs, Community Link Workers, District Nurses, hospital reception at Broadford, Service points, and libraries etc. Download here