WESTER ROSS THIRD SECTOR DAY and NHS HIGHLAND CARERS ROADSHOW IN ULLAPOOL 26TH SEPTEMBER
Free coordinated events will take place at the Ullapool Village Hall on Market Street from 10am to 3pm and MacPhail Centre Ullapool 12-2.30pm.
https://www.slcvo.org.uk/wester-ross-third-sector-conference
Voluntary community groups and community interest companies are essential to daily life in the Highlands. Without them many services, events, activities, and amenities would not be possible. They fill the gaps that authorities and the private sector cannot cover.
But they face many challenges, from stepping up during the pandemic to make sure all were looked after, to helping communities recover and face new concerns around climate change, the general lack of public funding, staffing shortages, the rising cost of living and increasing mental health concerns.
Many local organisations find it hard to free up income and capacity to travel outside their areas for meetings. Responding to this feedback, Skye and Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations (SLCVO) has partnered with Lochbroom and Ullapool Community Trust (LUCT) to organise a first Third Sector Day for Wester Ross to take place in Ullapool on 26 September 2023.
The free event will take place at the Village Hall on Market Street from 10am to 3pm. The issues we will cover include community resilience, responding to the climate change emergency, community-led social care, and learning best practice for community engagement.
Time has also been allocated for an Open Space discussion to look at what is important to the groups in the room as well as opportunities to network and LUCT is organising a Climate Café at 3pm. A simple lunch will also be provided.
In parallel with this event in the village hall, there will be another taking place at the MacPhail Centre from 12-2.30pm, specifically designed to help those caring for family, friends, and neighbours. We are coordinating our schedules so that people will be able to attend both events.
Lori MacKellar of Highland Carers Roadshow run by NHS Highland said: “It’s estimated that one in three of us will be unpaid carers at some point in our lives. Many of us don’t even realise that we are carers and that you don’t have to be in receipt of carers allowance to qualify for other help and support. The Short Breaks scheme, for example can help a carer to take a short holiday, learn to drive or enjoy their hobby. Perhaps an e-bike is what would make a real difference to your quality of life as a carer, a sewing machine or getting a gardener round if things are becoming a bit wild outside. Other services include NHS Telecare which can help with, among other things, remote doctor appointments and sensors on doors.”
Jo-Ann Ford of SLCVO said: “We have heard the feedback that groups need us to arrange more local meetings and the issues that they would like help with. The day and the agenda are all designed to respond to these needs.”
Mamta Patel, Chair of LUCT said: “Knowing first-hand how difficult it can be to free up volunteer or staff time and expense to travel a whole day to attend an event, even when we know it would be really useful to us, it is very welcome to sometimes have people come to Wester Ross.”
Notes
SLCVO is funded by the Highland Third Sector Interface to support third sector groups, people and public bodies to make a difference in communities across Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross.
LUCT is the development trust for an area stretching from Gruinard Bay to the south of Ullapool to Elphin to the north. Our remit is to help our communities to be sustainable places to live and work.
The third sector day is supported by the Highland and Island Climate Hub, DTAS, HTSI, Highland Hospice and the Care and Learning Alliance.
For more information contact: lorimackellar@carrgomm.org, Jo.Ford@slcvo.org.uk, info@ullapoolcommunity.org
the link below takes you to SLCVO’s website where you can find out more and book you place.
https://www.slcvo.org.uk/wester-ross-third-sector-conference
