Skye and Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations

Next Community Hub **** Mon 24 August at The Lighthouse Centre Kyle of Lochalsh*** Drop in anytime, enjoy a free lunch, and connect with services at your own pace.

Our informal hub events are a great opportunity for you to chat, ask questions and learn about local support in a welcoming environment. For those who would prefer a private conversation, confidential rooms will be available at the GP surgery next door with no booking required.

SLCVO Blog is now live – Volunteering for Emergency Services

This week’s blog is about the work of the local emergency services and how you can volunteer for them.

Read the blog here: https://www.slcvo.org.uk/post/slcvo-blog-14-august

🚑Community First Responders
🏔️Skye Mountain Rescue Team
🏔️Kintail Mountain Rescue Team
🚤Portree RNLI
🚤Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI
🛟HM Coastguard
🚒On-call Fire Services
👮Police Scotland Special Constables

SLCVO blog is now Live

Heritage, History and Learning
Read the blog here https://www.slcvo.org.uk/post/slcvo-blog-07-august

This week, we're exploring the heritage organisations of Skye, Raasay and Lochalsh, and the important role they play in preserving local history, culture and traditions while supporting learning within their communities.

📜 Comunn Eachdraidh Shlèite - Sleat Local History Society
✒️Comann Eachdraidh Ionadail Phortrìgh - Portree Local History Society
📖Kilmuir & Kilmaluag Historical Society
📚 Struan Local History Group
🖼️Plockton Historical Society
🚂Kyle Station Museum
🏺 Raasay Heritage Trust
🗃️ Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre

SLCVO blog is now Live

After a short break for the summer holidays, we're taking the opportunity to look at SLCVO's achievements and activities during Quarter 1 (April to June 2026).

Read the blog here https://www.slcvo.org.uk/post/slcvo-blog-31july

📋SLCVO Quarter 1 Review
📊Headline Figures
✅ Supporting Stronger Organisations Across Skye and Lochalsh
📈Measuring the Difference Our Support Makes
🤝Building Connections That Strengthen Communities
📣Strengthening the Third Sector Voice in Decision-Making
🎯SLCVO Annual Work Plan

📢 Have Your Say on Accessible Travel in Rural and Island Communities

Transport Scotland is developing a new Accessible Travel Framework and wants to hear directly from people with lived experience about the barriers and opportunities they face when travelling. A series of online engagement events is being held throughout the year, covering topics including healthcare access, rural transport networks, community transport, and island travel.

🚐 Of particular interest may be the Community Transport session:

📅 2 September 2026 - Community Transport in Rural and Remote Areas

This is an opportunity to share your experiences, highlight challenges, and influence future transport policy to better meet the needs of disabled people across Scotland's rural and island communities.

Other upcoming sessions include:
🔹Consultation on Accessible Travel for Deaf People - 12 August
🔹Consultation on Transport Network in Island Communities - 7 September
🔹Consultation on Accessible Travel for Carers -16 September

👉 Register for the events and find out more via Disability Equality Scotland's event page https://www.tickettailor.com/events/disabilityequalityscotland

Please share this post with anyone who may be interested. The more voices heard, the stronger the case for creating accessible, inclusive transport for everyone.

Disability Equality Scotland Buy tickets – Disability Equality Scotland

🏝️ Help Shape the Future of Your Community

Planning Aid Scotland's Island Communities Place Programme offers free support for island communities through webinars, one-to-one mentoring, peer learning and practical resources. Whether you're developing a community project, Local Place Plan or looking to have a stronger voice in local decision-making, this programme can help.

✅ Free training
✅ Expert mentoring
✅ Community planning support
✅ Connect with other island communities

👉 Find out more: https://www.pas.org.uk/island-communities/

Island Communities - Planning Aid Scotland The Island Communities Place Programme helps Scottish island communities navigate the planning system and take part in community-led planning.

Home-Start East Highland is looking for a Family Links Lead and Worker based in Skye.

This is a great opportunity to support local families and make a real difference in your community.

👉 Find out more and apply here:
https://www.simplyhired.co.uk/job/cKrQQkvRm8i3BocHRkPjGi0AaQbRIYb0b0INHwbMiQsx8p7LM1Ub2A

https://www.simplyhired.co.uk/job/GF_Y6Nssu1_XNDCoEEhsMEb878m6do4FbKCgFVp3DlznZ4mFU9OuoA

Family Links Worker - Skye - Home-Start East Highland | Isle of Skye Place of work: Hybrid - with an expectation of frequent travel within Skye and, occasionally, to Inverness/Invergordon and across Highland to fulfil aspects of the role.

Our next Community Hub is coming to Kyle of Lochalsh!

Come along to The Lighthouse Café and enjoy a free lunch while meeting local services, organisations and members of your community in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

Whether you're looking for advice, support, information about local activities, or simply a friendly chat over lunch, the Community Hub is a great opportunity to connect with others and find out what's available in your area. Representatives from a wide range of local organisations will be on hand to answer questions and offer guidance – with no appointments or referrals needed.

🍲 Free lunch🤝 Meet local services 💬 Friendly, informal conversations ❤️ Everyone welcome

Just drop in any time between 10:30am and 1:30pm on Monday 20 July. We look forward to welcoming residents from across Kyle of Lochalsh and the surrounding communities.

No booking required – bring a friend and join us for lunch, conversation and community connections. 🌟

This week's blog looks at six inspiring community-led initiatives that are helping to meet the needs and aspirations identified by local people through the many area plans, place plans, community action plans and thematic reports developed across Skye, Raasay and Lochalsh.

Read the blog here https://www.slcvo.org.uk/post/slcvo-blog-10-july

🗣️What Communities are Telling us - Plans and Priorities
🏡Community-Led Housing - Loch Duich Micro-Ecovillage
🚌Glenelg and Arnisdale Bus User Group Connecting Communities
🤝Community Outreach Hubs, Bringing Services Closer to Home
🏟️South Skye Community Campus, Infrastructure for Future Generations
🛍️Sleat Community Trust: Building a Stronger Local Economy
🌱Raasay Carbon Neutral Island Programme

📢 Micro Grants – Applications Now Open!

Highland Third Sector Interface is now accepting applications to the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund for Adults (Micro Grants).

Community groups can apply for up to £10,000 to deliver projects between 2026 and 2027 that support:

💚 Mental health and wellbeing
🤝 Reducing social isolation and loneliness
🛡️ Su***de prevention
⚖️ Tackling poverty and inequality

Due to the Fairer Funding pilot, much of the fund is committed to existing multi-year projects, but £150,000 remains available for new Micro Grants.

📅 Projects should begin as soon as grants are awarded and no later than 31 March 2027.

Find more information here

Communities Mental Health Fund Y5-6 | HTSI Highland Third Sector Interface are pleased to share that there is funding available for third sector organisations in Highland to promote adult mental health and wellbeing.