The annual report by the Chief Social Work Officer will be discussed by Highland councillors on Thursday 19 September 2024. Part of the report highlights the issues surrounding the high level of vacancies in Social Work in Highland region.
Energy is an unusual commodity as it imposes running costs and capital expenditure. The main way to permanently reduce running costs is to spend money on more efficient use of energy: better insulated homes, more modern boilers, new appliances.
Lauren McKittrick from Inverness has taken up the role of Highland Youth Convener, becoming the 16th young person to take on the job since 2007. 22-year-old Lauren has been involved in outdoor education and has experience as a volunteer youth worker with the Army welfare service as well as undertaking community engagement projects with the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (September 13th) sold 6,578 store lambs. Blackface wedder lambs (4,952) averaged £53.92 (up £10.44 on the year) sold to £93 from 12A Achnacloich, Sleat.
The government's plan to restrict pensioners' winter fuel payment to households getting pension credit has been easily if grudgingly passed by parliament. This was despite a strong case for delaying the move to explore better ways to target the money and to improve take-up of pension credit (which will now be the benchmark for qualifying for the payment).
Following a process of review, including extensive stakeholder engagement, The Highland Council has completed an options appraisal on the future of Thor House in Thurso. The Council can now confirm that it intends to reinstate the property as a short break house for children with disability.
"The British public believe it is time for a new newspaper, born of the age we live in. That is why the Sun rises brightly today." So declared the front page of the Sun on September 15 1964.
See poster for details and go to the Doors Open day web site for many more areas and times etc. Runs on 21st and 22nd September 2024..
The Countryside Rangers invite you to drop-in for a free Bat Event t Wick Riverside Flowerbeds. Games and trails for people of all ages..
CYC Comics Club is an opportunity to be creative and learn new ways of storytelling through Comics. Come along to Wick or Thurso Library for our monthly Comics Club sessions with illustrator and comics maker Aimee Lockwood.
The Highland Council Trading Standards service is urging motorists to be aware of a recent trend in scam texts aimed at tricking people into thinking they have to act quickly to pay a parking penalty charge notice (PCN). The text asks you to pay the PCN which has been issued by "a local Council".
How well prepared for retirement are self-employed workers and what options do policymakers have to encourage more pension saving?. There have been widespread concerns about the patterns of retirement saving amongst self-employed workers, who now make up just over one in eight of the whole labour force.
Home Office statistics released today show there were 17.1% (25,200) fewer applications for visas to study in the UK in August than in the same month last year. This continues the trend seen over recent months, with 16.6% (55,500) fewer total applications in the year to date than at the same point in 2023.
At the Education Committee today (Thursday 12 September 2024) Members agreed to the recommendation to transfer Youth Work and Adult Learning to the Council from High Life Highland. The final contract review report will come to the Committee in November 2024 for consideration.
Recent weeks have seen speculation that the new Chancellor will make changes to pensions taxation to raise revenue in the upcoming inaugural Budget. The current system of pensions tax provides overly generous tax breaks to those with the biggest pensions, those with high retirement incomes and those receiving big employer pension contributions, and there is a strong case for reform.
We're looking at the working age benefits system and answering the questions likely being asked by government ministers: how can the rising costs of benefits be managed, and what changes could improve the system?. With disability and incapacity benefit caseloads rising and the Universal Credit rollout still ongoing, what options does the government have to address these challenges?.
New national guidance which aims to reduce the cost of school uniforms for families has been published. Following consultation with schools, families, uniform suppliers, pupils and councils, the new guidance also sets out key considerations to ensure pupil comfort, freedom and happiness.
A focused strategy has been launched to place Scotland at the forefront of the net zero economy, with targeted actions to secure growth and investment. Delivered as part of the Programme for Government, the Green Industrial Strategy sets out five priority areas where efforts and resources will be concentrated.
A MAJOR high street banking giant will close 55 more branches for good. Lloyds Banking Group will shut down a number of branches across its Halifax, Bank of Scotland (BoS) and Lloyds brands.
A national campaign to support young people to safely navigate social media and prevent violence has been launched. ‘Quit Fighting For Likes' aims to get young people to think about and discuss attitudes and behaviours around the filming and sharing of violent incidents.
At today's Education Committee (Thursday 12 September 2024), Members noted the work being undertaken to refresh Highland's approach to GIRFEC based upon the guidance launched by the Scottish Government. Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "GIRFEC is an evidence-based, internationally recognised and child-rights-based approach.
The Education Committee met today (Thursday 12 September 2024) and agreed the Community Learning and Development Plan 2024-2027. Community Learning and Development (CLD) plays an important role in ensuring individuals, families and communities reach their potential, through lifelong learning, mutual self-help and community organisation, ensuring support and opportunities are community-led and built around people's individual and collective aspirations.
Third Force News magazine September edition is a packed mag looking at austerity, funding and much, much more. In a packed magazine, we take a look at a range of issues which really get to the heart of what the voluntary sector is, and what we do.
The Highland Council in Scotland is starting a consultation process to look into the impact a tourist tax would have on the region. More than six million people visit the picturesque Highlands every year and under new Vistor Levy legislation passed by SMPs at Holyrood earlier this year, the council has the power to introduce a tourist tax to visitors who stay overnight in the area.
NatureScot are asking people in Orkney and north-east Scotland are being asked to look out for greylag geese with special GPS collars as part of an international project to understand more about the Icelandic population. NatureScot and the Icelandic Institute of Natural History are working together to gain a better understanding of the current migration patterns for Icelandic greylag geese.
Highland Council has appointed four chief officers in the latest phase of its new senior management restructuring. As previously intimated in Highland Council's budget plan, a new senior management structure is being implemented following approval by the Council on 14 March 2024.
The largest-ever gathering of UK peatland experts is to celebrate ‘Peatlands, People and Nature' in Scotland later this month - and Peatland ACTION has a key part to play. Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park is to play host to the annual IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort from 17-19 September.
Join the countryside ranger in north Sutherland for a 13km guided walk from Strathy Hall, passing over Beinn Ruadh (254m) and on to Portskerra. Wonderful open views and hopefully plenty of wildlife to enjoy on route.
As we age, our bodies become sensitive to cold temperatures. This is because of a decrease in the metabolic rate.
While cold sensitivity could possibly be a sign of a health problem, such as hypertension or diabetes, many healthy adults also find their winters feeling colder as they age. Studies show that older adults tend to have slightly lower body temperatures than younger adults.
Highland communities will gain from a policy which seeks to secure meaningful environmental, social, and economic benefits through the Council's procurement activities. The newly agreed Highland Community Benefit Policy will ensure that community benefits are routinely considered during procurement.
This is our 30th anniversary! We will have a stall/raffle at Woodside Stores, Watten on Friday 27th September a.m. and a coffee morning on Saturday 28th in Watten Hall.
The Highland Council has received a boost to its work in addressing the challenges of depopulation in the Highlands. The Scottish Government has awarded the council £60,000 for 2024/25 from the Addressing Depopulation Fund, as part of a wide-ranging plan to strengthen communities facing population decline, including funding for local-led research, initiatives, and community support.
Advice for professionals - Organised criminal groups operate in Scotland. They make money through illegal activity and use innocent people to help them.
All welcome.
Internationally renowned harp and electronica duo FitkinWall follow threads of migration. Loss and longing in their new show.
George Gunn has a play about the rocket range in Sutherland touring - The Fallen Angels of the Moine. A serious subject but surprisingly injected with many humerous points.
We all love good stories. They don't just entertain us, they define how we see the world and, importantly, how we can change it.
Event raising funds for Caithness riding for the disabled.
See poster..
Tuition in a range of instruments e.g. guitar, fiddle, drums with local musicians..
This report sets out the method through which the Living Pension standard - a voluntary savings target that aims to help workers build up a pension pot that will provide enough income to meet basic everyday needs in retirement. This is calculated by the Resolution Foundation, and overseen by the Living Wage Commission on behalf of the Living Wage Foundation.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has announced a review of Creative Scotland to ensure its operations and structure are optimal to the needs of the culture sector, as part of this year's Programme for Government. The review, which will be the first since the public body’s establishment in 2010, will examine Creative Scotland’s remit and functions as a funding body, and how the overall impact of planned increases in levels of public funding can be maximised to support sustainability in the sector and in participation in the arts.
On 4 September John Swinney announced a reversal of the cut to funding for Creative Scotland. In only two weeks the Scottish Government changed their mind on arts funding.
Chamber Music Scotland has launched a new Small Venues Touring Fund to support Scotland-based musicians to tour small venues across the country. Supported by Creative Scotland, the Small Venues Touring Fund will distribute grants of up to £5000 to cover performance fees.
Tha aon de na prìomh bhuidhnean aig teis mheadhan leasachadh na Gàidhlig bho chionn ùine an impis ceann-bliadhna sònraichte chomharrachadh. ‘S ann air an 7mh Sultain, 1984 a chaidh ainm a chuir ri pàipearan a' stèidheachadh Comunn na Gàidhlig, agus tha CnaG air a bhith aig cridhe an iomairt leasachaidh cànain fad an dà fhichead bliadhna bhon uairsin.
The Chariot, The Flag and the Empty, Empty Houses is a play with music written by Daniel Cullen, built after workshops. Conversations had with people on the Isle of Skye.
See poster.
19 20 21 September 2024. Join us as the Wyrd Sisters Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick Solve the problems of the discworld country of Lancre.
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