Community Resilience Briefing, The Highland Council

Working Together To Restart Tourism

Since the briefing at the end of March from Malcolm MacLeod on the Council’s Visitor Management Plan, the Council has also been working with its public sector partners such as Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue service and VisitScotland in advance of us welcoming visitors once again.

VisitScotland in recent weeks has seen a change of emphasis from more traditional marketing approach to promoting how to enjoy the Highlands responsibly and this message is also being emphasised by many tourism groups around the area. An excellent example of this is the Scotland: Yours to enjoy responsibly video which is being distributed and which is prominent on their website home page at www.visitscotland.com

VisitScotland also operate an industry website providing advice, guidance and downloadable resources for businesses including Coronavirus support & information and some of this may be useful to communities, for example for inclusion on websites or in social media https://www.visitscotland.org/supporting-your-business/advice/coronavirus

Covid-19 Vaccination Survey for Communities of Interest

NHS Highland is currently delivering the COVID-19 vaccination. While many people are benefiting from this, some people experience barriers preventing them from taking up the offer of a vaccine. The Highland Council would like your help to better understand these barriers and what might be needed to help overcome them and are asking for people to complete this short survey and share your views. The survey is open until 9th May.

Link to survey: https://forms.office.com/r/cE0SMLTXAc

Community Support Co-ordinators

The Council is starting to recruit 10 Community Support Co-ordinators. The posts will be advertised via myjobscotland and can be viewed at the following link:

www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/highland-council/jobs?type=internal,external

Updated Covid Guidance

The Scottish Government has recently published updated COVID-19 guidance for workers and employers on returning to work safely during the coronavirus pandemic – Coronavirus (COVID-19): creating and maintaining safer workplaces.

To support businesses to reopen for both staff and customers safely, the guidance includes links to a series of resources that highlight the latest guidance and regulations (April 2021) in Dropbox, together with where to find more information.

Updated COVID-19 guidance has also been published this week for Close Contact Services and also for hospitality and tourism businesses.

Vaccination Update

The latest update from NHS on the vaccine can be accessed at the following link: www.nhsinform.scot/covid19vaccine

Please see the latest Highland Council 23-4-2021 Covid resilience and response.

Food Support for Groups

We know communities have routes to access their shopping or community fridges/food tables. If you are struggling to access food to continue support to vulnerable people locally, please do contact us through the policy mailbox and we can look at ways that we can support your group going forward.

Contact: policy6@highland.gov.uk

Resilience Network Contacts

Inverness Rural – Charles Stephen, Ward Manager. Please contact policy6@highland.gov.uk

Helpful Links

Welfare Support Team www.highland.gov.uk/directory_record/102970/benefit_advice

Self Isolation Support Grant www.highland.gov.uk/info/20016/coronavirus/940/self-isolation_support_grant

Fuel Support Fund www.highland.gov.uk/fuelsupportfund

Energy Advice energyadvisors@hi.homeenergyscotland.org

AbiltyNet: IT advice or support AbilityNet Helpline 0800 048 7642.   

Business Support Grants www.highland.gov.uk/info/20016/coronavirus/945/strategic_framework_business_fund

Covid Resilience Grant Support www.highland.gov.uk/directory_record/1422811/supporting_community_resilience/category/155/grants_for_community_groups

HTSI Community Group Helpline: Telephone Number 01349 808022