CCAST either runs or supports

AA Group

Al a non

Decider

Road to Recovery

Smart Groups

one to one support

01862 328006

•             Almost 9000 people live in rural situations, and health and well-being are at an all-time low, while health inequalities are at an all-time high.  

•             One in four (24.4%) of the population live in areas ranked in the most deprived quintile of national deprivation (NHS, 2022)

•             Is an NHS area for concern with population health declining (NHS, 2022).

•             Around one in three people (37%) live in areas classified as rural (NHS, 2022)

•             ER, although small, has 8 housing areas in the 20% of most deprived in the country (SIMD, 22)

During the holidays i.e. Easter, Summer and October we run a playscheme for birth to P7 children. The playscheme is free to access, and provides free healthy snacks in the morning sessions. The playscheme offers opportunities for social engagement and peer learning through STEM activities

During the holidays we continue with our youth clubs and encourage older young people to become leaders with the Playscheme.

Our generic programmes include

Tuesday Thursday and Saturday night Drop In sessions and extra sessions over the school holidays.

Our Targeted Youth sessions include our Girls group which meets every Monday evening, our Young leaders group, work with the TRA on a one to one bases with young people.

We run a young carers group on a Friday but our largest two programmes are our P7 transitions group which meets every Monday night and our Holiday support programmes which we run every Easter, Summer and October Holidays.

With this programme we provide free food, run extra children's and Youth activities and offer Family sessions. Recently we have added Nerf War sessions which are really popular.

On the last Friday of the month we run a Primary school disco for 100 children and we have piloted two Roller Discos on a Saturday morning which again are booked up very quickly.

We have now expanded this programme and run free meals programme in Dornoch as well.

1. Drop In sessions on a Tuesday Thursday and Saturday night. We are keen to have more male volunteers to act as good role models for the youngsters.

2. Our Young Carers group on a Friday afternoon is looking for a volunteer to work under Karen our Children and Families programme manager.

3. We run a Children's mentoring programme in conjunction with the local Primary schools and we will be looking for volunteers to assist us staring in September Training is given.

Please call Mandy on 01862 328006 for more details

The Highland Social Prescribing Group have been developing a social prescribing framework for Highland and would like to invite any interested individuals or organisations to register for one of four events being held across Highland in May and June. Please see attached flyer for locations, dates, and times.

Registration for each event can be done using the individual Eventbrite link below:

Wick 13^th May - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1985062319835?aff=oddtdtcreator

Skye 1^st June – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1985069999806?aff=oddtdtcreator

Inverness 8^th June –https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1985071522360?aff=oddtdtcreator

Fort William 18^th June - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1985072358862?aff=oddtdtcreator

Are you supporting someone in the Highland Council area? A family member, friend, neighbour, or someone in your community — who c ould not manage without your support? This might include helping someone with their physical or mental health, or supporting someone affected by alcohol or drug use. Do you take them to appointments, support them day-to-day, or help them stay safe and well? You might not think of yourself as a carer, but if someone relies on your support to get through the day, you may be an unpaid carer.

You’re not alone — and there is support available. This includes support for people caring for someone affected by substance use.

Join us at the Carers Scotland Highland Roadshow for practical support, speak to local services. Get help to access funding and referrals — all in one place.

Register your interest here: Carers Scotland Highland Roadshow

Don’t have a smart phone or a computer? You can register over the phone by calling: 07552886233 between the hours of 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. If you are unable to speak to someone, please leave your name and number over voicemail.

North Highland Community Transport may also be able to support with free transport to get you get to the event if you live in the Highland Council area.

We are looking for schools, youth groups, schools, sports clubs, etc. to be in the Tain and Inverness Tesco’s Dec – March customer votes with awards in May ‘27.

Applications need to be submitted by end Sept to be considered for their Dec - March customer vote and then in May, after the vote results are counted, awards of £1,500 for first; £1,000 for second and £500 for third place will be offered. Awardees then have 6 months to spend the funds.

This is also a great opportunity for groups to promote the good work that you do.

Applicants must be committed to spend at least 50% of an awarded amount on food related activities and/or food aswell as other costs related to your activities with children and/or young people.

Please note that the beneficiary age range is generally up to 18yrs although, groups with those who need additional support are also eligible up to 25yrs.

NOTE that applications that are unsuccessful in this next round, or received after end Sept, will be eligible for future voting rounds ie. April – July with awards in Sept ‘27 

Please do get in touch with Community Enabler tamara@greenspacescotland.org.uk or phone her on 07825 671968 with any queries and for helpful application support.

More info can be found here Fruit and Veg Grants - Tesco Fundraising | Tesco PLC

Who is the e-learning aimed at?  Health and social care practitioners and those interested in finding out more about how social prescribing can support people’s health and wellbeing.

Further information about the e-learning module is available on Health Improvement page within the Public Health Zone on the Turas website under the e-learning section Health Improvement: social prescribing | Turas | Learn.

The event will feature presentations from key partners, reflections on the impact of prevention and early intervention work, networking opportunities, and a conversation café exploring the future of the toolkit (Please see the attached Agenda for more details).

📅 Date: 14 September 2026
🕐 Time: Meet from 12:30pm for a 1:00pm start, finishing at 4:00pm
📍 Venue: WASPS Inverness Creative Academy - The Gym Hall (in person)

Register your place here:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/31a78733-8106-4fae-ac6f-180a709d17c7@10efe0bd-a030-4bca-809c-b5e6745e499a?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog

We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you

The Highland Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund 2026/2027 will open on Monday 07 September 2026. This fund will support community-based projects that improve the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people (aged 5–24 or 26 if Care Experienced) and their families across Highland. The fund aims to strengthen prevention, early intervention and accessible support within local communities.

The fund is aligned with the Scottish Government’s Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports and Services Framework, which promotes early help, relationship-based practice, whole-family approaches, accessibility, inclusion and strong partnership working. Applications are encouraged from collaborative partnerships that can demonstrate how their proposals will improve emotional wellbeing, resilience, confidence, social connection and access to support, while helping to reduce isolation and prevent escalation to specialist services. Priority will be given to projects that are community-based, trauma-informed, co-designed with children, young people and families, and that address barriers to participation, particularly for under-represented groups.

The fund seeks to ensure that children, young people and families receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time, through strong collaboration between communities, the third sector and public services.

More information can be found at: Whole Family Wellbeing - Highland Community Planning Partnership

Please note: Application form links will go live on Monday 7th September 2026 at 09:00 hours

support, reflective practice, shared learning and

building connections with partner organisations and

peer networks for people involved in the support of

people who are affected by alcohol and other drugs.

Open to staff, volunteers and peer supporters across

Highland’s voluntary, grassroots, mutual aid and

lived/living experience networks.

To register your interest or

find out more, please contact:

katy@sdf.org.uk

Would you like to improve your English skills in a friendly and welcoming environment?

Our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes can help you: ✅ Improve your speaking, listening, reading and writing
✅ Build confidence using English in everyday situations
✅ Meet new people and practise English in a relaxed setting
✅ Develop your language skills at a pace that suits you

Classes available in Alness:

📅 Wednesday (Capstone Centre)
🕦 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
☕ Language Café

📅 Thursday (Youth Centre)
🕜 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
📖 ESOL Beginners

📅 Friday (Library)
🕓 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
📖 ESOL Beginners

🕕 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
🌍 ESOL Mixed Levels

For more information or to arrange an initial assessment, please contact:

Marie Eckenschwiller
Adult Learning Coordinator
📞 07770 542243
📧 marie.eckenschwiller2@highland.gov.uk

Would you like to feel more confident using technology in your everyday life?

Our Digital Skills Classes provide friendly support to help you develop essential IT skills and make the most of your devices.

📅 Every Monday
🕧 10:30 am – 11:30 am
📍 Alness Library

For more information, contact:

Marie Eckenschwiller
Adult Learning Coordinator
📞 07770 542243
📧 marie.eckenschwiller2@highland.gov.uk

Join colleagues from across Highland to explore preventative, whole-family approaches that improve outcomes for children, young people and families. Hear from local practitioners, share learning, and discover what’s working in communities across the region.

The Whole Family Wellbeing Conference will take place on Wednesday 18th November from 10:30 - 15:30 at Strathpeffer Pavilion.

More information and registration form coming shortly.