Latest on Lockdown Community Help and Advice Available
Added at 15:49 on 04 February 2021
Lastest update on help and advice for individuals, businesses and community resilience groups
Help and Advice with Heating and Electricity costs
Home Energy Scotland – can help provide advise on how to reduce energy and save money.
0808 808 2282
Changeworks – can help people who may be struggling to pay their energy bill or have debt from fuel costs. Changeworks employ Affordable Warmth Advisers who can help people switch suppliers, talk to energy companies on an individual’s behalf and access emergency credit and funds.
0800 870 8800 (freephone)
Highland Council Fuel Support Fund – people can apply for a non-repayable grant of £60 if they are struggling with fuel insecurities. For qualifying criteria and how to apply please go to www.highland.gov.uk/fuelsupportfund
For support with an application please contact the Council’s Welfare Support Team:
Welfare.support@highland.gov.uk
0800 090 1004
Domestic Abuse
In an emergency call 999 or call the National Domestic Abuse helpline on 0800 027 1234.
There are many services that can help people who have been affected by violence or abuse:
- Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline - freephone 0800 027 1234
- Inverness Women's Aid - 01463 220719
- Ross-shire Women's Aid - 01349 863568
- Lochaber Women's Aid - 01397 705734
- Caithness and Sutherland Women's Aid - 0345 408 0151
- Abused men in Scotland (external link) 0808 800 0024
If someone feels it is not safe for them or their children to remain in their home, the Highland Council can provide temporary accommodation. This can give someone a chance to make long term safe accommodation arrangements.
Call the homeless team on 01349 886602 or 01349 886691 (evening & weekend)
Highland Council Trading Standards webpage on COVID-19 Scams
It has become apparent that in the wake of the spread of COVID-19, individuals and organised groups of criminals are now operating throughout the country. Highland Council Trading Standards have launched a webpage on the Highland Council website aimed at both consumers and businesses to identify the scams known to Trading Standards and our partners. The webpage can be found at www.highland.gov.uk/tradingstandards
Members of the public wishing advice on a particular matter can contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or visit www.consumeradvice.scot
The Scottish Government have also released messaging this week to raise awareness of scams associated with the vaccination programme. Links to the twitter/facebook messages are below for sharing on any social media channels you have.
www.twitter.com/scotgov/status/1355093328857993223?s=20
The Scottish Government - Posts | Facebook
Third Sector Funding
SCVO Funding hub - the SCVO funding hub has information on a range of funds available to support community groups. This includes information about both the Scottish Government Funds available but also external funding. There are two Scottish Government funds open at the moment:
- Adapt and Thrive Programme – to support organisations to change and recover and adapt to the challenges of covid-19.
- Communities Recovery Programme – supports the deliver of services in communities that were stopped or reduced due to covid-19.
www.scvo.scot/support/coronavirus/funding
Highland Council Covid Resilience Grant Support – the local covid-19 resilience grant scheme is still in place and available for groups to apply to. The purpose of the fund is to support covid-19 related community activity and on supporting emergency food, supplies and vulnerable individuals. Examples of support could include:
- supporting local volunteer efforts and expenses including developing promotional materials and support for local volunteer telephone systems
- making up food packs for vulnerable households
- developing measures to address social isolation
- providing a source of funding to enable groups to shop for individuals in the community where households no longer have cash available and they cannot source local deliveries
The criteria for the Scheme has been amended and groups can now apply for funding up to £1,500 at any one time. www.highland.gov.uk/directory_record/1422811/supporting_community_resilience/category/155/grants_for_community_groups
Business Grants
Temporary Closure Grant – for businesses that must close by regulation. Under level 4 restrictions eligible businesses who have been required to close can apply for this grant. The Temporary Closure Grant operates as a two-Levelled scheme, with a grant of £2,000 for premises which have a Rateable Value (RV) of up to and including £51,000 and a grant of £3,000 for those businesses with a RV of £51,001 and above. The grant is payable every four weeks, in arrears, for the duration protective measures are in place.
For eligibility and how to apply, please go to: www.highland.gov.uk/strategicframeworkfund
Business Restrictions Grant – for when businesses must operate in a restricted way as a result of the Coronavirus protective measures. The Business Restriction Grant operates as a two-Levelled scheme, with payments of £1,400 for premises which have a Rateable Value (RV) of up to and including £51,000 and a grant of £2,100 for those businesses with a RV of £51,001 and above.
The grant is payable every four weeks, in arrears, for the duration protective measures are in place.
For eligibility and how to apply, please go to: www.highland.gov.uk/strategicframeworkfund
Top-up Hospitality, Retail and Leisure Grant – On 11 January 2021 the Scottish Government announced a top-up grant for hospitality, retail and leisure businesses across Scotland closed by level 4 restrictions. Businesses have until next Friday, 5 February 2021, to apply for a top-up grant in addition to the Temporary Closure Grant. If businesses have already received a Restriction Grant or applied for a Temporary Closure Grant, and are eligible, they will receive this payment automatically and there is no need to re-apply.
Depending on the sector and size of business, eligible businesses can apply for this one off grant of:
- £25,000 for larger hospitality businesses on top of the 4-weekly £3,000 Closure Grant
- £6,000 for smaller hospitality businesses on top of the 4-weekly £2,000 Closure Grant
- £9,000 for larger retail and leisure businesses on top of the 4-weekly £3,000 Closure Grant
- £6,000 for smaller retail and leisure businesses on top of the 4-weekly £2,000 Closure Grant
For more information please visit www.highland.gov.uk/info/20016/coronavirus/904/support_for_business/2
Any enquires related to business grants can be emailed to:
COVID-19grantenquiries@highland.gov.uk
Vaccination Update
The latest update from NHS on the vaccine can be accessed at the following link: www.nhsinform.scot/covid19vaccine
Food Support for Groups
We know that a number of you continue to provide support to the most vulnerable in your communities and that most of you already have well defined routes for accessing food to provide this support or are supporting individuals 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
The first meetings of all of the new resilience networks have now taken place. The next meetings are in the process of being scheduled depending upon what was agreed at the initial meeting and dates will be circulated to all within an area.
Where networks are already in place, should any group not already be involved with this network, the contact details for each is below.
- Nairn – Willie Munro, Ward Manager, will facilitate this network For future involvement in this network 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
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
Winter Conditioning reports - www.highland.gov.uk/news