This page will tell you about the work of the local action groups and how they went about it. They worked hard to deal with the barriers in the areas where they live. At the bottom of the page you will find out the purpose of a local action group - LAG.
Some groups still meet regularly. Others meet up now and again at social events organised by us. The LAGs that still meet continue to discuss ideas which are going to take time to develop.
Below you will see photos of some of our LAGs. There is also a small section on what the LAGs told us they wanted - their 'wish list'.
For five of the areas the largest request was for leisure and social opportunities. They wanted to be able to link in to mainstream clubs and events in their local areas. We needed to meet this wish and include the choices and range of activities requested. We also wanted to maintain our commitment to a community development approach. We also wanted to keep independance for our experts.
So we created 'Leisure Link'.
We have employed part time leisure link workers in Ross & Cromarty, Nairn, Badenoch, Lochaber and Sutherland. Their role will be to help link you into leisure activities in your area. They will also coordinate activities, continue to consult experts and identify volunteers. These workers are employed for two years.
Click on the map
to make it larger.
A photo of some of our Inverness LAG members at a Hawaiian night. Love
the shirt Keith!!
Inverness Ideas - a Citizen Advocacy project, social firms, mentoring schemes for people relocating to the community and various taster sessions within leisure. Inverness also carried out computer and internet training. They designed and created a sensory garden at the Floral Hall in Inverness. They completed a trampolining course. We also helped to fund a drumming performance run by the Falcon Project as well as funding social/leisure activities organised through Falcon. There is a small group of experts currently working with Infusion who are an advocacy project. There are working to put together a presentation and will be out and about soon in Inverness to talk about the Citizen Advocacy project. If you would like a visit from them, please let us know.
Some face painting at a Sutherland LAG launch.
Sutherland
Ideas - the Leisure Link worker - Isy MacLeod - is now
in post. She is busy meeting up with local experts to organise leisure
activities. Sutherland also are interested in mobile social bus.
This bus would be converted to hold information with a small social area.
The purpose of this would be to help experts who live in remote areas
to meet up with others. Possible future projects will be specially
adapted bikes. We have also been invited to linked in with
the Dunrobbin Estates social firm project. This is a project which
aims to create training and employment opportunities for local experts.
Isy can be contacted on 077682970148.
Nairn
Ideas - the Leisure Link worker - Deirdre Ryan - is now
in post. Again she will be busy organising leisure activities and
meeting up with local experts. She recently organised a 'wheelchair
challenge' within Nairn and this was a huge success. This was a
way to highlight the problems faced by people who use a wheelchair.
Nairn also meet regularly to play rounders. See the whats new page to
see what they have been up to recently. Nairn have recently returned
from a very successful camping trip - well done all. Contact
Deirdre on 07795475784 for more information on how you can join in the
fun.
Moira Aitken
is our Leisure Link Worker for Ross-shire. Moira has organised a
Social Club where people can come along and make new friends. This
takes place every month at The Place in Alness. This will begin
on Thursday 8th June at 7pm. Specially adapted bikes have
also been purchased. These are being held at Invergordon Leisure Centre
and Healthways are looking after these for us. There is talk of
a drama club and also various sports events to come. They also recently
had a very successful Mosaic Workshop. There are photos of what
people made on the whats new page. You
can contact Moira on 07795506879.
Skye & Lochalsh. Skye have moved fast and have their own drama company called 'Over the Bridge' as well as an arts company. They stage their first production recently called 'Out of the Box'. This was a hugh success - well done to everyone involved.
Some Badenoch LAG members on a trip to Landmark.
We have had to say a fond farewell to Debbie McIldowie who was our Leisure Link Worker in Badenoch. Debbie is moving back to Aberdeen. Debbie did a fantastic job whilst with us and we wish her good luck with her move. She worked with local experts and encouraged them to use the facilities provided by us. There are bikes including specially adapted bikes at the Caberfeidh Centre in Kingussie. There is also gym equipment installed at the Badenoch Centre. We have also organised free swimming at the MacDonald Resort in Aviemore. Some of the group are going to come through to Rollerbowl in Inverness soon. Debbie also organised some 'taster' sessions of different sports and activities. Ellie will be visiting Badenoch to talk to experts about what they would like to do.
A photo of a courgette in flower at your polytunnel.
In Caithness we linked in with Food for Thought and provided money for a polytunnel to be erected. We have employed a worker to help train experts on planting and growing vegetables. Some of the vegetables are being bought by local companies. The training course last for six to eight weeks. We are hoping that the experts who have completed the course will go on to help mentor new experts. We also linked in with Enable to help provide a worker to set up a 'befriending scheme'. This person is called Shena MacBeath.
Lochaber
Here we have
George Kerr working for you as the Leisure Linker. George has been
busy helping you to start up a bowling club. I believe there is
talk of a football challenge with a Health & Happiness team!!! we
shall keep you updated here. George is also helping with the Laggan
Garden Project which will provide gardening opportunities and walks to
local experts. Experts there have recently returned from an Outward
Bound course where they had a fantastic weekend. Rafting and climbing
were just some of the activities enjoyed. For more information you can
contact George on 077955332214.
The Leisure Link Workers were employed by us for you
please contact them with any ideas you may have.
Who joined a Local Action Group - LAG ?
Local experts joined the Local Action Group - LAG for their area. Non Expert volunteers/supporters also joined to help support the LAG and to ensure that experts kept control. Together, they tried to ensure that all experts living in their local areas knew what was happening. Even if they were not part of the LAG, we tried to ensure everyone was asked about their feelings and thoughts. The group also talked to local people to let them know what work was being done in their area.
How did the Local Action Groups work?
The experts and supporters met together regularly to decide what work needed to be done and how they were going to do it. They also talked about the ideas they had for their areas.
What help was available for the Local Action Group?
In our business plan we stated that money should be made available to each of the eight areas of Highland. This meant you could decide how to spend the money for your area. This money would be split over three years to help your ideas grow.
It may be that some of your ideas will cost more than we have available to give. The LAGs had to work together to think about how to keep any ideas going!
To help with this we employed someone to help - called a facilitator. They worked for six months to help you get started and come up with Local Action Plans - this plan was how you would tell us what you were going to spend the money on for your area. The plan also had to include which barrier or barriers were going to be knocked down and how they were going to do it!
We asked for a lot of time and hard work! but this involved offering you a chance to join in, learn new things, meet more people - and make things better! this was your chance to come first.
