Training

HCCF is fast gaining a reputation for delivering high quality training ' an effective way of changing attitudes and raising awareness.
Users and carers are part of the training team providing their unique perspective.

HUG  has trained:

Women's Aid / GPs & Primary Care Teams /
The Benefits Agency / HCCF staff / Mental Health Officers / The Joint Committee for Action in Community Care / Youth & Community Workers / Teachers.

HCCF, Local Fora and the Carers Project have trained:

Social Work and Primary Care Trust Staff / Care Managers / Home Carers / Local Fora staff & Chairs / Student Nurses / GPs.

A new approach to carers assessment

The assessment process is critical if carers are to be well supported. The Carers Project has piloted a different approach developing a Carers Support Plan. Health and Social Work staff took part in specially designed training sessions. 22 Support Plans have been completed in the pilot areas of Inverness and West Ross. So far evaluation has been positive with firm indications of staff wishing to incorporate the Plan in their procedures.

Educational Work

HUG has made a real impact in schools working with over 350 school pupils during Scottish Mental Health Week. Working with a theatre company they staged interactive drama productions to explore depression in young people and stigma surrounding mental illness.

HUG's educational focus has continued to grow, working with more schools and establishing Lochaber Young Minds Group. The quality of this approach was acknowledged when the work was highly commended by the judging panel of The Scottish Community Care Forum Good Practice Awards.

Nairn Forum is working with Nairn Academy using the People First video 'A Placie of my Own' to raise awareness of bullying issues.

Using the media

HUG has worked with news editors from the Press & Journal, Scotsman and Inverness Courier. Features include 'Living with Schizophrenia', 'A Place of Safety', BBC Radio Scotland, Garry Robertson Show ' audio diary & Lochaber Life monthly column.

Displays & Events

Lochaber ran a Help to Help Yourself Exhibition - 250 people had the chance to find out about a wide range of equipment on offer.

Inverness reported 'a good buzz' from everyone and especially local school children at their Beauly Disability Day organised along with the GP practice and community groups.

In Badenoch & Strathspey the Forum's notice boards in GP surgeries have signposted people to the Message in a Bottle Project run by the community police officer.

In Carers Week the Carers Project, with help from volunteers from the Inverness Carers Group, had information stands in Raigmore Hospital and the Eastgate Centre ' 400 leaflets and 100 Information Packs were given out ' 57 carers made direct contact. Over the year 1500 Carers Information Packs have been sent all over the Highlands.

 Building Relationships
 Involving People
 Independent Advocacy
 Spreading the Word
 Work with Other Agencies
 Evaluating Our Work
 Funding 2000 / 2001

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