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New legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament and policy documents produced by the Scottish Executive, as well as other initiatives in the pipeline, will affect users and carers who are our members. This year HCCF staff and members of the Local Fora and Projects have contributed, responded to and commented on all these papers. As examples, Sheena Munro was a member of the Scottish Executive's Carers Legislation Working Group and its Local Health Care Co-operative Best Practice Group and is Convenor of the Scottish Community Care Forum and a member of the Highland Community Care Planning and Co-ordinators Group. Anne McDonald is a member of the Coalition of Carers in Scotland and Chairs the Lochaber Carers in Action Group. Graham Morgan is Chair of the Advocacy in Action Group in Highland. He sat on the Millan Committee and, with Emma Thomas, on the Committee of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Ailsa Peck is a member of the Board of Social Firms Scotland and she and the Facilitators of the Local Fora serve on many groups and committees representing HCCF at Local and Highland level. Members of the Local Fora work with LHCCs, in Locality Planning, with Access Panels and Housing Associations and other voluntary and statutory agencies. The Fora separately, and under the umbrella of HCCF, have responded to the Carers Legislation Report.
It is difficult to single out particular projects, but Emma's description of the work that HUG has undertaken in Secondary Schools to challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness and the work of the Young Carers Project in Skye and Lochalsh stay in my mind as what HCCF is all about. With our support, the North & West Sutherland Care Alliance and the Carers Strategy Steering Group illustrate other branches of our work. The Carers Project was awarded a grant by GlaxoSmithKline for its work. This meant a trip to London for members who had the chance to meet people involved with the other 9 successful projects from all over the UK and exchange views. These occasions enable us to learn from each other so that all our energies can be channeled constructively and we do not re-invent the wheel. Last year's report mentioned 'an ambitious application to the National Lottery Charities Board'. I am pleased to report that all the hard work in preparing the application was successful. We look forward to the challenge of implementing this exciting Project in the next three years. At our AGM on 8 September new Articles of Association were adopted which strengthen the representation of the Local Fora and Projects on the Board. The 'old' Board continued until April when the new Directors were nominated. I would like to thank those who left and those who joined for their commitment in working to ensure the Company can deliver for users and carers throughout the Highlands. The Finance Sub-group chaired by Robin Lingard constantly monitors our budgets and seeks additional funding.
Our Investors in People status has been endorsed for a further period and, with other organisations we took part in Highland Council's Best Value Review. We welcome two new members of the community. Isobelle Campbell had a daughter (Cerys) and Anne McDonald a daughter (Mairi) and we wish them and their families well. We are always looking to the future and what developments and research we can undertake to make sure as they grow up the needs of users and carers will still be a live issue. Finally, I would like to thank Sheena Munro and all those who work with and for the Local Fora, HUG, People First, the Carers Project and at Highland House for their continuing enthusiasm and dedication which 'keeps the show on the road'.
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Highland Community Care Forum.
Tel: 01463 718817 — Fax: 01463 718818 — Email: hccf@hccf.org.uk
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Chairman's
Report
At
our Annual Conference we had an 'Open Space' event, which gave everyone
a chance to say what they felt were the most pressing issues for users
and carers. The result of the day's deliberations guided the meetings
for the rest of the year and informed our discussions. I should
like to thank those who came to the meetings from Highland Council Social
Work Services, Health Board, Housing, Elected Members, voluntary agencies
and individuals and brought their expertise as speakers, facilitators,
scribes and in chairing small groups. We gathered a great deal of information
which has been shared and used in underpinning our contribution to the
local and national scene.
We
are well settled in the new office. It has been well used by various
groups. During the year we have welcomed many visitors. Malcolm
Chisholm, Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care heard about
our work from Sheena and members of the staff, and he spent time talking
to users and carers. We have been visited by Elected Members,
colleagues in the voluntary sector and an ever increasing number of
users and carers.
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