Highland Community Care Forum - Annual Review 2004

About HCCF Highland Community Care Forum Highland Community Care Forum is an independent Highland-wide network of community care service users and their carers. It is made up of eleven Local Forums, the Highland Users Group, People First, and the Highland Carers Project. Our network has matured in the twelve years of its existence. Starting with people’s real experiences, HCCF has developed many ways to speak out. HCCF is the network’s voice, and, through involvement, understanding and support, communication is our most important tool. HCCF is a meeting point where professionals, practitioners, elected members and network members can interact. We try to embrace new technologies and practices which will help our network influence the way services are planned and delivered. Looking to the future, HCCF is striving to broaden its scope and vision towards greater innovation so that the contribution of network members can be fully recognised and valued. The Local Community Care Forum Network Eleven Local Community Care Forums work at the heart of their communities, enabling groups and individuals to be fully involved in the development and delivery of community care services, to speak out about the services they get, and to identify the services they need. Each Forum has its own locally-based worker who provides up to date information about local services and national developments, advises and supports individual service users and carers, helping to identify gaps in services and develop local projects to meet local needs. Local Forums have established new services such as Handyperson Schemes, for small household tasks, and Community Car Schemes, which can get people to local services or just out and about. They facilitate user and carer groups and support local Access Panels, which in turn help to ensure that buildings and services are accessible to all.	Annual Review 2004 Get PDF File (1.3MB) Annual Report 2004 Annual Report 2003 Annual Report 2001 Annual Report 2000 Back About HCCF Chairman's Report Starting with People Influence Communication Advocacy Awareness Exchanging Ideas Publications Income Staff
Highland Users Group ACTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH Highland Users Group works locally, regionally and nationally to improve the rights, services and treatment of people with mental health problems. HUG challenges the stigma of mental illness by carrying out awareness training, working with young people and the media and by using different technologies to increase people’s understanding of mental illness. There are thirteen local HUG groups which meet regularly.
People First People First is an international network of self advocacy groups run for and by people with learning disabilities. People First groups in Highland (supported since December 2003 by a new Development Worker) enable anyone with a learning disability to speak out about the issues that are important to them and to influence the way the services they use are run. There are currently five active People First groups in the Highlands with hopes to re-establish the Lochaber group and start a group in Sutherland.
The Princess Royal Trust Highland Carers Project The Project provides information, advocacy and support for carers. It works strategically to ensure that the views and needs of both adult and young carers are taken into account in the planning and delivery of services. Through the Carers’ Network, regular information goes out to its members and local Carers’ Support Groups meet in different areas of Highland. Our Helpline offers a listening ear and information at local call rates on Carers’ Rights, Services for Carers, and Benefits. Our Advocacy Service helps carers put their views across to service providers and others.