Highland Council will be providing e-vouchers to families to support access to free school meals from week commencing 30 March 2020. This innovative and easy-to-use service will ensure over 4,000 school children will continue to receive support for school meals while schools are closed.
As a landlord, the Council's priority is maintaining the welfare of our tenants and providing you with essential services at this difficult time. The situation is changing daily, but this bulletin contains the most up-to-date information about where you can seek advice if you have any concerns about your wellbeing, income or other tenancy matters.
The Highland Council today launched on behalf of the Scottish Government, the COVID-19 business grant scheme. Grants of £10,000 and £25,000 are available for eligible businesses.
THE HELPLINE GOES LIVE TODAY FROM 2:00pm ONWARDS. The Highland Council has launched a free helpline to give assistance and to collect details of individuals and community groups looking to provide volunteering support during Covid19.
Due to the COVID19 restrictions and the closure of Council Service Points, there has been a change in the way Highland Council provides its Homeless services. If you become Homeless, please contact the Council's Service Centre on 01349 886602 (during office hours) and 01349 886691 (out of hours) for further help and support.
The Council has been working at pace to set up centres for the children of key workers. Anyone who has applied for a place at one of the key worker hubs in the Highland Council area will be contacted by the end of today (Wednesday 25th) with confirmation of the arrangements that have been put in place.
In light of the UK and Scottish Government's decision tonight to begin a three-week lockdown in order to delay the spread of the Coronavirus, the Highland Council has taken the decision to cancel the provision of school meals tomorrow Tuesday 24th March. The current format of provision would involve staff and children gathering at school premises and this would go against national advice and directives.
The Highland Council is offering its 9,500 staff and their family members, a new, free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) service. The local authority has partnered up with an organisation called Spectrum.Life to provide staff with free mental wellbeing support, fitness plans, legal assistance, financial advice, and eLearning content related to a variety of wellbeing topics.
The Highland Council is preparing to launch dedicated Freephone helplines from tomorrow. One will focus on providing advice and support for people who want to know how they can volunteer and for anyone needing assistance and help.
Highland Council tenants claiming Universal Credit are being urged to look out for messages from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The messages, due to start being sent to claimants from the 6th April 2020 will remind people to log on to their online journal and complete a to-do ‘Report any changes to your housing costs' to ensure their entitlement covers their annual rent increase for the year ahead.
The Highland Council is urging those from the hospitality and tourism sector who have been adversely affected by the coronavirus crisis to get in touch for support. The Highlands has a large seasonal workforce, many living in ties accommodation provided by their employer.
It has become apparent that in the wake of the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, individuals and organised groups of criminals are now operating to attack the economy and wealth. Highland Council Trading Standards have today 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.
HIGH LIFE HIGHLAND FOCUSING ON SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES. High Life Highland today confirmed that the Charity has reached the difficult decision to close all archive centres, libraries, leisure centres, museums and swimming pools across the Highlands in line with both Scottish Government and UK Government's advice to minimise social contact.
In the wake of the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, Highland Council Trading Standards are issuing a warning to the public about a series of new scams related to the virus. One is an email claiming to be from the government, offering a tax rebate to support people through this challenging period.
The First Minster has just made an announcement closing schools after Friday this week. Donna Manson, Chief Executive of The Highland Council said:"Highland Council will need time to assess the impact of this announcement on our workforce, and our communities as well as on the provision of support for our young people.
First Minister Announced today that all schools in Scotland will close by Friday this week. More details will be posted as we get them..
At today's meeting of the Highlands and Islands Local Resilience Partnership (HILRP) (Coronavirus/COVID-19,) members reviewed the emerging guidance from the Scottish Government on self and household isolation and the imminent closure of schools and nurseries which will impact on the staffing levels of all organisations and their capacity to carry out even core activities. Resilience Partnership members are currently exploring how staff can be redeployed from business as usual, as part of the response to limiting the spread of the virus, into other areas where staffing is proving challenging.
The Highland Council is planning for greatly increased staff absence levels over the coming days and weeks. National modelling estimates that councils will see absences of at least 50% over the months ahead.
The Highland Council has taken the decision to postpone all committee meetings and Member workshops due to take place in March and April. Convener of The Highland Council Bill Lobban said: "The decision has been taken in response to the Prime Minister and First Minister's announcements on Monday afternoon, and the guidelines that have been issued thereafter.
Dear Parent / Carer As you know, we are in a complex situation with regard to schools and the Coronavirus. I fully understand your anxiety and concerns.