Training on offer to help Highland groups tackle cost-of-living crisis
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A community organisation has teamed up with a Highland climate group to provide help with tackling the cost-of-living crisis.
The partnership between Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT) and the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub will give volunteers and others the skills to help people in need across the region.
A comprehensive training package, designed to empower community development workers and volunteers throughout the Highland area, will be offered to community workers, volunteers and other interested individuals – starting in Inverness this week.
The training, funded by the SSE Highland Sustainable Development Fund, will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to engage with community members on referral pathways and to support individuals experiencing fuel poverty.
It will also help them identify and address other issues including mental health, debt support and food assistance.
By fostering a deeper understanding of the issues and their impact, this training seeks to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected within the region, the groups say.
They add that the training program will enable community workers and volunteers to confidently identify individuals who may be encountering difficulties, including those who may have previously been financially secure but now face unforeseen challenges.
The Highlands and Islands Climate Hub will deliver face-to-face training sessions, while TCDT will offer online training through an e-learning module.
A mobile-optimised website will also be launched to support the training, providing regular updates on new support and advice as it becomes available.
Stephanie Remers, development manager at TCDT, said: "We are very grateful to the SSE Highland Sustainable Development Fund for giving us the opportunity to develop a tool that can help train people to offer support to community members facing the cost-of-living crisis.
"Working in partnership with the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub also ensures that we can raise awareness and provide training throughout the entirety of the Highlands."
The first face-to-face training session will take place in Inverness on Thursday, June 29, hosted by the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub at the Spectrum Centre in Inverness.
Those interested can reserve a place by visiting www.eventbrite.com/cc/highland-community-support-2297489
Over the next six months, a further series of face-to-face and online training options aim to make the program accessible to volunteers and workers in the community sector.
For further updates and information about the scheme, visit the Eventbrite page or sign up for event-related emails through the TCDT website at www.thursocdt.co.uk/blog/continuing-support-with-cost-of-living-crises
