Highland Facilitation Improves

Community consultation across the Highlands looks like improving thanks to a Scottish Executive funded initiative.

Fourteen staff members from various organisations across the region attended an intensive course in Dundonnell last week (week ending 10 June 2005) aimed at developing their practical skills to help community groups discuss issues, agree actions and influence decision making through good facilitation.

Morag Redwood, Project Leader, for the Highlands and Islands Equality Forum praised the ‘Community Engagement and Facilitation course’ saying it was one of the best training events she had ever attended.

"I’m excited at the thought of using the tools and techniques learnt on this course to make a difference in engaging with the community," Morag said.

Andy Dorrin, Manager of the Highland Community Planning & Resources Project said "If people are serious about better dialogue between within the community and with the public agencies, we need individuals who have the skills that can help people to communicate effectively, plan effective meetings and events, and bridge different points of view. We seriously lack this within the Highlands at presenteveryone who went on the course is now really keen to put the techniques they have learned into practice and to stay in touch with each other".

"After the training, eEveryone realised from the course how valuable it would be to have a support network for facilitators in the Highlands and we are now keen to make this happen. If it does itIt would will be the first network of its kind in Scotland!" he explained.

The four day course was organised by the Highland Wellbeing Alliance Community Planning and Resource Project in Ross and Cromarty. The project is planning to run another 4 day course shortly, anyone interested in the few remaining places should contact Angela Calder on 01349 868526.

Pictured are the course attendees with their certificates in Dundonnell.