Inverness East District Partnership makes progress in Hilton
The Inverness East District Partnership meeting this week in the Hilton area of Inverness made significant progress in identifying how to tackle health and social care issues within the community. Partners, including The Highland Council, NHS Highland, Voluntary Sector Representatives, High Life Highland and the Scottish Ambulance Service met with a variety of local community and voluntary organisations in Hilton Community Centre.
There was general agreement to continue the focus on Hilton and a networking group is to be created in the area to facilitate continuing cooperation amongst agencies so that practical local solutions can be put in place.
The meeting was chaired by Councillor Ken Gowans who said: “I am heartened by the enthusiasm that all of the contributors showed to tackle local issues. The public sector agencies now need to respond to the commitment of the local community to ensure that we are geared up to accommodate change.”
Members heard about the successful experience of Boleskine Community Care which worked with NHS Highland to introduce an innovative solution involving Self-Directed Support to address challenges in care of older people.
NHS Highland Board Member Mike Evans commented: “The discussions today effectively demonstrate that solutions have to be developed at the local level and with the community. We all need to think about solutions not just as service providers, but from the wider perspective of service users.”
Jay Muirhead, Chief Development Officer of Signpost Highland stepped forward to lead the creation of the networking group on behalf of the Partnership. Jay said:
“I look forward to developing this project with partners. The third sector and public sector working alongside the community creates a powerful force for change for the better.”
Barry and Doda Dennis from the Leira Trust, who operate a successful project to support young parents based at the Lighthouse in Hilton’s Tomatin Road, were at the meeting and after it ended Barry said: “The meeting was hugely helpful to identify all the stakeholders in Hilton to initiate conversations, ideas and practical ways that can support each other in addressing the many needs of the area.”