Armed Forces Covenant on the agenda for Inverness Community Partnership

The next meeting of the Inverness Community Partnership (ICP) will take place on Wednesday 6 March at Hilton Community Centre.

The Partnership is made up of representatives from public agencies, the third sector and voluntary groups who come together to work with the people of Inverness to focus on local priorities and deliver better outcomes for the Partnership area.

The meeting will begin with a presentation of the Armed Forces Covenant. Project Officer for Moray and Highland Jo Lenihan has been invited along to talk about the project which is about mutual support between the civilian community and the local Armed Forces community. The Covenant aims to encourage communities to support the Armed Forces and for the Armed Forces community to do as much as they can to assist and support their local community. There is also the opportunity for communities to bid into the £10 million per annum Covenant Grant Scheme, which is operated by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The scheme financially supports local projects that strengthen the ties or the mutual understanding between members of the Armed Forces Community and the wider community in which they live.

Last month a new website was launched to support members of the Armed Forces community in Moray and Highland. During her presentation Jo will explain how It provides a source of information in one place to help service men, women and their families whether they are moving there for the first time or are already settled in the area. Information provided includes local services and the assistance available to the armed forces community including schools and learning, employment and training, money and financial advice, health and wellbeing and housing.

Also on the agenda will be progress updates on a children’s plan, an adult’s plan, and both the Merkinch and Hilton locality plans.

Chair of the Inverness Community Partnership, Councillor Graham Ross said: “The meeting is being held in public so anyone interested is invited to come along to listen to the discussions and find out more about the work of our Partnership. The meeting starts at 2pm and at the end of the session there will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions.”

The meeting will end at 4pm.

Further information on the Partnership can be found by visiting   www.invernesspartnership.scot