‘Partnering for Progress’ Lochaber event hailed a success

A wide range of organisations and members of the public came together late in 2025 at the Nevis Centre, Fort William for a ‘Partnering for Progress’ event.

The event provided a platform for residents, partners, and agencies to collaborate on key topics aligned with the priorities in the Lochaber Area Place Plan.

An update on the progress of the Lochaber APP was delivered to Highland Council members at the meeting of the Lochaber Committee on Monday 26 January.

The free drop-in event in November saw public agencies, organisations, and communities come together under one roof to share ideas, showcase initiatives and explore opportunities for collaboration.

There were presentations on the day from Derek Brown, Chief Executive of The Highland Council, on the challenges facing the region and proposed measures to address those challenges, including the Council’s Highland Investment Plan.

Heather Cameron, Senior Programme Manager for NHS Highland, outlined the work that has been done on the design and layout of the area's new hospital.

Those who attended were able to discover what was happening and have their say on a diverse range of projects and initiatives, including:

•            Lochaber Health and Social Care Redesign

•            The Fort William Integrated Transport Plan

•            Cow Hill Hall

•            West Highland Museum expansion plans

•            Community transport

•            Environmental initiatives

•            Youth mentoring and mental health support

•            Funding and support for community organisations

Graham MacKenzie, Communities & Place Chair at The Highland Council, said: “Partnering for Progress was a resounding success, uniting residents, community groups, and local organisations to help shape Lochaber’s future. The event showcased the power of collaboration and reaffirmed our shared commitment to working together, sharing ideas, supporting one another, and building a stronger community.”

Karen-Anne Wilson, District Manager NHS Highland, said: "This was a great opportunity to talk to partners and explain what our vision is for the new hospital and redesign of services in Lochaber.

"We engaged with members of the public and other organisations, discussing how we could work together as this progresses. It was also good to get more visibility and a better understanding of what our partners provide."

Feedback on the event was extremely positive, and comments included:

“It was a fantastic event! So well organised. Everything was thought of and planned with great attention to detail. It was informative and positive, and we made lots of useful connections.”

 

“I loved the fact that we could just wander around and chat to so many other organisations. I found this helpful having everyone in the same place, at the same time.”

 

“We derived huge benefit from the chance to meet other stakeholders, especially funders, in person. Ours can sometimes be a rather lonely sector, so hearing about the journeys made by other community organisations was really informative for us.”

 

Alastair Nicolson, Area Manager for Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “It was great to see so many active community groups attend the event and take part in such positive engagement.

“The energy in the room, the enthusiasm, was there from start to finish. The progress updates for the individual projects were particularly encouraging.

“This demonstrated that each project is an integral part of something much bigger that will help transform Lochaber, making it an even better place to live and work.”

It is hoped that this will become an annual event for the area, providing a focus for networking, information, support, and consultation efforts across a range of services and areas. For more information about this or future events, contact highlandcpp@highland.gov.uk

The organisers of the event, Lochaber Community Partnership, FW2040, The Highland Council, and Voluntary Action Lochaber would like to thank all who attended with a special mention to our exhibitors, without whom the day could not have happened.

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Exhibitor list

Highlands & Islands Enterprise

The Highland Council

NHS Highland

Lochaber Community Partnership

West Highland Museum Trust

Fort William Business Improvement District

West Highland Chamber of Commerce

HITRANS

Shiel Buses

AECOM / Stantec

Kilmallie Community Fridge and Garden

Voluntary Action Lochaber  

Cow Hill Hall Team   

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge & Achnacarry SCIO

Skills Development Scotland

UHI North, West & Hebrides

Caol Community Council

Fort William Marina & Shoreline Community Interest Company

Kinlochleven Community Trust

High Life Highland

Development Trusts Association Scotland                (DTAS)

Lochaber Environmental Group

Ewen's Room

Police Scotland

Linnhe Leisure

MCR Pathways           

Change Mental Health

Care Lochaber

URRAM

Age Scotland

Lochaber Hope