Issue - meetings

Becky Hothersall, Community Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council

Becky Hothersall provided information around the Scotland’s Census 2022 Argyll and Bute Engagement Event being held on 24^th February 2022 between 2pm-3pm. She noted that the online event was aimed at community organisations across Argyll and Bute, and looked to assist them in supporting underrepresented groups to participate in the upcoming Census.

It was noted that further information around this, and details of how to join the event, had been uploaded to the Group’s Basecamp site.

Joan Best, Crossroads North Argyll

Joan Best advised that the organisation were very busy providing respite support for 48 unpaid carers. She also outlined information around the implementation of a service on Mull; support being provided for new carers across the area; and an increase in referrals for support.

Joan encouraged anyone who may be interested in working with the organisation to get in touch with her, as they did require new staff while the service continued to develop.

Catriona Petit, Hope Kitchen

Catriona Petit highlighted that issues were being faced around household budgets due to the rise in fuel prices, and partnership working was being undertaken to collate information to assist people with this.

Catriona advised that she looked forward to working with Ali Martin in her new Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project role supporting travelling communities. She noted that Hope Kitchen had also been working with NHS Dementia Support Workers and welcoming more people with a dementia diagnosis into Hope Kitchen. It was noted that Hope Kitchen had also been undertaking more Homestart related project work.

Judith Hawcroft, North Argyll Carers Centre

Judith Hawcroft advised that the Centre were receiving a huge number of new referrals for carers identified as requiring support. She noted that the Centre were supporting a large number of carers, including young carers, and also carrying out reviews of support plans.

Judith advised that there had been opportunities for more activities to take place following an easing of Covid-19 restrictions, and provided information around the day trips, outdoor activities and events that had been organised for carers.

Inspector Ian Hutchison, Police Scotland

Inspector Hutchison introduced himself to the Group, following his recent appointment as Inspector. He provided information around recruitment in the area; support for forthcoming events; the Local Policing Plan 2020-23; efforts being made to promote and educate people on the enforcement of new livestock legislation; the implementation of the Keep Safe scheme and Herbert Protocol to assist vulnerable people; an increase in instances of fraud and efforts being made to tackle this; and an anticipated increase in people in the area during the tourist season.

It was noted that a report which provided further information around these issues would be circulated to the Group following the meeting. 

Discussion focused around fraud and whether suspected instances of fraud should be reported to the Police. Inspector Hutchison confirmed that instances of suspected fraud should be communicated to the Police, noting that fraud was underreported and information sharing was important to reduce this.

John Sweeney welcomed Inspector Hutchison to the Group and advised that he hoped to build on previous positive partnership working between SFRS and Police Scotland in future.

Ali Martin, Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project (MECOPP)

Ali Martin introduced herself as the new Support and Development Worker for MECOPP. She provided information around the work that she would be doing to support the Gypsy Traveller community to improve access to accommodation and to tackle racism and discrimination. She also outlined information around consultations and one-to-one support that she would be taking forward, following a delay in progressing COSLA and Scottish Government strategies during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ali invited anyone who may be interested in working with MECOPP to get in touch with her. The representatives from Crossroads North Argyll and Skills Development Scotland agreed to contact Ali following the meeting.

Skills Development Scotland

Susan MacRae, Skills Development Scotland, advised that school leaver destination data would be available for the next meeting and that career advisors were now back in schools from January 2022 and that the Queens Hall in Dunoon was open for appointments.

Police Scotland

PI Forrest advised that after a busy festive period Police Scotland were now targeting doorstep crime bogus callers as well as poor driver behaviour in specific localities. PI Forrest further advised that younger Officers were being trained in using speed device equipment; checks of road worthiness of vehicles was ongoing; summer secondments for Dunoon would be advertised soon and a Youth Engagement Officer had been appointed to work with schools.

PC Evans advised that the Keep Safe initiative is aimed at increasing awareness of disability hate crime. The initiative is designed for residents and visitors with 12 business signed up in the Bute and Cowal area, all of whom are committed to creating safe spaces. Training can be provided online or face to face and takes around 20 minutes. In addition the Group noted that the Herbert Protocol supports families with elderly or dementia members to quickly respond should they go missing, by gathering information that the Police can quickly access and circulate.

The Group noted that the updated legislation Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 had come into force and whilst there was a drive on educating people about dog worrying livestock the penalties had increased to maximum fines of £40,000 and up to 12 months imprisonment.