Rural Community Gateway

What's your project?

The project I work for is called HICCaP - Highlands & Islands Community Capacity Partnership, which undoubtedly wins catchiest project title of the year?!

Where is it?

As a project HICCaP covers the Highlands & Islands Enterprise Network Area, and we are based within the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) offices in Inverness.

Who's involved?

HICCaP is a joint project between Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, but involves many others interested in the skills and capacity of the voluntary sector in the Highlands & Islands.

What is it aiming to do?

HICCaP was established as a partnership between the voluntary sector and those agencies in the HIE area with an interest in voluntary sector skills development.HICCaP focuses work through three main strands:

• Create a market place for skills and training advice and information in the Highlands and Islands - through the development and promotion of the HICCaP website, the main aim of which is to develop a central location for the sector and training providers to meet and share information.
• Promoting a 'Skills Culture' within the voluntary sector - improve the take-up of training amongst voluntary organisations through encouraging greater participation in courses, highlighting potential linkages with training providers and promoting the associated benefits of learning.
• Support infrastructure bodies responsible for developing and supporting the sector

HICCaP gives advice and information to the sector, the providers of training and agencies who work with them on all aspects of skills development. It is worth mentioning that HICCaP does not deliver its own training, but acts as a broker between the sector and the providers of training.

In the Highlands and Islands, as in other parts of rural Scotland, there are added complications in the implementation of learning and training. Training delivery in remote areas proves difficult in a number of ways: not attracting enough numbers to make a course viable; difficulty in sourcing locally suitably qualified trainers; and a lack of appropriate venues or access to adequate transport systems to get to venues, all adds to the pressure of providing training.

How is it funded?

We have been very fortunate to be fully funded by Highlands & Islands Enterprise through their Strengthening Communities and Skills Group teams.

When is it funded to?

At the moment HICCaP is funded until March 2006, but there are high hopes that the project will continue after this date for a further two years.

Biggest achievement so far?

Probably the launch of our website - http://www.hiccap.org.uk/ - in August this year which has allowed HICCaP to showcase a central market place for information, advice and guidance around training and skills issues.

On a more personal level, I really enjoyed a series of 'roadshow' events which we held at the start of the year around the Highlands & Islands. HICCaP was able to find out what the issues were around accessing training for those working or volunteering in the sector. From these roadshows HICCaP has produced a report, which for the first time, provides a snapshot analysis of community capacity building in the Highlands & Islands.

Any downsides so far?

Geography! Trying to get out and about, which is a critical part of the project, has been difficult. There is so much good work going on around the area, it is hard to keep up sometimes! Also, for the moment, HICCaP has very little staff resource, so while there is so much HICCaP could be doing, there is a lot more still to be done.

Any advice needed from Rural Gateway users?

Always!
HICCaP is always looking to hear from organisations about the training or skills issues facing their organisation and what matters to them when choosing training? Is it Cost, Travel, or the Quality of Training which is top of your requirements?

Let HICCaP know, through the website, what matters to you and then find out how HICCaP can help your organisation to get the skills you need to do your job effectively.

Also, if you are a training provider, or are organising events in the Highlands & Islands, be sure to register - for free - at www.hiccap.org.uk.

If you'd like your project to be highlighted on the Rural Gateway please contact us.

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