MAREE TODD: Support services in far north do a first-class job
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Holyrood Notebook by Maree Todd
It’s been a busy month, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting out and about during the summer recess and meeting with people and agencies across the constituency who are making a real and positive difference in their local communities.
It was a pleasure to pop by Centred’s – formerly Birchwood Highland – offices in Wick earlier this month to hear more about the innovative mental health support they offer. I was particularly pleased to hear of their collaboration with community organisations and groups to build a Recovery College – an approach which sets out to meet the unique mental health needs of people and communities in Highland.
The college is community led with a focus on prevention and early intervention, with input from people with lived experiences, local third sector organisations and key NHS players.
With 2021 figures showing suicide rates higher in Highland compared to the Scottish national average, services like this are needed and are hugely valuable to our rural communities – a massive thank you to Centred and their team of dedicated support workers for all the work they do. Special thanks to David Brookfield, Sophie Bramley, Annabel Mowat and Natalie Dunbar for hosting my visit.
I also dropped in to visit Hearing and Sight Care in Wick to learn about the work they do in supporting people with hearing and sight loss in the north Highlands. I was impressed to hear of the extent of support and services available locally from routine hearing aid upkeep to procuring environmental aids to help assist clients in their daily lives.
The team work closely with NHS Audiology, Deaf Services and Hearing Support Team and Sight Action and are hugely passionate about delivering a first-class service for those suffering from hearing and sight loss. Many thanks to chairman Roy Mackenzie and Pauline Gibson for taking the time to meet with me.
I had the great privilege of attending the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this month in my role as sports minister. I was delighted to welcome the athletes competing on behalf of Team Scotland and, of course, witness Scotland deliver an outstanding performance across the sporting programme – picking up an impressive 51 medals in total.
Seeing the dedication and hard work of all our athletes paying off is so powerful. Sport has the ability to engage and connect people from across the world and inspire healthier physical and mental wellbeing, I’m sure that Team Scotland’s brilliant performance in Birmingham will work to inspire a future generation of athletes.
It was an added bonus to see two of my constituents come away with bronze medals – cyclist Finn Crockett in the men’s road race and Malin Wilson in the 57kg women’s judo event – a massive congratulations to both! It was a joy to see the Highlands so well represented at the games, with competitors coming from across the region including Strathpeffer, Ullapool, Invergordon, Dingwall, Inverness and the Black Isle.
Obviously there’s a huge specialised team behind the athletes, and I was delighted to meet Kenny More from Wick, who oversaw the Games video analysis in Team Scotland’s performance centre.
As a spectator, you’re never too far from a fellow Highlander either. During my time at the Games, I met the Bishop of Birmingham, David Urquhart, from Inverness, and spoke with many members of the armed forces and police who were from Caithness and Sutherland.
A massive well done and thank you to the host city of Birmingham too for delivering an unforgettable Games!
- Maree Todd is the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
