We had our second evidence session on 7 November in Kyleakin looked at the poverty impacts from a lack of housing, the condition of housing and measures to sustain people in their tenancies. In the afternoon we undertook several visits to hear from a range of groups on the impact of poverty in Skye. These groups included Kyleakin Connections, Broadford and Strath Community Company, Lochalsh Youth Community Trust, Living Hope, Skye and Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations, Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau and Kyle and Lochalsh Mental Health Association.

The Housing Sounding Board met on 27 October led by Maureen Knight, Albyn Housing and Cllr Maureen Ross which looked at looked at the impact that housing can have on poverty. This session will help inform discussions at the evidence session next month.

We had our first evidence session in Fort William looking at poverty caused by lack of access to transport, digital and to public services. In the afternoon we had the opportunity to visit several local organisations to hear their perspective on poverty and what could be done to address that. We had some good conversations with Lochaber Hope, Care Lochaber, Volunteer Action Lochaber and Kinlochleven Community Trust.

The Access Sounding Board had it’s meeting on 22 September led by Cllr Richard Gale and Liz Richardson from Poverty Alliance which looked at Access issues around transport, digital and public services.

A meeting of the Commission took place on 19 September to agree our Terms of Reference, Approach to gathering evidence and work plan.

It was great to have the first meeting of the Commission in Balintore on 15 August where we had the opportunity to get to know one another and reflected on what poverty in Highland means to them and their hopes and expectations from the Highland Poverty and Equality Commission. We discussed how we can best work together and agreed six thematic areas to explore (Access, Housing, financial security, fairwork, Early Years, Education and Culture and Ways of Working across Public Service). We also agreed to hold evidence sessions on these six areas across the Highlands. To support thee evidence sessions there would be a Sounding Board established for each of these themes which would meet in advance of the evidence session.