Strengthening geographical equality

Hi Hopes is the first geographically-based Development Partnership in Scotland. It aims to extend the provision of quality lifelong learning opportunities and to improve equality of access for people in the Highlands and Islands.

The project is part funded through the European social fund under the Equal Community Initiative.

Hi Hopes intends to deliver real benefits to the communities of the Highlands and Islands:

• Encouraging social enterprise development – enabling new and existing managers of social enterprise to develop their skills through continuing professional development.
• Helping the most vulnerable members of the community progress their lives through participation in the labour market – especially young people, those with special educational needs and migrant workers.
• Assisting employers – helping to build a skilled and adaptable workforce with access to good quality lifelong learning.

H - Highlands &
I - Islands
H - Harnessing
O - Opportunities for
P - Partnership
E - Equality &
S - Sustainability

Working together to improve opportunities in the Highlands and Islands

Staff from the Shetland Soap Company.

Hi Hopes is led by UHI Millennium Institute, the prospective university of the Highlands and Islands, and is supported by many partners. The Hi Hopes initiative brings together a diverse range of sectors, skills and experience.

Partners include:

• Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• The Highland Council
• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council)
• Voluntary Action Lewis
• Cothrom Ltd - Opportunities for Learning
• Workers Educational Association
• Training and Guidance Highland
• COPE Ltd
• Learndirect Scotland
• The Social Enterprise Academy
• Lochaber College UHI
• Moray College UHI
• North Highland College UHI
• UHI Centre for History
• SCVO
• STUC

A European perspective to the partnership is provided by two transnational organisations:

• Social Enterprise Trade European Network with partners based in Italy, Belgium and Poland.
• Hackers for Equality with partners based in Sweden and Slovenia.

Working together, the Hi Hopes partners are able to pilot tried and tested models in new settings, and to create and exchange ideas from other projects in different countries.

Addressing skills shortages through innovative CPD

A thriving Highlands and Islands region needs a skilled, adaptable workforce with access to good quality lifelong learning and continuing professional development (CPD). Hi Hopes’ projects will address the fundamental barriers faced by small communities in geographically isolated locations.

Pilot projects include:

• CPD opportunities for new and existing managers of social enterprises, using a ‘blended learning’ approach.
• A Scottish centre for innovation and management, based in the Highlands, which responds to the needs and expectations of the business community.
• A one-stop web portal where individuals and businesses can obtain information on CPD opportunities.
• A suite of new CPD modules designed to meet the needs of local industry across a broad range of sectors.
• Research into the barriers preventing individuals accessing training and development, and the impact of large manufacturing industry on fragile rural communities.

Addressing the barriers to education, jobs and services

It will open up new opportunities for the most vulnerable members of the community.

Pilot projects include:

• A peripatetic assessor and verifier bank in the Western Isles, enhancing the skills support available within a geographically-challenged area.
• An innovative ‘learning shop’ in Harris which will provide literacy and numeracy support to local residents.
• Using COPE Ltd’s expertise in social enterprise development to benefit other organisations at an earlier stage of development, by providing coaching and training.
• A web-based information and trading site for social enterprises (in conjunction with our European partners).
• New social businesses in Skye, Benbecula and Stornoway to provide work placements for disadvantaged clients.
• Initiatives which support young people with special educational needs to gain early experience of paid work, improve their education or employment.
• English language tuition and support for migrant workers, designed to enhance community integration and active citizenship.
• A pilot course designed to address the local and national under-representation of men in the care workforce by encouraging men to apply for employment or courses in care.
• Initiatives which seek to engage people in active planning for CPD provision in response to specific labour market requirements within the local economy.
• Initiatives which combine and test a range of innovative approaches, dissemination and information raising activities in order to encouraging community-based learning.

How does Hi Hopes work?

Hi Hopes helps coordinate pilot projects across the Highlands and Islands. Through these, it is able to test innovative models of supported learning and social enterprise development as well as generate new online tools and support mechanisms for learners.

How can I get involved?

For more information about Hi Hopes, please contact:

Equal operates across identified thematic fields, which embrace the four pillars of the European Employment Strategy and support for asylum seekers.
www.objective3.org/Web/Site/Equal/About/EES.asp

Operating under regional Theme E (promoting lifelong learning and inclusive work practices which encourage recruiting and retraining people suffering discrimination and inequality in the labour market), Hi Hopes will extend provision of lifelong learning opportunities within the Highlands and Islands and improve equity of access to these opportunities.

© HiHopes 2006. Designed by Cànan, Isle of Skye.
Led by UHI Millennium Institute.