Around this time of year people will be preparing for Bonfire night and young children in particular will be looking forward to the evening.

Every year, nationally, there are hundreds of injuries caused as a direct result of fireworks. Over half of these are to children under the age of 16. That's a lot of children growing up with burn scars.

Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service advise that, where possible, you attend a professionally organised event. These events normally have good quality displays with plenty of safety measures in place.

In an effort to make this Bonfire night a safe and enjoyable event, Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service recommend you follow their guide to keeping safe on fireworks night.

COMMUNITIES will benefit from an £81,000 grant from Transport Scotland this spring as the Community Planning Partnership investigates the viability of electric vehicles in the Outer Hebrides.

Third Sector Hebrides, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and NHS Western Isles will all receive funding through the OHCPP to enable them to purchase electric vehicles or associated infrastructure which will be sited in Stornoway and the Uists.

In addition Lews Castle College will assist the project by monitoring the use and savings provided by the vehicles over their 3 year life span and investigating whether this type of green energy is a commercial option for partners in the Outer Hebrides.

Third Sector Hebrides has used its share of the grant to buy an electric Eurobus with disabled access. Alasdair Nicolson, Chief Executive of Third Sector Hebrides, spoke of the potential benefits saying:

“Working in partnership with Community Planning and utilising the Scottish Government’s low carbon procurement scheme we are investing in an electric vehicle which we would not otherwise have been able to afford. This will add a new pioneering dimension to our community transport operations and enable us to seek to sustain services for our clients and community members at a time when fuel prices, already high in the Islands, are increasing further.”

Angus Campbell, Chairman of the OHCPP, also welcomed the grant award stating: “This fund will help the Partnership work toward its target of a Carbon Positive Outer Hebrides and investigate the viability of electrical vehicles in rural areas.

“The data gathered through this project will be integral to driving the Partnership’s green agenda forward and achieving the targets set out in our Single Outcome Agreement.”

The OHCPP is a partnership organisation led by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and includes representation from NHS Western Isles, the Voluntary Sector, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the emergency services. Its aim is to encourage partnership working among agencies throughout the Outer Hebrides in order to nurture and stimulate the unique culture, economy and environment.

If you require any further information please contact info@ohcpp.org.uk or 01851 709306. For updates on these meetings and electronic agendas and reports please log on to the website at www.ohcpp.org.uk.

The Partnership decided, at its meeting of 21 October 2010, that as part of its economic focus a significant target should be shrinking the Carbon Footprint of the Outer Hebrides and increasing the sustainability of the islands.

Chairman of the OHCPP, Angus Campbell explained the new direction for the OHCPP, saying:

“Renewables are the main single opportunity for the Outer Hebrides to achieve its economic and sustainable ambitions. As well as driving the economy, Renewables would quickly allow the islands to achieve carbon neutral status.”

He added: “There has been a lot of effort put into ensuring that the Outer Hebrides become as efficient as possible. The 5 new schools being built by the Comhairle have an excellent efficiency rating – the best possible -  and the Energy Group is lobbying the Scottish Government on a weekly basis to bring an interconnector to the islands.

“An interconnector the length of the Outer Hebrides would allow communities to establish profitable and sustainable renewable energy projects, with huge benefits for the islands.”

As part of the aim for a sustainable Outer Hebrides, CnES and NHS Western Isles have begun work on a Joint Carbon Management Plan which will reduce the footprint by 20% by 2015 with a final aim to achieve reductions of 80% by 2050.

OHCPP partners agreed to measure their carbon emissions, make every effort to minimise them and contribute towards a Hebridean wide footprint reduction.

Chair of the Alcohol and Drug Partnership, Chief Inspector Gordon Macleod provided figures showing a drop from 1367 incidents in 2007 to 1039 in 2009/10 leading Partners to prioritise early alcohol intervention in order to ensure the progress continues.

Chair of the OHCPP, Angus Campbell welcomed the news saying:

“The strategic recognition by the OHCPP of the importance of early intervention is an important step forward for tackling ongoing health and safety issues in the Outer Hebrides. While important and effective work had been conducted to date, this increase in focus will ensure that the needs of the islands are targeted directly and we can continue to reduce the figures of alcohol related incidents.”

 As part of its continued work with community projects Partners also agreed to continue funding through the Fairer Scotland Fund until March 2011, issuing over £100,000 to projects which aim to tackle alcohol issues, mental health issues and homelessness as well as social enterprises.

And in line with an increase in youth engagement Community Planning Partnership will use social networking to lead the way on Engagement following approval of its new Communications Strategy at the meeting.

The Strategy, which highlights the intention to make use of Twitter and other new media, was welcomed by Partners who are looking to increase their level of engagement with the public ahead of the creation of the next Single Outcome Agreement. This document is an agreement between local organizations and the Scottish Government detailing the needs and priorities of the Outer Hebrides.

The next public meeting of the OHCPP will be held in Harris on 21 October 2010.