Welcome Pack (1).Indd
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Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership Welcome pack Advice and information about living and working in the Outer Hebrides Contents Welcome to the Outer Hebrides • Translation and interpreter services • Being a refugee in the UK • Map of the Outer Hebrides • Telephone area codes Healthcare • Doctors • NHS24 • Accident and Emergency • Dentists • Childsmile Practice • Opticians • Pharmacists (Chemists) • Pregnancy services • Costs Education • Childcare • Pre-school Children • School-age Children • Free School Meals • Free School Uniforms • Further Education • Learning Shop The Law • Safety of children • Carrying a weapon • Abuse and violence • Smoking • Alcohol • Driving and the Law Housing • Hebridean Housing Partnership • Maintaining your tenancy • Private Rented Sector Money Matters • Banking and Finance • Money and Benefi ts • Managing Money • Buying Food • Buying Clothes • Hairdressers and Barbers Transport • Plane • Ferry • Inter-island Travel • Bus Services • Taxi Services Living, Working and Volunteering • Careers Advice • Wages • Working Hours and Conditions • Finding Work • Self-employment/Business Start Up • Volunteering Culture, Leisure and Socialising • Library Services • Sport & Leisure • Young Scot Card • Museums and Art Galleries • Theatre and Visual Arts • Groups to Join • Religion and Worship • Eating and Shopping Community Safety • Police • Fire Service • Ambulance • Coastguard Additional Information/Advice Services • Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) • Advocacy Western Isles • Eilean Siar Foodbank • Western Isles Rape Crisis • Western Isles Women’s Aid Welcome to the Outer Hebrides Welcome to Scotland and the Outer Hebrides. Welcome to a place where stunning landscapes and culture blend with the best that modern life has to offer. The Outer Hebrides has a rich and diverse history where community matters and is a place where you can raise a family in security and confidence. The outstanding natural environment is home to around 27,070 people and includes the islands of Lewis, Harris, North and South Uist, Benbecula and Barra. The main town, Stornoway on Lewis, is home to around 6,270 people. The sheer diversity of the landscape is remarkable. Endless machairs and dunes. Mountains and stunning beaches. Vast expanses of moor and lochs. Vertical sea cliffs and stacks. All the islands are different and have their own unique appeal and we hope you enjoy exploring them and enjoying all that we can offer. The weather and climate in the Outer Hebrides is something that people have a love/hate relationship with. Generally it is wetter and colder in the North West coast of Scotland although there is less snowfall and less risk of flooding than other parts of the United Kingdom. The winds can be stronger in the West Coast and temperatures can be colder. Whilst the winter months can appear long and daylight hours are short the summer months bring a welcome change with longer days and sunlight hours to enjoy. Sundays in the Outer Hebrides are different than other places in the United Kingdom and it is still traditionally viewed as a ‘day of rest’ with many shops and offices remaining closed for the day. Hotels and pubs may open for limited hours on a Sunday providing access to food and drinks. The hospital still remains open to meet emergencies. We appreciate that you may be feeling nervous and curious about coming to the Outer Hebrides. You may also be worried about families and friends that you have had to leave behind. Everything is new to you at present but things will get better, it may just take some time. This guide has been prepared to provide you with information, advice and support services which may assist with your move to life in the Outer Hebrides. In addition to speaking English, which is the predominant language for all services, many Islanders also speak Gaelic which is one of Scotland’s indigenous languages. Welcome to the Outer Hebrides Translation and interpreter services The police, local authority, coastguard and healthcare services all have arrangements in place to provide translation and interpreter services as they are required. There is also a free, basic online translation facility available at: http://babel.altavista.com/tr Being a refugee in the UK Leaving home and your journey to Scotland may be full of difficult memories but we hope your arrival in the Outer Hebrides will provide a period of security for you. You might not even have heard of Scotland before you arrived! It is important to know that you are safe and there are lots of organisations and people who can and will help you settle in When you arrive lots of things will happen quickly and you will meet many new people. The people supporting you should be aware of this and will help you through this time. You may find it difficult to trust those who are trying to help you. All the people supporting you have to respect your confidentiality. Hopefully over time you will be able to share important information so that they can help you. The Scottish Refugee Council is based in Glasgow but by calling the Scottish Refugee Council on their free telephone number 0800 085 6087 they can put you in contact with organisations in the local area that can help you. Map of the Outer Hebrides A map of Stornoway is enclosed with this pack, you can also access one online at: maps.google.com or www.multimap.com A hard copy map is also available from Stornoway Tourist Information Centre, 26 Cromwell Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2DD. Telephone: 01851 703088. Website: www.visithebrides.com/wheretostay/ Telephone area codes To help you keep in touch with family, the telephone area code for the Isle of Lewis is 01851 if dialing from within the United Kingdom - or 441851 if dialing from abroad. Healthcare Introduction Healthcare is different in Scotland. When you are ill you do not go straight to hospital, unless in an emergency. If you need to see a doctor, contact your doctor or NHS24 (details below). Going directly to the person with the appropriate skills is important. This can help you to feel better quicker. When making an appointment with the doctor or dentist, a separate appointment must be made for each person requiring treatment. Doctors If you have an illness or injury that won’t go away make an appointment to see your doctor. Your doctor will carry out detailed examinations and provide advice, information and prescriptions. Your doctor can also refer you to further hospital services. There is no charge made for visiting a doctor. Doctors can help with illnesses, pregnancy, contraception, advice on disability, immunisation and other health related matters. Doctors can also arrange for people to see more specialist medical services. Your doctor will provide you with a copy of ‘My Health Passport’ which details your doctor’s surgery. NHS24 If your doctor is closed and you’re too ill to wait until it opens again, you can phone NHS24 the 24-hour confidential advice and health information service where you can speak to a nurse. They will ensure you get urgent medical advice and care. Simply telephone 111. Guidance regarding NHS24 Services is appended to this pack. NHS24 provides an interpreter service through LanguageLine. Accident and Emergency (A&E) There is an Accident and Emergency Department located within the Hospital. A&E departments assess and treat patients with serious or life-threatening injuries or illnesses only. This means that essential treatment is given to those who need it as quickly as possible. If it is not an emergency you should arrange an appointment with your Doctor or contact NHS24 for advice. Dentists There are a number of dentists in the Outer Hebrides offering dental health checks and treatment. All treatment for children is free. Many adults who aren’t working don’t pay either, just remember to take along any letters you have about benefits (see money help) you’re getting. This can be checked with your dentist at your appointment: Western Isles Dental Centre, Western Isles Hospital, MacAulay Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2TJ. tel. 01851 707500. Normal opening hours are Monday-Friday 8.30am-5.30pm. Childsmile Practice ‘Childsmile’ helps to give the best oral care for your child. Taking your child to the dentist as early as possible helps them to get used to the sights, sounds and smells of a dentist and gives you access to information, advice and support for looking after your child’s teeth. Healthcare Opticians Opticians in the Outer Hebrides area are able to test eyesight and supply prescription glasses or contact lenses if these are needed. There may be some assistance available towards the cost of glasses. For more details phone the Optician. Opticians in your local area are: R Doig Optometrist, ‘Rosebank’ 52 Church Street, Stornoway HS1 2LS. Tel: 01851 704200 Claire Whyman Optometrist, 7 North Beach, Stornoway HS1 2XP Tel. 01851 700808 Pharmacists (Chemists) Scotland has free prescription medicines for all. As well as providing medicines, pharmacists can also provide free advice on a range of minor health-related issues e.g. cold, fever, ear ache. Pharmacists in your local area are: Boots, 4-6 Cromwell Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Tel: 018551 701769 K.J. Macdonald Ltd, 29-31 Cromwell Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Tel: 01851 703131 Back Pharmacy, Old School Road, Back, Isle of Lewis Tel: 01851 820233 Pregnancy services If you have found out you are pregnant you should contact a Midwife through your local Maternity Team for your first appointment. The Maternity Team can be contacted by telephoning 01851 704704. In your first appointment you will meet your Midwife who will explain all of the screening options, tests and care available to you. Costs Most NHS treatments are free although there are charges for some things e.g. dental treatment and glasses.