Haven Appeal steps up with new sheriff taking the reins for Inverness charity
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
An Inverness sheriff has taken over the helm of an ambitious appeal to develop Scotland’s first multi-purpose centre for children and young people with severe learning disabilities.
David Sutherland is the new chairman of the Haven Appeal which aims to raise £4 million to develop the pioneering centre on a derelict site at Smithton.
He succeeds Andy Grzesinski, who has stepped down for personal reasons after six years as a trustee, and takes on the challenge as the total raised so far stands at £1.3 million.
While in his professional capacity he spends his days dispensing justice in the courts at Inverness and Stornoway, the sheriff is looking forward to pushing the appeal into the next phase and helping to turn the vision of a vibrant hub into a reality.
The appeal was launched by the Elsie Normington Foundation whose founder invited Mr Sutherland to become a trustee. He was then asked to become chairman.
“Now I have taken this on, I am looking forward to moving on with our fundraising activities,” he said. “We are getting up there. It is my job to try and pull this together to the next stage in fundraising.
“In that, I have various trustees from the Elsie Normington Foundation who are there and will be able to assist.”
Mr Sutherland, who is married with four children and eight grandchildren, is also a director of the Highland Society for the Blind.
He admires what has been achieved so far by Elsie Normington who was involved in setting up the foundation after launching her book The Silent Doorbell, which recounts the story of bringing up her son Andrew, who has a learning disability.
“I must say I have been so impressed by what Elsie Normington has done – not just her vision but the way she has gone about it,” he said.
“She is a combination of enthusiasm and realism.
“She really is quite an exceptional lady who has brought together a team of individuals who have picked up her enthusiasm to deliver this centre. She is inspirational and quite humbling.”
The Haven Centre, which will transform the derelict site once occupied by the Culloden Court Nursing Home until it was destroyed by a fire in October 2010, will comprise respite flats, indoor and outdoor play areas, a community-run café and garden and meeting rooms.
“It is something which is required and it is something which even in the short time I have been involved I have seen the public generally saying how much they feel they need this in the Highlands,” Mr Sutherland said.
“One thing I want to do, while continuing the endeavour to attract larger funders, is to maintain the increasing participation of the local community.
“I think that is so important in terms of fundraising but also in how the local community views this establishment – this is going to be in the community for the benefit of some of the most disadvantaged people in our community.
“Local people taking ownership of something like this really makes such a difference.”
He has been struck by the broad range of fundraising efforts from parachute jumps to concerts and hopes in the next few months to be able to show prospective donors the appeal is reaching a point to be able to show plans for the project.
Although there is still some way to go, he maintains the Haven Centre will be delivered as people can identify with the cause.
“People can appreciate just how fortunate they are and how people who are less privileged than themselves need our help,” he said.
“If we have our health, it is something we should be so grateful for. We take so much for granted.”
