BUSINESS INSIGHT: How much does our community rely on local charities?
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What do we think of when we consider a charity? Do we appreciate how much charities contribute to the health of our local communities?
I was recently shown round New Start Highland in Carsegate Road North. It turns out that my knowledge of New Start was about 15 years out of date. Prior to our visit I thought that they collected donations of furniture and re-distributed it to people who needed help when starting a new home. And that’s true – but they do so much more than that.
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Today, they help anyone facing hardship by providing advice, help with housing, support with employment qualifications, and running life skill courses on cooking and personal finance.
Their range of fundraising to back this up is equally impressive. The site at Carsegate Road North has two massive warehouses of furniture for sale and they run the brilliant Uniqueness shop in Eastgate Shopping Centre. And soon to come is a bike shop and repair service, a café and a cookery school.
I’m aware that I could write equally about Blythswood and their multi-faceted fundraising and range of services, and about a whole host of other essential Highland charities that once you scratch the surface offer so much more than first meets the eye.
Maggie’s Highlands is another, and we’re pleased to announce that it will be our charity beneficiary for our Highland Business Dinner, with guest speaker Alastair Campbell. Of course they support people with a diagnosis of cancer, but they can also support their friends and families, and workplaces to provide the best possible support for colleagues with a cancer diagnosis.
On April 16, we’re holding an Inside Stories event at The Ledge. We probably all know that it provides Olympic standard climbing walls and training, but how many of us know that it’s also a charity supporting young people at risk of being involved in antisocial behaviour, offending or reoffending?
The Highlands is an amazing place and we’re lucky to have so many organisations supporting different groups. Come and join us at The Ledge and hear about its community work (and do a bit of climbing as well) – all before breakfast.
Colin Marr is Inverness Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive.
