High Life Highland (HLH) financial position improves in wake of coronavirus lockdown
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A projected deficit for High Life Highland has reduced to just over £1.5 million according to the charity's boss.
In a report to be presented to Highland Council’s recovery board on August 24 High Life Highland (HLH) will outline its road to recovery after lockdown.
Steve Walsh, chief executive of HLH, which runs leisure and cultural services in the region, said: "It now seems like an overused phrase, but when the pandemic hit in March it was clear that High Life Highland, along with every other organisation, was facing unprecedented challenges.
"I am pleased to be able to inform Highland Council that our financial position continues to stabilise and improve, and we are now moving our main effort from mitigating the in-year impact of the pandemic to strategic business planning to rebuild as we look to the future.
"Our priority throughout has been to protect jobs and services. Given the importance of physical and mental health and wellbeing as we recover from the pandemic, HLH services have never been more important to Highland communities.
"In March, our projected loss of income indicated a year-end deficit in the region of £11.4 million.
"However, I am pleased to report that through extensive mitigation measures we have managed this figure down to a reasonable worst-case scenario of £1.55 million. We will continue to pull out all the stops to improve this position."
He thanked members who have continued to pay monthly subscriptions throughout the lockdown and acknowledged the usefulness of the furlough scheme, which he said had helped it protect many jobs."
"With obvious reductions and savings in other expenditure during the lockdown period, where our locations and services have not been in operation, we are projecting a financial mitigation of around 25 per cent of the charity’s overall turnover of £30.8 million," he said.
"The HLH services that support the most vulnerable in our communities: youth work, adult learning and music tuition, along with support for the local authority’s community hubs, has continued throughout the pandemic.
"This has only been possible through close collaboration and partnership working with colleagues in Highland Council and other partners.
"We have been gradually re-opening our facilities to our customers and feedback has been fantastic.
"However, re-opening our leisure centres and swimming pools is crucially important to our financial security.
"We are ready to open our leisure facilities as soon as we get the go-ahead, the current date of September 14 represents a full six months since we closed the doors.
“We are really looking forward to playing our part and helping the people of the Highlands get fit and healthy”.
