Inverness city centre charities get boost from BID to support the most vulnerable
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Inverness Business Improvement District (BID) has donated a total of £1500 to local charities which support those who are vulnerable.
Both Cafe 1668 and Inverness Street Pastors have received £750 from BID to support the work they do in the community.
Last year, Inverness BID was given a two year grant from the Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (HADP) to enable it to provide opportunities that would assist in the training of its frontline staff, who occasionally provide support or intervention at incidents.
The Inverness BID team have already undertaken Naloxone, Cocaethylene and First Aid Training and have purchased comprehensive First Aid Kits which are located at its Queensgate Office and at its Coach Ambassador location in Ardross Street.
This year, following discussions with HDAP on how BID can deliver on its project, it has donated the money to its chosen city centre charities, who regularly come into contact with people in need of help and support.
This money has been presented to the charities in the form of Inverness City Centre Gift Cards, which will not only allow the charities to support individuals, but will also benefit local businesses by keeping the money in the local economy.
John McDonald, community safety manager at Inverness BID said: “This grant funding has enabled BID to not only improve the skills, knowledge and equipment available to front line BID Staff but it also has allowed us to support two of our third sector partner organisations who frequently come into contact with the most vulnerable in society as well as some who for whatever reason just need some immediate support or helping hand at a time of personal crisis.
“The organisations we have chosen to benefit from our donation do immense work, often unseen and without recognition, which goes a long way to meet the needs of those less fortunate in our Inverness City Centre.”
Val Cooper, manager at Café 1668 added: “The Café 1668 team are delighted to be part of this initiative, we deal first hand with those in the local community who are in need of support.
“This support is primarily in the form of food products via our food larder and the free hot lunches delivered three times per week. We rely on donations to keep this support available, however at times we do run very low on items.
“Some of the items which we regularly see people needing is larder foods, particularly things which are easy to make with limited cooking facilities, as well as coffee, long life milk, pet food, toiletries and baby food.
“This donation will allow us to restock with items from local suppliers and retailers which in turn will be donated back into the local community. We often see customers who desperately need specific one-off items such as warm hats or gloves, washing powder, or a kettle so they can make themselves a hot drink, and this donation will give us the funds to help these people too.
“At times we can be low on fresh products or meat items to produce the free lunches, and this will also give us the flexibility to help with these purchases. We are extremely grateful for this support.”
Mark Hadfield, operations manager at Inverness Street Pastors said: “Inverness Street Pastors are delighted to have access to some additional resources for helping vulnerable people through this scheme.
“Our patrols in the city centre in both the daytime and the night often encounter those who have become vulnerable or who are vulnerable long-term. The problems our country is experiencing mean that more and more people find themselves in difficulty, often unexpectedly and unsure where to turn for assistance.
“Our Street Pastors give their time freely in public, accessible spaces in order to listen, to care, and to help. This new scheme, arising from existing partnership work in the city, provides some additional ways for us to offer help that is both practical and relevant for those who find themselves in genuine crisis.”
