PICTURES: Festive fiddlers provide magical moments in Inverness as part of homeless charity campaign
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A festive feast and fiddler fun helped to create some magical moments for homeless children and adults in Inverness this Christmas.
Right There, a charity which helps prevent homelessness, is creating ‘Magical Moments’ in Inverness as part of a festive campaign aimed at giving people going through hard times, special moments for the festive season and beyond.
The charity is hoping to spread the message of goodwill and community kindness through a series of festive fun experiences for the children and adults being supported across four locations – including Inverness.
And as part of that work, the charity brought its festive campaign to Inverness today (Wednesday) with fiddlers performing Christmas classics and adding some festive magic in the city’s Eastgate Shopping Centre.
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Douglas Stuart, from Inverness Fiddlers, said: "We are very pleased to be able to support Right There’s Magical Moments and the work they do. A public event, presenting music in this way is an excellent way of raising the profile of the organisation."
He said the performance was one of many its kind-hearted members provide to charities, care homes and other groups throughout the year by providing music at events.
As well as festive fiddles, local restaurant the Mustard Seed provided a Christmas feast for 10 people supported by Right There.
Every year the charity supports around 4000 children, adults and families who are experiencing, or at risk of homelessness. Providing one-to-one tailored support, Right There offers safe places to live, along with emotional and practical help – from mentoring to housing advice and support in the community.
Sophie (25) has been supported by Right There’s In the Community Programme for the last year. She said: “When I was referred to Right There a year ago, that’s when things started to change for me. I was matched with my support worker, which I was really nervous about at the start, but I’m so glad I gave him a chance because we’ve accomplished outstanding amounts.
"Right There was like a new lifeline, I got to start over, it was like a second chance.”
Right There chief executive, Janet Haugh added: “Christmas is a time for family, friends and exchanging gifts, but sadly this is far from the reality for some of the people we support who are living with the effects of homelessness, poverty, or have been separated from their families.
“Every day our dedicated teams help people create life-changing moments in their lives. Be that a young person from care having a mentor to help achieve their goals or supporting an adult with a safe place to live so they can move on from the trauma of homelessness.
“The festive period can be an extremely challenging time for those without a safe place to call home, but we hope ‘Magical Moments’ will spread the magic of Christmas and enable people to create a lasting legacy that will help those who need it the most all year round.”
The ‘Magical Moments’ campaign launched last month in Glasgow at the charity’s Govan headquarters, where Children and young people supported by the charity enjoyed a Magical Moment Christmas Grotto of festive fun.
By creating ‘Magical Moments’, the charity is asking members of the public to give a gift that will last far beyond Christmas. By donating to Right There via its online campaign at rightthere.org, the charity said that everyone has the opportunity to change someone’s life for the better. You can also find out more about the charity's Magical Moments via the website or by following ‘Right There Org’ on social media.
