Haven Centre for young people with learning disabilities and complex needs will benefit families across the Highlands
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A new multi-purpose centre will be for ALL families in need across the Highlands.
That was the promise from the main driving force behind the creation of the Haven Centre.
Currently taking shape in the Smithton area of Inverness the £4.1 million centre is due to open next spring comprising three two-bedroom respite flats for young adults up to the age of 30 with learning disabilities and complex needs; an indoor specialist play centre with childcare facilities; meeting spaces; outdoor garden and community café.
The project is being led by the Elsie Normington Foundation and on Wednesday founder and chairperson Elsie Normington was in Ullapool to meet with local parents, teachers, health and social care workers and all professionals involved in special needs to share the vision with them.
Speaking to the Ross-shire Journal, sister paper to the Northern Times, beforehand she was keen to emphasise that it was for families from across the Highlands and Islands, not just those based in and around the Highland capital.
“That has always been my vision right from the beginning – we very much want to see people coming in from the rural areas to use the centre,” Mrs Normington said.
“Inverness is a real hub with people coming in to do shopping, or for the weekend. I hope that they’ll then be able to leave their disabled children at the centre and go and have a bit of free time and enjoy that.
“It’s particularly children that have got very severe disabilities because to be honest they’re the ones that have no voice. Who is speaking up for them?
“So it’s very much about severely disabled children and providing a meaningful play service for them.
“But also parents – there will be a coffee shop there, and people can connect with other parents. We will have family play sessions as well where folk can hook up and we hope there will be a lot of synergy that will happen in relationships.”
A similar meeting will be held in Wick next week.
Construction began in March and the project has received support from the Scottish Government, the National Lottery Community Fund and Highland Council.
“These are the main funders but there have been a lot of small grants as well and a huge amount of community fundraising,” Mrs Normington said.
As the first sod was cut Inverness and Nairn MP Drew Hendry said: “In the Highlands, we’ve long had a reputation for being caring and compassionate, and initiatives such as the Haven Centre speak to that.
“One of the lessons I think we’ve all learned during the pandemic is that respite from the stresses of our lives is incredibly important in today’s world, and it’s something we should embrace.
“As we recover and rebuild, it’s fantastic to see programmes with this message at the heart of what they do, like this one, brought to life.”
Work is progressing well on the centre and it is hoped it will be finished by April next year. The principal contractor is Compass Building and Construction Services.
“It’s a flurry of activity, that is all I can say,” Mrs Normington said.
Meanwhile, the Elsie Normington Foundation is approaching its 10th anniversary.
“Next month I’m going to have a small celebration dinner with past and present trustees because it was November in 2012 that I had my first-ever meeting to set up the charity,” Mrs Normington explained. “So it has been 10 years in the making and now it’s all being constructed and it’s very exciting.
“It’s been a big journey.”
See here for more information about the Haven Centre
See here for details of the Elsie NormingotnFoundation
