New Start Highland Receives £210,000 Grant from Garfield Weston Foundation to Expand Supported Work Placement Program
Inverness, Scotland – New Start Highland, a charity based in Inverness, has received a generous grant of £210,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation. This funding will allow the organization to expand its supported work placement program and reach more individuals in need.
New Start Highland provides support and assistance to vulnerable families and individuals in the community. Their services include practical work experience and qualifications to help individuals achieve employment. Through volunteer and placement opportunities, the charity helps people gain essential life skills and build relationships, particularly for those struggling with mental health issues, loneliness, or social isolation.
James Dunbar, chief executive of New Start Highland, expressed his gratitude for the grant, saying, “We are very proud of our supported placement program, which helps break down barriers to personal progression. Currently, there is an unprecedented need for this type of support service. It is delivered by a brilliant mix of employees, trainers, mentors, and peers.”
He added, “We have seen real transformations in the people who have completed placements with us, whether they’ve been working in our gardens, workshops, warehouses, shops, or offices. We are hugely grateful for this funding, which will allow us to continue these placements so more people can learn skills and gain confidence, enabling them to start their journey towards a brighter future.”
New Start Highland has helped countless individuals like Mary-Anne Morrison, who was referred to the organization by her occupational therapist. “New Start Highland has saved me,” she said. “Without these gardens and these people, I would not be anywhere near where I have got to in my recovery journey. I am forever grateful, my family will be forever grateful. I have my life back, I have purpose, I have balance, and I don’t just have colleagues, I have true friends.”
Neil Davidson, a volunteer at the Gardens and joinery workshop, echoed Mary-Anne’s sentiment. He said, “The support and sense of community for people from different backgrounds are second to none here. I just don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have the sense of purpose to come in each day and be part of the team.”
He continued, “Over the years I’ve come to realise that in life, people need community to be able to thrive. They need a connection to nature. The New Start Highland Gardens provide both, and when combined, they can be pretty powerful and life-changing.”
New Start Highland has five retail outlets located in Inverness, Thurso, and Dingwall, with plans for expansion in the near future. Last year alone, the shops, which provide low and no-cost furniture and household items, saw over 80,000 visitors. All items in-store are diverted from landfills, benefiting not only the environment but also thousands of families in need.
The organization’s various enterprise activities, including removals, storage, and house clearances, generate profits that are reinvested back into the charity to fund its services. In the past year, New Start Highland has served the Highland community over 103,000 times, diverted 9,000 items from landfills, and distributed 540 furniture packs. In the last month, the charity has supported 265 households in maintaining their tenancies.
To learn more about New Start Highland and how to get involved, please visit their website at newstarthighland.org.
Media Contact:
Marion Cordiner
marion@newstarthighland.org
07368 594 724
About New Start Highland:
New Start Highland is a dynamic and evolving organization founded by James Dunbar in 2000. The charity is committed to a triple bottom line, where social and environmental factors are just as important as financial outcomes. Their services include furniture and household item re-use, housing support, and employment training to help individuals overcome barriers to employment. With a multitude of services, New Start Highland has saved the public purse millions since its inception.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.