Housing Action Visit to Inverness

Tuesday September 22

^{Brian Graham, Vice-Convener of Scottish Churches Housing Action, and Mairi Macauley, Deputy Chief Executive of New Start Highland, in the New Start bike shop}

Representatives of Scottish Churches Housing Action visited Inverness last week to see the work done by one of their supported projects, New Start Highland.

SCHA board member the Rev Douglas MacKeddie, deputy convener Brian Graham and chief executive Alastair Cameron visited the New Start base and met staff, trainees and volunteers.

Mr Cameron said: “This year Scottish Churches Housing Action has marked our 20^th anniversary.  To mark this milestone, we have decided to visit the various projects we have worked with over the years.  We’re delighted to include New Start HIghland on our itinerary.”

New Start Highland, which marks its 15th anniversary this year, has a mission to create opportunities for people to experience the right support, at the right time in the right environment in order for them to transform their lives. 

Through a programme of re-use New Start Highland provides furniture and household items, which not only has social implications but impacts in a positive way for the environment.

With the housing support and training services, and the furniture re-use programme New Start Highland last year saved the public purse over £1million.

The chief executive of New Start Highland, James Dunbar, said: “As both organisations mark significant anniversaries – the 20th year for Scottish Churches Housing Action, and the 15th for New Start Highland - it is important not only to reflect on what we’ve achieved but also continually adapt for to the future.

“Scottish Churches Housing Action had a pivotal support role in the creation of New Start Highland.   It is only by working with organisations like this one that we can achieve New Start Highland’s vision of a future where people in Northern Scotland live free from hardship and crisis.  At New Start Highland, by working on a one to one basis and addressing each person’s unique circumstances we believe that each person can be equipped to become the solution in their own lives.”

SCHA is a joint initiative of 12 Scottish denominations which supports loca anti-homelessness projects around the country.

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