Boost for vulnerable people as the Hive goes on tour
AN ambitious community-led scheme that is transforming the lives of the vulnerable, lonely and depressed hopes to roll out to sites across Ross-shire after announcing plans for its first ever satellite service.
The Hive project was launched in Inverness last December as part of the successful Mikeysline advice and support line.
Designed as a sanctuary and open six-days-a-week, The Hive offers a café, consultation and advice service for anyone over the age of 17 who feels they need help.
It has been modelled on facilities south of the border where there has been a marked reduction in the number of people suffering depression attending accident and emergency units.
But conscious of the difficulties many vulnerable people having in making the journey into Inverness, those behind the initiative hope to launch a number of satellite drop-in sessions so residents can access the same support wherever they may live.
And the first drop-in event is set to take place in Fortrose next week – with Alness likely to follow in the near future.
The Hive’s manager Stephen Reid explained that the service wanted to reach out and help all Highlanders, but was aware that the existing Inverness site – which is open from 6pm to 10pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from noon to 10pm at weekends – poses problems for those without their own transport.
"This [satellite service] has been in the pipeline for the last couple of months or so," he said.
"The long-term plan is to get out to as many of the Highlands’ communities as we can. And we want to drum up interest among locals. If somebody is from say, Beauly, and doesn’t drive then they’ve got to rely on the bus to get [to the Inverness site] which just has to be a nightmare.
"We just want to do a bit more in the wider area."
The idea behind the new drop-in sessions will be for volunteers at The Hive to set up and run the initial events in the hope that local supporters will then get involved and gradually take over their operation. This would allow the Hive to then open up additional sessions elsewhere in the Highlands and repeat the process.
Local MSP Kate Forbes has welcomed the plans.
"I was recently at a meeting discussing the rates of suicide and was so saddened to hear that three quarters of those who commit suicide are men and many of them are young," she said.
"It goes without saying that anything we can do to get alongside vulnerable people, particularly young men, is of infinite value. So I’m really pleased to hear that the Mikeysline Hive outreach project is coming to the Black Isle, and also that they hope to reach other parts of the Highlands too."
The Fortrose drop-in session will take place in Fortrose Community Centre next Tuesday from 6pm to 9.30pm.
