New Start Highland flags hardest – but most successful – year to date as cost of living crisis continues to bite
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A HIGHLAND charity which tackles poverty, homelessness and long-term unemployment has had one of its hardest – but most successful – years.
New Start Highland, whose enterprises include a retail unit in Dingwall, says more people than ever need its services amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
During the past 12 months, it has served people in the Highland community over 120,000 times.
Retail turnover at its four retail outlets in Inverness, Dingwall and Thurso has increased by 20 per cent and the company has made significant staff investments including hiring a marketing and communications director.
James Dunbar, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Against a backdrop of the ever-present cost of living crisis, this year has been one of our hardest to date, with more people than ever in need of our services.
“Through the hard work of our team and volunteers, we’ve been able to serve those who need us most with employability training, housing support, furniture packs and new bikes to name just a handful of what we deliver.
“We’ve seen a marked increase in footfall across our retail units as well.”
He said he was excited to be putting ambitious growth plans into action in the coming months to help more people as they transitioned from challenging places in their lives to somewhere they could realise their potential.
Profits from the charity’s enterprise activities are reinvested back into the organisation, to help fund its charitable services.
This year, it has facilitated 238 training courses, delivered 922 furniture packs, serviced 1000 bikes and upcycled almost 2000 pieces of furniture. It has also managed the re-use of 60,000 household items, made over 2000 furniture collections and delivered 45,000 meals.
To find out how you can donate furniture or get involved with New Start Highland, please visit newstarthighland.org
What is New Start Highland?
New Start Highland is a dynamic and evolving organisation which was set up by James Dunbar in 2000. It is committed to "a triple bottom line" where social and environmental factors are just as important as financial outcomes.
Through a programme of re-use New Start Highland provides furniture and household items, with aims for social implications as well as positive environmental impacts.
The social issues tackled by New Start Highland are three-fold. Along with furniture and household item re-use, a housing support service is in place, combined with a programme of employment training, helping people in the community who face barriers to securing a job. Through its multitude of services, New Start Highland has saved the public purse millions of pounds since its inception.
New Start Highland Enterprises funds the organisation’s charitable activities. It includes a refurbished bike outlet in Inverness and runs professional, commercial services such as order fulfilment, house clearance, removals and storage services operating in the wider Highland area.
