'Unprecedented challenges' forcing Fèis Rois flit in Dingwall sparks big-hearted hook-up to help sight-impaired people

Two Highland charities are hoping that a recent office move will result in new possibilities for collaborative working.

Due to rising costs and in a bid to reduce overheads, traditional arts organisation, Fèis Rois, has relocated from its Dingwall High Street office to Robertson House, Greenhill Street, which it now shares with Sight Action, a charity which provides support and rehabilitation to blind and visually impaired adults and children throughout the Highlands and Islands.

Fèis Rois enables people of all ages to access, participate in and enjoy traditional music and the Gaelic language through a diverse programme of activities, including weekly classes, residential music events, a summer Ceilidh Trail, The Lullaby Project, formal education projects in schools, The Kiltearn Fiddlers and much more.

Committed to projects that promote equality, diversity and inclusion, Fèis Rois has strong links with a British-Romanian charity working to support blind and visually impaired people in Romania.

For more than 10 years, young musicians from Ross-shire have travelled to Romania to work with sight-impaired people through the charity, Light into Europe, in Bucharest. Highland musicians have provided a unique sensory experience through concerts and music-making workshops.

It is hoped that working in an office alongside Sight Action, which moved from its Inverness office to Dingwall in August 2022, could result in similar music-making opportunities for sight-impaired people slightly closer to home.

Fèis Rois chief executive, Fiona Dalgetty said: “The cultural sector, and the third sector more widely, are facing unprecedented challenges with rising costs, standstill levels of grant funding, and earned income that has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. I am delighted that Sight Action has welcomed Fèis Rois as a sub-tenant of Robertson House where we can share costs and support each other through this challenging period.”

Musician and Fèis Rois board member, Duncan Chisholm said: “This is an incredibly positive move for both charities. Fèis Rois is known for its creativity and innovation, and I look forward to seeing a new partnership develop between these two important Highland organisations over the coming months and years.”

Gillian Mitchell, executive manager of Sight Action added: “Sight Action is delighted to be working closely with such a worthy established charity, which shares a vision of possibilities for collaborative working. Our joint work will enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired adults and children in the Highlands and Western Isles.”

For more information about Fèis Rois and events taking place in 2023, please visit www.feisrois.org.

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