New training academy in Highland capital to help people develop skills for rapidly changing jobs market
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Charity New Start Highland hopes a new training project will help tackle poverty, homelessness and long-term unemployment in the region.
The new training academy will be located at its base in Carsegate Road North and aims to support more than 150 people next year.
The organisation is working with Highland Council, Inverness College UHI and local employers and funding has been provided by Scottish and Southern Energy under the Highland Sustainable Fund.
New Start Highland chief executive James Dunbar said training would be tailored to individual needs and could include warehouse training, delivery and administration.
“The aim is to support people back into work and skill people up to do different work,” he said.
“We want to do our bit in offering the skills we can to help people.
“One of the best ways to deal with poverty is to get a job and in my experience, most people want to work and just need the skills to get a job.”
The length of training will vary.
“What we are trying to do is offer wrap-around support depending on the individual,” Mr Dunbar said.
Reflecting on a challenging year amid the coronavirus pandemic, he said New Start Highland had also provided a mental health ‘first aid’ service for its users who are struggling.
“We work with people experiencing the most vulnerability in society – those in poverty, in crisis, those meeting challenges with mental health, substance misuse, loneliness and isolation,” he explained.
“Lockdown was difficult for those of us fortunate enough to enjoy stability and comfort in our daily lives. But for others, the pandemic catapulted people already struggling into a truly dark place.
“As an organisation, we were privileged to be a lifeline to many, providing a listening ear and practical support to some, access to furniture and essential items such as food, data and energy top-ups to others.”
It also set up a food hub, delivering the equivalent of 30,000 meals and toiletries via about 40 community groups and social ventures across the Highlands.
It also supplies prepaid energy keys and phone cards, for local distribution.
The scheme received £55,000 from the Scottish Government’s wellbeing fund and donations from supermarkets.
Other projects it is exploring include promoting the availability of cycling, whether it is through the Cycle2Work scheme, a pool of bikes or a bike hire venture.
“These are times of huge and rapid change,” he said.
“We can choose to be daunted or to be inspired.”
