PICTURES: Inaugural ceilidh night at Haven Centre community cafe in Highland capital
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Cake, coffee and chat were among the ingredients for a successful inaugural ceilidh night at an Inverness community cafe.
The event was held at the pioneering Haven Centre which supports young people with complex needs in the Highlands and their families.
The cafe ceilidh is set to be held on a monthly basis, providing people with a chance to meet up with friends as well as collecting donations for the centre which opened last August.
Based in Murray Road in Smithton, it is Scotland's first purpose-built centre of its kind and features play facilities, respite suites and a garden as well as the community cafe which is open to members of the public and all who use the centre.
The inaugural ceilidh attracted people from Smithton and Culloden, and visitors from across the city while The Fiddle Folk band, a group of friends who get together regularly, entertained with their music.
Rona Matheson, development officer for the Haven, said the cafe was alive with chat, clapping and even a dance.
"The evening had a lovely atmosphere," she said.
"We are most grateful to all our volunteers who baked, served tea and coffee and especially to Eric Allan and his band who are helping us to get these evenings up and running.
"Thank you to all who came along and shared that they would be back for the next one.
"We invite other musicians to get in touch if they would like to come and play. All ages are welcome."
The next one will be held on Thursday April 4 from 7.30pm to 9pm.
It comes at a time when the Elsie Normington Foundation – the charity behind the centre which took 10 years and £4.8 million to achieve – had a devastating blow after being told it will not receive expected funding of £136,544 from the Scottish Government.
