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Ross County stars perform official opening of mental health charity Mikeysline's new base at Am Bothan Community Café at Skiach near Evanton


By Gregor White

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Ross County players Tom Grivosti and Connor Randall with Steven Ferguson, Mikeysline's Donna Smith and Norma Macleod of An Bothan Community Café. Picture: Callum Mackay
Ross County players Tom Grivosti and Connor Randall with Steven Ferguson, Mikeysline's Donna Smith and Norma Macleod of An Bothan Community Café. Picture: Callum Mackay

Leading Highland mental health charity Mikeysline is extending the support it is able to offer.

Steven Ferguson, chief executive of Ross County FC, accompanied players on a visit to Am Bothan Community Café, by Skiach at Evanton, to officially open Mikeysline’s latest initiative.

Already well-known for its Highland-wide text support service and the Hive drop-in centre in Inverness, the Evanton service is open to all ages on Saturdays from 1-5pm with a space at the back of the café accessible by a separate entrance to ensure privacy.

Offering one-to-one appointments for anyone who requires a confidential, non-judgmental place to talk and be listened to, Mikeysline staff and volunteers can also signpost those in need to other relevant organisations.

Mr Ferguson was recently named as an ambassador for the charity. He said: “We have all seen the impact Covid-19 has had on mental health and for an organisation like Mikeysline to spread its wings further north is a huge asset and boost to the Highlands.”

“The level of service and the importance of the service Mikeysline provides is vital to helping people right across the Highlands and Ross County, and myself personally, are proud to support the Mikeysline team in this new project.”

Mikeysline chairwoman Donna Smith said: “We are delighted to have been able to extend our face to face support outwith Inverness as part of our strategy to form new outreach Hives in local community settings where we feel they are needed.

“Our new Hive at Am Bothan Community Café offers a different model to our established Hive in Inverness and access to support during the day at the weekend in response to the results of our recent local surveys.”

Café director Norma Macleod said: “Inviting Mikeysline to become part of our community hub seemed like an obvious and natural fit for everyone.

“The crucial help available from Mikeysline is invaluable and forms an important part of tackling mental health struggles.

“Our community hub can also help in other ways, by providing safe spaces for community groups and events that offer social integration.

“Together we are delivering support to our local communities to tackle isolation and despair felt by so many since the pandemic.”

Appointments for the Saturday service can be booked at https://calendly.com/mikeysline/outreachhive or you can drop in for a chat.

Alongside face-to-face support, Mikeysline also offers live chat, Twitter and Messenger support – as well as a text line service at 07786 207755.

In addition a new base has also recently been set up for young people in Tain, operating from the town’s Tesco branch on Wednesday evenings.


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