New Start Highland starts work in Inverness in £500k project to develop Scotland’s first training and reuse village

Construction work has started on creating Scotland’s first training and reuse village in Inverness.

The charity, New Start Highland, is marking its 25th anniversary by embarking on the £500,000 project to reconfigure its site at Carsegate into a vibrant hub.

It is set to open later this year and will feature pre-loved retail outlets, a bike repair hub, a tool library, a café and a training kitchen.

The venture, which comes against the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis, is expected to create up to 40 new trainee and employment opportunities annually - building on the support New Start Highland offers to more than 1500 people each year.

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The training and reuse village is a longstanding vision of New Start Highland’s founding chief executive James Dunbar.

“New Start Highland was founded 25 years ago to support people experiencing crisis, in many forms, including poverty, homelessness, mental health, social isolation and long-term unemployment,” he said.

“The opening of the training and reuse village represents a pivotal point in our journey, and will provide an environment where people can learn, thrive and build confidence and skills that pave the way to a brighter future.”

He said 24 per cent of children in Scotland currently live in poverty.

“We need more training opportunities open to parents so they can be supported to lift themselves out of crisis and give their children better lives,” Mr Dunbar said.

“We are committed to driving meaningful change by providing support services, collaborating with partner organisations, and addressing critical issues such as poverty and homelessness.

“Beyond this, we strive to foster a cultural shift from disposability to ethical reuse.

“The New Start Highland training and reuse village is a testament to this mission, made possible by our team and very generous funders, to whom I am deeply grateful.”

Thousands of people needing help have passed through New Start Highland’s doors in the past 25 years.

In the past year, the charity has served the local community over 129,000 times.

Patrick Mills, who spent six years serving in the army, went to New Start Highland as a volunteer to work in the upholstery workshop after suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - and has now found a haven there.

"I was referred to New Start Highland through the NHS when life had become difficult, and I had nowhere else to turn,” he said.

“I knew going into mainstream employment would not be possible and through the volunteer programme I was able to pick an area to learn and work in at my own pace.

“Having been previously taught to sew by my mum, I was drawn to upholstery and with the unwavering support of the team, I have now grown my confidence, skills and feel like I have purpose and life has structure again.

“New Start Highland, and my workshop in particular, is a haven, a place for me to express myself creatively and undoubtedly is at the centre of my improved mental wellbeing.

“I can now look to the future with positivity and hope, with a goal that one day I will be able to use my experiences to help others on a similar path."

The training and reuse village has been made possible by several funders including Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Foundation Scotland - Social Investment, the Wolfson Foundation, Randal Foundation, FCC Scottish Action Fund, Inverness Common Good Fund, The Hugh Fraser Foundation, The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation, Great Glen Energy Co-op Fund administered by Foundation Scotland and the Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust.

Although construction is under way, people can still visit the charity’s office or shops.

New Start Highland, which started out in 2000 by supplying homeware starter packs, grew to supply furniture, employability training and housing support.

In 2008, the charity evolved into a social enterprise launching services, including retail, removals, storage, house clearances and fulfilment, which fund its charitable aims of alleviating poverty.

Reuse is core to its mission and since inception, it has diverted 10,000 tonnes of furniture from landfill.

To find out how to get involved with New Start Highland, and keep up to date with developments at the training and reuse village, visit newstarthighland.org or follow it on social media.

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