Welcome to The Haven Centre
Scotland’s first purpose-built centre for children and young people with disabilities and complex needs, and their families. Short breaks, specialist play, a community café and garden, all in one welcoming space in Inverness.
Scotland’s first purpose-built centre for children and young people with disabilities and complex needs, and their families. Short breaks, specialist play, a community café and garden, all in one welcoming space in Inverness.
What is the Haven Centre?
The Haven Centre brings together four dedicated spaces for children and young people with disabilities, additional support needs and complex needs. Each one has been carefully created so they can rest, play, learn, build friendships and prepare for the future through meaningful work placements.
Together, these spaces help every child and young person grow in confidence, independence and wellbeing at their own pace, and feel valued and included in their community.
Haven Suites
Three self-contained suites for short breaks and respite stays, arranged through family carers or care providers. The ground-floor Jordan Suite is fully accessible, ideal for wheelchair users and families needing extra space. The Andrew and Sarah Suites are on the first floor.
Haven Play Centre
A specialist, purpose-built play space for children and young people with additional or complex support needs. Flexible open play areas, sensory spaces and a ball pit room in a secure, contained environment, plus a secure outdoor play area. The Play Centre is pre-booked, and families, professional groups and organisations can hire it as a shared community space.
Haven Café
A warm, welcoming community café on site, open to everyone. The café also creates volunteering, work experience and supported placements for young people with additional needs, including neurodivergent volunteers, who learn hospitality skills along the way.
Open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3pm.
Haven Community Garden
A community garden is in development at the Centre, promoting horticulture, wellbeing and time outdoors for the families and groups who use it. The project is led by a project manager and a team of local volunteers.
Four services, each designed to support disabled children and young people, their families and carers. Explore each one below.
What's at the Haven Centre?
Short breaks and respite suites
Three self-contained suites for short breaks and respite stays, arranged through family carers or care providers. Families describe these breaks as “life-changing”: time to rest and recharge, and a chance for young people to gain independence and confidence.
Key features:
- Self-contained suites with kitchen/diner and living areas
- Safe, homely and private
- Ground-floor Jordan Suite is fully accessible, with a wet room and extra space for wheelchairs and equipment
- Andrew and Sarah Suites are on the first floor
- For young people up to age 30
Who is the Haven Centre for?
The Haven Centre is for children and young people with disabilities, additional support needs and complex needs, and for their families, carers and the professionals who work with them. Every part of the Centre was designed with this community in mind, from the Play Centre to the suites used for short breaks.
The Haven Centre was built with accessibility at the heart of its design. The Play Centre is fully accessible, with accessible toilet facilities on site. The Jordan Suite offers ground-floor accessible accommodation with a wet room, shower seat and extra space for wheelchair users and families with more complex equipment needs. If you have specific access requirements, let us know when you enquire and we’ll do our best to help.
Accessibility at the Haven Centre
Meetings, training and professional use
Charities, carer networks, health and therapy professionals and training providers who support disabled children, young people and their families are welcome to enquire about using our spaces for meetings, training sessions and information events. Catering is available from the Haven Café on request.
Built by families, for families
The Haven Centre began with campaigner Elsie Normington. After raising her son, Andrew, who has a learning disability, Elsie saw that families caring for children and young people with complex needs in the Highlands had nowhere dedicated to turn for support, respite or understanding.
She founded the Elsie Normington Foundation in 2013. After a decade of remarkable community fundraising, supported by grants and trusts, the Haven Centre opened its doors in August 2023. That lived experience still shapes how the Centre runs today, with staff and trustees who know first-hand what it means to care for a disabled child or young person.
Get in touch
Whether you’re a family looking for a short break or a play session, or a professional looking for the right space for your service, our team can help with the next steps.
Families travel to us in Smithton, Inverness, from across the Highlands and Islands. We’re easy to reach from the A9 and A96, with free parking on site.
Help us support more families
Every donation helps young people play, connect, grow in independence and experience joy, while giving families the respite they need to keep going.
Your support funds:
- Accessible play and sensory spaces
- Short-break accommodation
- Volunteering and work experience placements
- Community programmes
- Future development across the Highlands and Islands
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Our Fair Work Commitment
We are committed to Fair Work and to a workplace built on effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect. We’re proud to pay at least the Real Living Wage and to offer fair, inclusive and supportive working practices for everyone on our team.