The Play Centre will have both indoor and outdoor facilities. The Centre will provide educational, social and fun play for children who have high additional support needs and the Elsie Normington Foundation will encourage integration with local school children where possible. This will encourage equality and diversity within the area and throughout the Highlands. The Play Centre will also provide after school clubs, week-end clubs and summer play schemes. It is hoped that Direct Childcare will deliver these services.

In order to integrate the Haven Centre into the local community, a community café will be created. Local residents and associations will be encouraged to utilise the centre. This facility will be managed by local voluntary organisations and will deliver social enterprise opportunities. The project will be supported by volunteers and young adults. It will be run as a viable community business and profits will be utilised to assist the Centre’s activities. Young adults with multiple disabilities and complex needs will be able to socialise and make friends and develop some independent living skills.

As part of the day-to-day running of the centre, young adults will be provided with supported employment opportunities.  This will encourage and train young adults who are in transition from school into the adult world.  These experiences will form a key part in their development.

As part of the Haven Centre, provision will be made for three respite flats to enable parents and carers to have short breaks while their child is being cared for. These services are currently not available for those who live in rural Highland communities when they are visiting Inverness.  This means that our flats will transform the lives of parents, carers and children across the Highlands. In particular, the respite facilities will provide parents with a well-deserved break from their arduous day-to-day caring regime.  The flats will also give the children a short holiday in a safe environment where they will be cared for and they will be able to participate in activities that are appropriate for them.

The Centre will provide supported accommodation for young adults as they leave home and gain longer-term independence in a secure and supported environment. These eight supported flats are for this purpose and will be built by Highland Council.

The Centre will provide supported accommodation for young adults as they leave home and gain longer-term independence in a secure and supported environment. These eight supported flats are for this purpose and will be built by Highland Council.