Haven Centre Celebrates Its First Birthday!
The Haven Centre celebrated its first birthday on 25th August after a fantastic year of development and growth. The Elsie Normington Foundation staff team has grown from 2 to 5 and our partners, SNAP, who run the play centre services, have also seen their own staff team grow.
The Haven Suites, run by the Elsie Normington Foundation, have facilitated a number of short breaks, overnight stays, emergency respite and independent skills sessions with families from the Isle of Lewis, Brora, Fort Augustus, Nairn, Inverness-shire and many other places in between.
The Suites provide a lifeline to families, such as the family of Robbie Burgess, pictured across, enjoying his time in the Haven Suites.
He stays overnight at the Haven Suites two times per month, providing much-needed respite to his family.
“Robbie absolutely loves the Haven Suites and sleeps better there than he does at home!” notes Emma Burgess, Robbie’s mother. “There’s so much space for him to do what he wants and he’s so, so happy there.”
The Haven Cafe has had a successful first year, welcoming centre users, members of the public and the local community to enjoy homemade treats, coffees, lunches and snacks. The cafe operates 5 days a week and is staffed by our cafe manager Cheryl, her assistant Flora and a wonderful team of volunteers.
All money made in the cafe is invested back into the charity to help the Elsie Normington Foundation keep developing the services for the young disabled in the Highlands.
SNAP, who run the day centre, have launched a number of new services and initiatives during their first year at the Haven.
Dawn Walker, CEO of SNAP, said, “As we celebrate one year at the Haven Centre, SNAP are just delighted to have been able to expand our services with the support of the Elsie Normington Foundation. Being here has allowed us to create so many more opportunities for children and young people in Highland with learning disabilities or complex needs to have a place where they feel they belong, while having fun in a supportive atmosphere.”
Elsie Normington, Chair and Founder of the Elsie Normington Foundation, said, “We remain ever humble and thankfuly for the support shown for our charity by the local community and beyond as we have navigated our first year of operation. We are a small charity with big ambitions and will continue to develop and deliver new projects in the Highlands which will support local children and young adults with learning disabilities, and their parents and carers.”
At our first birthday party, staff and supporters of the Haven Centre gathered together to share in the cutting of the cake and celebrate together the successes of the first year.
Thank you to the Inverness Courier for attending the birthday party and for taking the pictures.