Our story
How one family’s experience grew into a decade-long appeal, and into Scotland’s first purpose-built centre of its kind.
How one family’s experience grew into a decade-long appeal, and into Scotland’s first purpose-built centre of its kind.
Where it began
Elsie Normington’s son, Andrew, was diagnosed with a severe and intractable form of epilepsy when he was four. Caring for him showed Elsie how little specialist support there was for families like hers in the Highlands and Islands.
She wrote about those years in her book, The Silent Doorbell, and it became the start of a long campaign for better services and facilities for children and young adults with severe learning disabilities and complex needs.
Andrew now lives a happy, fulfilled life in his own home, with full support.
The Haven Appeal
It took more than a decade, a community of supporters and some major funders to turn Elsie’s vision into a building.
2012
The Elsie Normington Foundation is set up.
2013
Charitable status is granted in May and fundraising begins.
2014
The Haven vision is launched at a choir event at Eden Court Theatre.
2015
First grants fund the development phase and architectural plans begin. The Highland Council buys the plot and holds it for the charity.
2018
The Robertson Trust pledges £380,000, our first major grant.
2020
The Lottery committee agrees a large grant.
2021
A Scottish Government grant completes the fundraising target.
2022
On 9 March, the first spade goes in the ground and building work begins.
2023
On 23 August, the Haven Centre officially opens its doors.
Every stage of the appeal relied on people giving their time, money and support, from local fundraisers and volunteers to trusts, foundations and public funders. We’re grateful to everyone who helped build the Centre, and to everyone who keeps it going today.
Made possible by our community
The Haven Centre today
The Centre opened on 23 August 2023. Today it brings together short-break suites, a specialist Play Centre, a community café and a developing community garden, used by families and professionals from across the Highlands and Islands.
Staff and trustees with lived experience of caring for a disabled child or young person continue to guide how it runs.
Looking ahead
Over the next three years, we want to build partnerships with organisations and people who share our values, so that together we can reach more families across the Highlands and Islands.
We don’t want to replace the good work already happening in the region. We want to bring people together, and make the Haven Centre a place where families, carers and organisations can work side by side.
Be part of the next chapter
The Haven Centre was built on community support, and it still relies on it. A donation of any size helps keep our spaces open, accessible and welcoming for the families who need them.
You can also give your time. Volunteers help in our café, garden and around the Centre, and even an hour a week makes a difference.