Highland disability services to be ‘enhanced’ following link-up between The Elsie Normington Foundation, Special Needs Action Project (SNAP), Thriving Families, Connecting Carers, and Encompass Caithness to form new Haven Consortium
Leading Highland charities have joined forces in a bid to enhance disability services in the region.
The five groups have formed a partnership to the launch of the Haven Consortium - which they claim promises to be a “groundbreaking initiative” aimed at improving the lives of young people with disabilities and their families across the Highlands.
Formed of The Elsie Normington Foundation, Special Needs Action Project (SNAP), Thriving Families, Connecting Carers, and Encompass Caithness, the consortium believes their collective efforts will “create a powerful, united force that will work collaboratively to provide better, more effective support services/”
By sharing resources, strategies, and expertise, the Haven Consortium said it aims to drive “measurable, long-term positive change” for individuals and families facing the challenges of disability.
Elsie Normington, chair of the Elsie Normington Foundation said: "The Elsie Normington Foundation recognised the fantastic work being done by the individual charities involved in the consortium and wanted to harness this and work together to make a greater impact.
“The charities involved with the consortium will work together to attract funding to affect real change in service provision for young people living with a disability and their families and carers, across the Highlands.
“Our focus is on solutions and not problems and we are very excited about this positive step in securing better outcomes for young people living with a disability in the Highlands.”
For users, the consortium said the partnership will not only mean more accessible services, but also ones more responsive to their needs. They added that, through the Haven Consortium, families will “benefit from streamlined services, a network of compassionate support, and a coordinated approach to addressing the gaps in current provision”.
The consortium will officially launch on Monday afternoon at the Haven Centre Café in Inverness.
Elsie Normington will start proceedings on the day providing an insight into her inspiration for the Haven Consortium and her vision for it to be the vehicle for real change in the Highlands.
Attendees will also hear from each charity partner and learn about the vital work they do in the Highlands and what inclusion in the consortium means for them. The launch will be rounded off by a question and answer session.
