Two Inverness volunteers say they have got their “lives back” after teaming up with a Highland charity.
Things have dramatically changed for Neil Davidson and Mary-Anne Morrison since they started working with New Start Highland Gardens.
Mr Davidson, originally from Aberdeen, had previously been living “off grid” while Ms Morrison was recovering from a brain injury.
The charity helps people to live comfortably, free from hardship, crisis, and instability, with an aim of helping them make the “most of their potential”.
Through housing support, training programs, furniture reuse services, bike refurbishment and the New Start Gardens, it offers a number of opportunities for people “to experience personal transformation”.
‘The support is second to none’
When Neil Davidson landed in Inverness, he had been living between different cities across Scotland.
Mr Davidson, who has always had a passion for nature, building and creating, was pointed in the direction of the charity at a job centre.
He joined a supported work placement, which is giving him the tools, skills and experiences to achieve his dream of creating a communal living community in the Highlands.
He also spends a day a week in the joinery workshop, fixing up furniture and preparing pieces for upcycling.
He explained his time at the charity has been “life changing.”
He said: “The support and sense of community for people from different backgrounds is second to none here.
“I just don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t come in each day and be part of the team.
“Over the years I’ve come to realise that in life, people need community to be able to thrive. They need a connection to nature.
“The New Start Highland Gardens provide both and when combined, they can be pretty powerful and life changing.”
He also explained he would like to land a job in the organisation, as several former volunteers are now employed by the charity.
From breakdown and brain injury to ‘free from suffering’
Mary-Anne Morrison had a stressful, corporate job for many years which resulted in a traumatic breakdown, a brain injury and subsequent issues.
The 49-year-old had been on extended sick leave when her occupational therapist told her to explore volunteering opportunities.
She started a supported placement at the Inverness New Start Highland Gardens three years ago, which has helped her get “her life back.”
Ms Morrison said: “Without these gardens and these people, I would not be anywhere near where I have got to in my recovery journey.
“Me and my family will be forever grateful. I have my life back, I have purpose, I have balance and I don’t just have colleagues, I have true friends.”
She explained that volunteers “always look out for each other.”
“We’re always keeping an eye on one another, we’re like a close family.”
Charity has had incredible year
New Start Highland has four retail outlets located in Inverness, Thurso and Dingwall, and is marking one of its most successful years to date – helping people in the Highland community over 120,000 times in the last 12 months.
Retail turnover across the year to date has increased by 20% and the company has made significant staff investments including hiring a marketing and communications director to expand its leadership team.
James Dunbar, New Start Highland’s chief executive, said: “Against a backdrop of the ever-present cost of living crisis, this year has been one of our hardest to date, with more people than ever in need of our services.
“Through the hard work of our team and volunteers, we’ve been able to serve those who need us most with employability training, housing support, furniture packs and new bikes to name just a handful of what we deliver.
“I’m excited to put our ambitious growth plans into action over the coming months which will enable us to assist more people as they transition from challenging places in their lives to somewhere they can realise their potential.”
Conversation