Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has been given an insight into work being carried out by social enterprises in the Inverness area during visits to two organisations in the city.
Kate Forbes visited the Castle Street offices of Impact Hub Inverness which specialises in delivering support to social enterprises.
She also visited Àban, an outdoor education charity and award-winning social enterprise based in Grant Street, Merkinch.
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Àban runs Scotland’s only independent Duke of Edinburgh Open Award group and weekly free-to-access outdoor youth groups for biking, mountaineering, and open water swimming while its commercial operation – including an outdoor equipment charity shop – helps pay for the activities.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes hears about the work of Aban.Scotland’s Deputy First Minister meets gear hub lead Morag Skelton and Aban chief executive Johannes Petersen.
During her visit Ms Forbes met two young participants from Inverness High School.
Johannes Petersen, chief executive of Àban, said it had been a successful visit during which the Deputy First Minister heard at first hand from current pupils, staff and trustees.
Funding was also discussed – Àban forecasts its turnover for 2025 will be £285,000, of which only £60,000 is grant income. The remainder is from trading.
“The Deputy First Minister clearly had an understanding of outdoor education and its benefits,” Mr Petersen said.
“She heard of the massive benefits to young people especially those experiencing anxiety.
“It seems to be an anxious generation and outdoor adventures especially with friends in nature without smart phones and social media can be a powerful way to address those anxieties.”
The visit by the Deputy First Minister to Aban was a great morale boost.
Mr Petersen said Àban had existed less than five years.
“To have the Deputy First Minister visit us was a great morale boost to everyone and recognition of what we have achieved in a short space of time,” he said.
Since it was an idea in someone’s mind to various stages of its development, Àban is one of the enterprises which has received help from Impact Hub Inverness which Ms Forbes also visited.
Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes visits Impact Hub Inverness in Castle Street. Also pictured are Clarrie Murdoch, Brian Weaver, Chloe Ross and Polly Chapman, Karen Maclean-Yuille.
Set up at the end of 2003, Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone (HISEZ) has been delivering support to social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands for 21 years.
In 2017, it joined the100-plus international network of Impact Hubs, and now trades as Impact Hub Inverness.
From initially piloting a business support programme for social enterprises in the region, its work has expanded to include running a co-working space and affordable offices in the centre of Inverness, and working at an international level as well as continuing to work with social enterprises and communities in the north of Scotland.
It said Scottish Government investment, initially into the HISEZ pilot and for the last 14 years through the Just Enterprise contract, had been invaluable to its and the sector’s, growth.
In October the organisation opened a second base in Academy Street in a bid to tackle growing demand for affordable office space.
The Deputy First Minister hears about how Impact Hub Inverness is helping social enterprises.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: ““To enhance community wellbeing, we have allocated more than £6 million for social enterprises in this year’s draft Budget.
“Past funding has enabled Àban to access business training and provide mountaineering, swimming and cycling sessions to young people free of charge.
“This has helped them to connect with nature and improve their physical and mental health.”