What is Caberfeidh Horizons?

We are a charity in the Highlands originating in 2004 from an idea to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to become a part of their local community. At the time, the only local provision was a day-care centre in Kingussie (now closed) and the users and their carers wanted to be more involved in the community and have a wider range of activities.  We started with a second-hand Bookshop on Kingussie’s High Street which raised funds and provided a base for activities – all run by volunteers. 

Since then, we have grown and grown.  We now have three shops, all selling second-hand goods and a Community Hub. There are five members of staff and a large army of volunteers who staff the shops and support the project in other ways.  Our two trainers provide a wide range of activities for our clients such as upcycling furniture, working at the Highland Wildlife Park and Highland Horse Fun, cycling, cooking, and gardening at our allotment as well as helping to run the shops. We meet a local need to provide training, support and work experience to adults and young people in the community who have learning difficulties, mental health issues, addiction problems or who are long-term unemployed.

We have expanded our services to encompass the whole community of Badenoch with a food share facility in our Community Hub, advice corner and warm spaces to meet. We are grateful for the grants that enabled us to get this far and for the donations of time and money from our supporters.  We aim to become fully self-sufficient using the money raised from the shops to pay our staff and running costs. 

Our vision underpins everything that we do and how we do it. Our aspiration for Caberfeidh Horizons is for a community in which adults and young people have the opportunity for training, inclusion, independence, and to enhance their life skills.

Our mission is to improve the lives of the adults and young people we work with by providing training, work experience and social opportunities to increase their health, confidence, life skills and community involvement.

There is an ever-increasing demand for the services which we offer.

Volunteers

Our project relies on over fifty active volunteers, ranging in age from eighteen to over eighty. They staff both the Bookshop, Charity Shop and Community Hub, working half-day shifts to cover the shops six days a week.

Our staff team are responsible for the day to day training of our client group and the running of the charity, however volunteers also assist in many of our activities as well as supporting our fundraising events.

We benefit from enormous support and goodwill from the local community. We currently have over 200 members – all individuals who have interest in the project – which illustrates how much Caberfeidh Horizons is needed within the community.

Our current board of 10 volunteer Directors represent the local community, local carers and community groups. They bring a wide range of experience to Caberfeidh, with backgrounds ranging from teaching, HR and tourism to nursing and business. The Board of Directors has robust procedures ensuring strong governance and meets once a month.

Structures and Governance

Caberfeidh Horizons is a social enterprise limited by guarantee and a registered charity governed by its Articles of Association. We have a dedicated Board of Directors who represent the local community. They bring a wide range of experience to Caberfeidh, with backgrounds ranging from teaching, banking and social work to nursing and business. The Board of Directors has robust procedures ensuring strong governance and meets once a month. 

The current directors are:

• Shona Anderson
• Cody Davies
• Alison Leiper
• Lesley Milligan
• Patsy Rimell
• Ailsa Schofield
• Susan Thomas