Kate Forbes Visits Social Enterprises in Inverness, Scotland
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister explores local social enterprises in Inverness
Inverness, Scotland, Kate Forbes, Social Enterprises, Àban, Impact Hub Inverness
During her visit, she stopped by Impact Hub Inverness, which is all about supporting social enterprises. Then, she checked out Àban, an outdoor education charity that’s making waves in the community.
Àban runs Scotland’s only independent Duke of Edinburgh Open Award group and offers free outdoor activities for young folks. They even have a charity shop that helps fund these programs.
Kate met some students from Inverness High School and heard from the team at Àban, including their CEO, Johannes Petersen. He mentioned how great it was to have her there, as it really boosted morale and recognized their hard work.
They also chatted about funding, with Àban expecting a turnover of £285,000 by 2025, mostly from trading rather than grants. Johannes pointed out that outdoor education can really help young people, especially those dealing with anxiety.
The visit was a big deal for Àban, which has only been around for less than five years. It’s impressive how far they’ve come, and having the Deputy First Minister visit was a huge honor.
Kate also swung by Impact Hub Inverness, which has been supporting social enterprises for over 20 years. They’ve expanded their services and even opened a second location to meet the growing demand for affordable office space.
Kate emphasized the importance of community wellbeing and mentioned that the Scottish Government has allocated over £6 million for social enterprises this year. This funding has helped groups like Àban provide free activities that connect young people with nature and improve their overall health.