Leading social enterprise New Start Highland has welcomed one of the region’s longest-standing charities, Calman Trust, into its organisation.
This move has secured Calman’s future and ensured the continuation of its valued support for young people across the Highlands. It marks a significant milestone for both organisations and represents a new model of collaboration within Scotland’s third sector at a time when many charities face increasing financial pressures and funding uncertainty.
James Dunbar, Chief Executive of New Start Highland, said, “Calman Trust has been at the forefront of supporting young people in the Highlands for more than 28 years, delivering life-changing opportunities and experiences. As organisations, we have grown alongside one another, sharing a commitment to helping our communities thrive.
“By bringing our strengths together, we can build on that success and create a more sustainable future for young people in the region. We are proud to be Calman’s partner of choice, and I look forward to working closely with the team as we begin this exciting new chapter together.”
Andrew Nixseaman, chair of Calman Enterprise, said, “Having been part of Calman Trust’s journey for many years, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved alongside the young people and communities we serve. This decision has been guided by one overriding priority which is to secure the strongest possible future for those young people. We are delighted to join the New Start Highland Family.
“New Start Highland shares our values, our passion and our commitment to making a difference. By bringing our organisations together, we can protect and strengthen the services that matter most, while creating new opportunities for future generations. I am excited about what we can achieve together and confident that this partnership will build on the legacy of Calman Trust for many years to come.”
Founded over 26 years ago, New Start Highland has built a reputation for combining successful commercial enterprises with charitable impact, reinvesting profits into services that tackle poverty, social isolation and inequality across the Highlands. The acquisition of Calman Trust will create new opportunities to strengthen services, share expertise and maximise social impact.
Calman Trust’s services will remain unchanged, with Café Artysans still operating as usual in Inverness City Centre. New Start Highland will oversee Calman’s daily operations from its base in Carsegate, Inverness, where it recently opened Scotland’s first Training and Reuse Village.
Home to The Yard Café and Training Kitchen, the Village most recently welcomed electrical social enterprise ILM Highland, enabling the organisation to open its first retail outlet in Inverness.