Morrison Construction, one of Scotland’s leading construction companies, is proud to announce a new charity partnership with Àban Outdoor, an Inverness-based organisation dedicated to providing local young people with outdoor experiences who may otherwise not get the opportunity or face barriers to accessing the outdoors.
This partnership signifies a commitment by Morrison Construction to give back to the community and support a cause that has recognised to be increasingly more important. Especially since COVID-19, it is clear the impact it had on everyone including young people, and how technology has evolved and become more embedded in our lives. Àban aims to get young people back outdoors to build valuable skills for their lives and also the community and the people who will employ them in the future.
A great feature of Àban is the free of charge gear library providing outdoor clothing and equipment for youth clubs as well as individuals in the community.
Àban accepts donations of outdoor clothing and equipment at its base on Grant Street in Inverness, as well as at The Ledge Climbing Gym. These contributions help make outdoor experiences accessible to others in the community, enabling more young people to get started and enjoy the outdoors.
Morrison Construction has also set up a donation station at its office in Inverness, giving employees easy access to dropping off equipment.
To kick off the partnership, Morrison Construction welcomed the Àban team to the office for a spotlight session – giving employees the opportunity to learn more about the incredible work Àban do and how they can support them over the next 12 months.
The session was a brilliant mix of stories, insight and practical activities, allowing our team to experience first-hand the types of outdoor opportunities and challenges young people supported by Àban take part in.
They heard from Àban’s Chief Executive, Trustees, a Youth Representative, a DofE volunteer, an Outdoor Leader and Gear Hub Lead, gaining a deeper understanding of the impact they make across our local community.
Gordon Williamson, Managing Director at Morrison Construction commented, “Àban Outdoor’s work in the community is both important and genuinely inspirational. They create opportunities for young people who may not otherwise have access to these experiences, helping them build confidence, resilience and life skills through the outdoors. We are proud to support an organisation making such a positive, lasting impact and look forward to working together to extend that reach over the coming year.”
Johannes Peterson, Chief Officer at Àban Outdoor said, “Our programmes are all about helping children & young people prepare for life after leaving school. Morrison Construction is a major local employer with very strong community values. As such this is perfect partnership, and it’s really giving us a huge boost to feel their support. The warm welcome we had at the spotlight session from Gordon and his team was really incredible, and we’re excited to work together over the coming year for the benefit of local young people.
“We were all buzzing afterwards. There was a real sense of connection & such strong interest from the staff team.”
There is lots more in the pipeline for fundraising and volunteering efforts this year. Here’s to a great year ahead!