Inverness Chamber of Commerce has announced RASASH as the official charity partner for this year’s Highland Business Dinner, bringing the regional business community together to support a vital Highland service.
Now marking its eleventh year, RASASH provides specialist emotional support and criminal justice advocacy for survivors of sexual violence aged 13 and over across the Highland region, as well as support for their non-abusing partners, family members and friends. In 2025 alone, the charity supported more than 680 people with emotional support and advocacy, responded to over 2,000 support line contacts, and delivered prevention workshops to more than 4,000 young people in schools and youth settings across the region.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment between the Chamber and the wider business community to strengthen support networks across Highland while also promoting safer, more informed workplaces. Alongside its frontline support services, RASASH works with organisations across sectors to build knowledge and confidence in responding to sexual violence and harassment, including delivering workplace training and education programmes.
Colin Marr, Chief Executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said, “Each year the Highland Business Dinner provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the strength of our regional economy, but also to come together in support of an important local cause. RASASH delivers essential services across the Highlands, supporting individuals and families while also helping organisations build safer and more informed workplaces. We are proud that this year’s Dinner will help shine a light on their work and encourage the wider business community to engage with and support this important mission.”
RASASH’s Chief Executive Romy Rehfeld welcomed the partnership and highlighted the shared challenges and strengths between charities and businesses operating in the Highlands.
She said, “We share the determination, partnership-driven approach and community spirit that the Highland business community is known for. Our partnership with the Chamber as the chosen charity for the Highland Business Dinner is a clear and valued example of this support at a time when charity funding is under significant pressure.”
Romy added that collaboration with businesses also plays a key role in the charity’s wider work.
“A vital part of what we do is building knowledge and confidence across communities – helping people understand what sexual violence is, how it can present locally and how to respond with care when someone discloses. Alongside our education work with young people across Highland, we are developing trauma-informed workplace training to help organisations meet their responsibilities to prevent sexual harassment at work and create safer workplaces for everyone.”
Funds raised, through the Highland Business Dinner charity prize draw on the night, will help RASASH sustain and expand its services across the region, supporting individuals while continuing its work in prevention, education and advocacy. Businesses are invited to donate prizes for the draw by getting in touch with Inverness Chamber of Commerce.
The Highland Business Dinner takes place at the Drumossie Hotel on Friday 15 May and brings together leaders from across the region’s business community for an evening of networking, celebration and insight. Guests will also hear from keynote speaker Phil Spencer MBE, best known as the co-presenter of Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location, who will share perspectives from more than two decades at the heart of the UK property market alongside stories from his television career.
Businesses from across the Highlands are encouraged to secure their tables or tickets now and be part of one of the most anticipated evenings in the regional business calendar.