Your Vision for the Haven: Creating Smiles in Highland

This project arose through a partnership between the Elsie Normington Foundation and the Centre for Living Sustainability at UHI Inverness and was supported by a dedicated team of volunteer researchers. A wide range of community stakeholders were involved in participatory workshops and case studies over a three-month period in spring 2024 where they provided input about their experiences with learning disability services and their vision for how the Haven Centre could best address their needs. This report is designed to inform planning at the Haven and support the Elsie Normington Foundation to continue their important and dedicated work to inclusively respond to families’ needs.
A dedicated group of volunteers have worked with researchers at UHI’s Centre for Living Sustainability to explore experiences with and hopes for disability services. This research was carried out by the full research team: Vicky Johnson and Sarah Wagner at UHI Inverness’ Centre for Living Sustainability; and volunteer peer researchers, Heather Bain, Deborah Hart, and Amelia Williamson.
This work has also relied on the dedication of the team at the Elsie Normington Foundation and Kirstin Mackay who has supported with the coordination of research events and activities at The Haven Café and liaised with the Board of Trustees in the design and delivery of this research work.