Who are we?
Founded in 1996 HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland was set up by its founder to fill the gap in local services for people going through a crisis. In 1996 there was nowhere for individuals or families to access essential furniture and household items and if they were unable to buy or borrow essentials such as beds, cookers, carpets, cooking utensils etc. then they had to go without.
HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland today, is a successful furniture re-use project helping many people in the rural communities of Caithness & Sutherland and at the same time offering a positive alternative to landfill.
Who do we help?
We assist a wide variety of people, for example those who are ill, disabled, homeless, unemployed, escaping violence, elderly, those leaving care or those recovering from a crisis such as a fire or flood.
Amanda is pictured here with her daughter Rochie and son Brady. She came into the Caithness and Sutherland area as a single Mother, with very little money to support herself and her family. She was grateful for the help given to her by HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland which included a cooker and a fridge.
Amanda said she will continue to support the charity for many more years to come.
People of all ages benefit from our services.
Service Delivery Areas
HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland currently operates throughout Caithness and Sutherland, a huge geographical area, some 764,094 hectares. This is probably the largest landmass that any similar organisation in Scotland, if not the UK, has to cover and includes many deliveries to rural areas some of which are difficult and time consuming to reach. From Dornoch to Wick, Wick to Durness and Durness to Lochinver HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland reaches those in need as often as is required.
Kinlochbervie and Lochinver
In 2007 HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland were approached by the community of Kinlochbervie to help with recycling in their area. It became apparent that there was a social need too and in July 2008 a recycling container was positioned at the harbour in Kinlochbervie. The key for the container is held at the advice and information centre next to the container and it is managed by 'Tommy' who is a volunteer.
A further container was positioned at the amenity site in Lochinver and is managed by Ronald.
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This allows local people to recycle their furniture & household items
A POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE TO LANDFILL
How to access help
If you are:
Living in Caithness or Sutherland, in receipt of benefits, on a low income or you are going through a crisis you should be able to access help from HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland.
You can go to the following agencies or organisations and ask to be referred to HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland for assistance:
- Social Work Department
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Community Health Team
- Community Mental Health Team
- Highland Council Housing, Service Point or Money Advice
- Job Centre Plus
- Women`s Aid
- Housing Association
- Ormlie Community Association
- Pulteneytown People's Project
- Careers Scotland
Or you can contact HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland for a direct referral
Call HomeAid on 01847 890696 for more information on how to access help.
Items we need
FOR OUR COLLECTION SERVICE - CALL HOMEAID ON 01847 890696 OR CONTACT US
HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland need the following items:
DONATIONS MUST BE IN GOOD CONDITION & IN WORKING ORDER:
Furniture: Double and single beds and mattresses, sofas and armchairs, chests of drawers, bedside cabinets, wardrobes, tables and chairs, coffee tables etc. (Beds and mattresses must have the relevant fire ticket labels).
Appliances: Cookers, washing machines, tumble dryers, microwaves, fridges, fridge freezers, toasters, kettles, irons, lamps, heaters, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, spinners, music centres, computers, etc.
Other: Carpets and rugs, bedding, curtains, towels, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, crockery and cutlery.
Items To Sell In Our Charity Shop: We will also be happy to take any other items you have such as bric-a-brac, books, games, clothes, jewellery, bicycles; in fact anything that is in good condition which we can sell to raise funds in our charity shops.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR WORK AND DONATE YOUR UNWANTED ITEMS.
How much we re-use
An average of 75% of the items donated are redistributed to families and individuals on a low-income throughout Caithness and Sutherland. We sell any surplus items including antiques and collectables in our charity shops and all the funds raised will help us to continue to provide the service to low income groups.
How we are financed
Since HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland began, we have been helped financially by many funding partners such as:
- Voluntary Action Fund
- Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise
- The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme
- Leader II
- The Big Fund (National Lottery Money)
- The Community Land Unit
- Transforming Waste Scotland
- Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland
- Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
- Community Economic Development
- Highland Council
- Communities Scotland
- Scottish Investment Fund
- The Robertson Trust
Over the years we have also received one-off smaller donations from various local organisations such as Thurso Rotary Club and Johnston`s Bakery as well as one-off donations from private individuals.
Our charity shop sales raise a percentage of our income and we raise funds at local events.
Sustainability
HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland are constantly trying to find a way to continue the services we provide once our current funding ceases. This is one of the reasons we sell donated items in the charity shops but this is in no way sufficient to cover the cost of operating the service.
We could sell all of the items donated which would more than cover our costs and many other organisations such as ours do so. However, we are striving to avoid charging those on a low income for everything they receive, as we know this would exacerbate their poverty and we want to relieve it.
So please donate your unwanted items to HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland to pass onto those in need or to sell to raise much needed funds. Your help will ensure that the most needy men, women and children in our community get the practical help they need.
Who works for us
Paid Staff
HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland currently employs four full-time and five part-time members of staff.
Volunteer Staff
HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland relies very much on the contribution of volunteers and has many active volunteers who between them contribute hundreds of hours each month. We are always in need of extra volunteers so if you would like to donate some of your time then visit the Join Us section or please call us on:
Thurso:01847 890696 or 01847 891300 |
Wick:01955 603833 |
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Warehouse Volunteer Effie |
Stuart, a Volunteer |
Benefits of volunteering: The volunteers said.......
"It has reintroduced routine and structure back into my life."
"I am changed person because I have more confidence, self-esteem, more qualifications, more social and team working skills."
"Helped with motivation, confidence, team working and job prospects."
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David, a Volunteer |
Trainees
There are opportunities for the long-term unemployed at HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland. Trainees coming into HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland are invaluable in helping us to provide our services.
We asked our Trainees and Volunteers the following questions:
Specifically what skills do you feel you have learned or brushed up on while working with HomeAid Caithness and Sutherland?
- Handling and storing skills.
- Till operation and cash handling.
- Dealing with the general public.
- PAT testing.
- Organisational skills.
Is there anything you feel could have been done to make your experience with HomeAid Caithness and Sutherland more beneficial?
- Not that I can think of, it was good the way it was.
- Overall my time with HomeAid has been beneficial to me personally and work wise.
- No, although I was a bit wary about my placement at first, I am very glad and proud to say that I was a member of the team and will remember this experience for a long time to come.
Directors
HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland, like any other company, has a Board of Directors. All of the Directors are volunteers and give their time and effort freely to ensure that HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland is run correctly and adheres to its objectives.
The current members of the HomeAid Board are:
Company Chairman ~ Roger Saxon
Company Secretary ~ Mike Potts
Treasurer ~ Philip Arthur
Directors ~ Stephanie Brooksbank ~ Lynn McIntosh ~ George Mitchell ~ Jonathan Wood ~ Deborah Wood ~ David Brookfield ~ John Booth
Join Us
As a Trainee
If you are unemployed then you could join us as a trainee. We could help you to gain new skills and qualifications which would increase your employability and you would enjoy job satisfaction by being able to work as part of our team to assist the most needy in our communities. Interested? Then give us a call on 01847 890696 or contact your local job centre.
Become a Volunteer
Claire, volunteer in the sorting area.
HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland relies completely on the contribution of volunteers who between them contribute hundreds of hours each month. Full training and support is given to all our volunteers.
We are always in need of volunteers to help out as:
- Shop assistants
- Drivers / Drivers assistants
- Van assistants
- Office assistants
- Warehouse assistants
- Appliance technicians
- Directors
In return Homeaid will provide:
- Travel expenses
- Induction
- Training and support
- Opportunities to meet new people
- A chance to learn about recycling/reuse
- An opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of many
- A reference after three months
Don`t worry if you have no relevant experience as full training will be given.
If you have some spare time and want to do something worthwhile, learn new skills and make new friends please contact us on 01847 890696.
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