Dingwall’s new autism and neurodiversity base given boost from UHI Inverness
A CHARITY with a new Dingwall base has been given a £1000 boost from UHI Inverness, after students voted for the cause.
Autism and Neurodiversity (A-ND) North of Scotland have recently opened their first Highland centre, in Dingwall, to support neurodivergent children and families.
As a part of UHI Inverness’ latest Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey (SSES), where students provide feedback and vote for a charity of their choice, the university has donated £1000 to A-ND North of Scotland. The money will be used to create a sensory play garden at their new Dingwall premises.
The students and their lecturer, Alastair Davidson, will visit the Dingwall facility next month and the class is due to participate in its neurodiversity awareness training.
Billy Alexander, chief executive officer at Autism and Neurodiversity North Scotland Ltd, said: "It’s really great to hear how successful the survey has been and the donation of £1000 from UHI Inverness is just fantastic, and is very gratefully received.
“We are thrilled about the opportunity to partner with UHI Inverness. This collaboration will enable us to expand our reach and impact, fostering a more inclusive environment for neurodiverse individuals. We are very much looking forward to working and growing with UHI Inverness in the Highlands and I believe our positive partnership will make great things happen.
“Our new base in Dingwall represents a pivotal step in our growth. The facility serves as a hub for our services, providing essential support and resources to individuals and families. We have created a space with the support of the local residents and contractors in Dingwall, who have truly made magic happen. This is a place where our community can thrive, feel supported and live their lives to the fullest.
“This donation will go directly towards creating a sensory garden and providing specialist equipment that our autistic and neurodivergent children will benefit from greatly. These resources will offer a calming, engaging space where children can explore, play, and thrive in a way that meets their unique needs. We’d like an outdoor space that works for all — thank you for helping us make a meaningful difference.”
Dr Lindsay Snodgrass, vice principal at UHI Inverness, said: “This survey campaign was an enormous success – the impressive overall satisfaction rating demonstrates that we are listening to our students, and we are working hard across the organisation to ensure we provide an excellent experience for all our students.
“The survey provides us with valuable information that we analyse and act upon and I want to thank all the students who engaged in the survey. Moving forward we will be sharing good practice across our organisation and steps are being taken to make further positive changes in response to the feedback.
“I am pleased that we’ve established a lasting connection between UHI Inverness and A-ND that has already led to plans for further collaboration, building on our shared goal of supporting young people to improve their lives.”
