The Place Drop-In opens doors on ‘fantastic’ new Alness hub
A COMMUNITY hub dubbed “one of the most important places in Alness” has opened a new town centre presence after a major refurbishment.
The Place Drop-In has found a more spacious new home in a former bank building on the Easter Ross town’s High Street after a major community effort on its refurbishment.
Young leader Jamie Dickson, who is also a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “The Place reopening is a massive deal - it’s one of the most important places in Alness. Young people come here and it’s just a really safe, welcoming environment where people can find opportunities.
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“It’s really good for young people to have a place where they can chill, speak and raise their concerns and feel safe and know that they have someone there to speak to when they need to.”
He said his own involvement with The Place gave him a voice and set him on the path he is currently following.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by Abbey Cochrane whose grandfather had a role in the naming of The Place.
Youth leader Janette Douglas said: “The Place has been going for 34 years. We got this building just under a year ago and we have just done a big refurb on it.
“We have a huge partnership that we work with. We have drop-ins; we have Crocus, which is a charity which works with children who have suffered bereavement; we’ve got a mums’ group and an NHS group which meets here, we have a hive for Mikeysline.”
In addition The Place works with a local primary school several days a week. As a youth club service The Place is open five nights a week.
She said: “We’re pretty much open all the time - we could probably just about live here.”
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