A concert has raised the roof as well as thousands of pounds towards an ambitious project in Inverness to help children with complex needs.
The Big Spring Sing was staged by the Elsie Normington Foundation to raise funds for the proposed new Haven Centre in the city.
The event was sold out and as a result of both ticket, raffle sales and donations, a total of £3,698.21 was raised towards the project.
Foundation chairman, Elsie Normington, who runs two choirs at the Merkinch Community Centre where she is a community development officer, was thrilled with the response to the fundraiser.
She said: “The Big Spring Sing was a great night. There was a full house and everyone gave such positive feedback about the whole occasion.”
The Haven Project Appeal aims to raise £3.2million to deliver a specialist multi-purpose facility at Murray Road, Smithton, for children and young people up to the age of 30 with multiple and complex needs.
It will be the first of its kind in Scotland, providing support to people locally and further afield in the Highlands.
At the Big Spring Sing, Elsie showed a short DVD featuring Smithton Primary School pupils playing with children with additional needs from Drummond School. She also gave a presentation on the Haven Project Appeal.
She revealed that £411,000 has already been raised and urged everyone present to do what they could to help the fundraising effort.
The audience was entertained by Mrs Normington’s two choirs, The Rainbow Singers and Singing for Pleasure, as well as pupils from Smithton Primary School and Drummond School. There was also a performance by soloist, Julie Keane, accompanied by Dr Peter Donald.
Mrs Normington received the British Empire Medal for services to the community from the Lord-Lieutenant of Inverness, Donald Cameron of Locheil, at a ceremony held at the Town House on Monday.
