Welcome to The Haven Centre
The Haven centre is Scotlands first fully integrated specialist centre for children young people and their families with disabilities.
Welcome to The Haven Centre
The Haven centre is Scotlands first fully integrated specialist centre for children young people and their families with disabilities.
What is the Haven Centre?
The Haven Centre brings together four dedicated spaces designed to support children and young people with disabilities in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. Each space has been carefully created to enable children and young people to rest, play, learn, build friendships and prepare for future employment through meaningful work placement opportunities.
Together, these spaces provide opportunities for every child and young person to develop confidence, independence, wellbeing and life skills at their own pace, while ensuring they feel valued, respected and included within their community.
Who is the Haven Centre for?
The Haven Centre exists to support children and young people with disabilities, additional support needs and complex needs, alongside their families, carers and the professionals who work with them. Every part of the Centre has been designed with this community in mind, from the layout of our dedicated Play Centre to the suites used for short breaks.
We also work alongside charities, carer networks, health professionals, therapists and parent-led groups who may wish to use the space for sessions or meetings.
Haven Play Centre
A specialist, purpose-built play space for children and young people with additional or complex support needs. The Play Centre features flexible open play areas, sensory spaces and a ball pit room, in a secure and contained environment. Our Play Centre operates on a pre-booked basis, and is available to families, professional groups and organisations to hire as a shared community space.
Haven Suites
Three self-contained, suites providing short break and respite accommodation for young people with disabilities, supporting stays arranged through family carers or care providers. The ground-floor Jordan Suite is a fully accessible suite, ideal for wheelchair users and families needing additional space, while our Andrew and Sarah Suites are located on the first floor.
Haven Café
A warm, welcoming community café open to everyone, located on site at the Haven Centre. As well as serving the local community, the Haven Café creates valuable volunteering and work experience opportunities for young people with additional needs, including supported volunteering for neurodivergent volunteers. We also offer supported placements , offering opportunities to learn hospitality skills.
Haven Community Garden
A community garden project is currently in development at the Haven Centre, aimed at promoting horticulture, wellbeing and outdoor activity for the families and groups who use the Haven Centre. This is facilitated by a project manager and a team of local volunteers.
The Haven Centre brings together four key services, each designed to support disabled children and young people, their families and carers as part of a wider, connected service in the Highlands. Explore each service below to find out more.
What's at the Haven Centre?
The Haven Centre was built with accessibility at the centre of its design. Our Play Centre has been designed to be fully accessible, with accessible toilet facilities on site. Our Jordan Suite also offers accessible accommodation with a wet room, shower seat and additional space for wheelchair users and families with more complex equipment needs.
If you have specific access requirements, let us know as part of your enquiry and we’ll do our best to support you.
Accessibility at the Haven Centre
Meetings, training and professional use
Charities, carer networks, health and therapy professionals and training providers working to support disabled children, young people and their families are welcome to enquire about using the Haven Centre’s spaces for their meetings, training sessions or information events. Catering is also available from our café on request.
Supporting families across the Highlands
The Haven Centre was created by the Elsie Normington Foundation, a Highlands and Islands charity founded by Elsie Normington after raising her own son, Andrew, who has a learning disability. This lived experience continues to shape how our Centre runs today, with both staff and trustees bringing personal experience of caring for a disabled child or young person.
Families often travel to the Haven Centre in Inverness from across the wider Highlands and the Islands, with free on-site parking and easy access from the A9 and A96.
Get in touch about the Haven Centre
Whether you’re a family looking for a short break or a specialist play session, or a professional seeking a suitable space for your service, our team can help with the next steps.
Where is the Haven Centre?
The Haven Centre is located in Smithton, Inverness, with easy access from the A9 and A96 and free on-site parking. Families, carers and professionals often travel to the Centre from across Inverness, the Highlands and Islands to access our specialist services.
Who can use the Haven Centre?
Can anyone visit the Haven Café?
How do I book the Play Centre?
Can professionals hire meeting space?
Is the Haven Centre fully accessible?
FAQS
If there’s anything you’re unsure about, or if you’d like to talk things through before booking, please get in touch – we’re always happy to help.