The workshops are a thriving hub of the community throughout the week. Our dynamic workshops support people with learning disabilities to take part in meaningful work, with real pride in everything we produce and achieve. We have four engaging workshops: Candles, Garden, Woodwork and Life skills. No two days in the workshops are the same, but people will be sure to find their fit - whether that’s a certain role or routine - that suits each individual.

The buzzy atmosphere in the workshops creates an ideal environment for people to learn new skills, develop confidence and create genuine relationships. Each person that attends sets their own individual outcomes which they are supported to achieve, maintain and celebrate in and out of the workshops setting. 

Coming to the workshops is a source of great pride and enjoyment for staff and service users alike. This shines through with the warm welcome everyone receives – as they are quickly whisked around the workshops to see the projects and activities that we are working on as part of a vibrant team. Our day service members are also very much part of the wider community, both attending gatherings with our core members and hosting get-togethers at the workshops.

L’Arche Highland Workshops

The Workshops 13 Drummond Crescent Inverness

Care Inspectorate registration number CS2003008513  

Registered charity number SCO 38493

We are the L’Arche Highland Workshops Day Service.  We are part of the wider L’Arche International movement (Federation) which has over one hundred and fifty communities worldwide.  We are a well-established charity based in Inverness, and we are registered with the Care Inspectorate.  We support adults with learning disabilities within our workshops, out in the community and with virtual activities.  Our dynamic workshops support people to take part in meaningful work with real pride.

Our services are managed from the workshop base in Inverness which is overseen by a Registered Manger, Operations Manager, and Support and Development Manager. 

Our purpose is to provide creative day opportunities with people, where everyone feels connected to and part of our community.  We believe in seeing and realising everyone’s potential by working towards individual outcomes as part of a team. We believe relationships matter, and take every opportunity to come together and celebrate throughout the year, spending time together and having fun! We like to be present in the wider community to build confidence and raise awareness of people with disabilities.

 

The aim of our service

 To provide new and fun experiences within a supportive work environment. Everyone is encouraged to learn and develop new skills, with a focus on encouraging independence. We can support up to 25 people per day from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.  We make lots of different things in our workshops and attend regular craft fairs and events to sell them. We like to give each person a token of appreciation in “wages” at the end of every week.

The objectives of our service

  We are committed to building strong relationships and to meet each person’s individual needs in a unique way.  We will achieve this through person centred care planning and regular reviews.

We are committed to meeting and promoting the principles of the L’Arche Federation to meaningful, mutual relationships along with the Health and Social Care standards; Dignity and Respect, Compassion, Be Included, Responsive Support and Wellbeing.

 If people feel these have not been met they are encouraged to share their concerns with us, using our complaints procedure or by contacting the Care Inspectorate. We seek regular feedback from everyone using the service with the aim of continually improving.

 

What we can do for you?

I experience high quality care and support that is right for me:  We will get to know you and what you would like to do.  Everyone who is supported to attend the workshops will have a detailed care plan, indicating how best to support your outcomes.  We promote active support to enable people to be independent. We will review your plan and goals regularly and push you to achieve all you can.

I am fully involved in all decisions about my care and support:  We will listen to and work with you. We will use the communication tools that are right for you to help you make decisions about your support. We have a group of people using the service who help us plan for the community through regular meetings and feedback. We will also seek to involve the people that are important to you in decisions about the service you want.

I have confidence in the people who support and care for me:  Our staff teams are well trained, and regularly supervised. All of our workshop staff are members of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme and our managers are registered with the SSSC. We will involve you when we recruit for new staff members and volunteers to make sure that anyone coming into the service has the right values.

I have confidence in the organisation proving my care and support: L’Arche has been in Inverness for over forty-six years and we are well-established in the community. There will be a manager at the workshops during our working hours to make sure everyone is safe and happy. We have an open-door policy where we will be available to chat with you whenever possible, because you are at the heart of what we do.  We are open to most funding routes for coming to L’Arche and have a finance team that can help with this.

I experience a high-quality environment if the organisation provides the premises:  L’Arche Highland has beautiful grounds in the Drummond area of Inverness. We have a lovely polytunnel for growing flowers and vegetables and a spacious peaceful garden to work in and enjoy. The building was extended and refurbished in 2020 .  We check our equipment and building regularly to make sure it is safe to use.