NEW YEAR NEW START

As the New Year begins, the air is full of hope for many. Hope for a continuation of good fortune, hope that others can share in this, or hope for a better year than last.   It’s also a time for reflection. 2013 has passed and before we have the chance to view our year with rose tinted perception, I find it a good time to look back at the triumphs and the let downs of the year gone by. 

New Year is also a time when we pledge to resolve our own misgivings. Far too often this is about denying ourselves things – alcohol, chocolate, that last piece of Christmas Cake. But what if people made POSITIVE resolutions? To me, as a social entrepreneur, this involves social resolutions.For New Start Highland, 2013 has been a successful year – meaning that we have been able to support more people in the highlands than ever before.

Throughout the year we have seen hope for over 115 people that have gone on from participating in our training programmes to gain employment. More individuals have also benefitted from a 20% overall increase in the volume of furniture donations coming in. This has seen us deliver to over 2000 households throughout the year. We have also brought more people into the team to cope with the increased volume of donations, referrals and deliveries. This means we can turn around items quickly and efficiently, making a house a home for many more people facing difficulties in the community. 

Much of the work we do couldn’t happen without people taking the initiative to support their own communities. But where the effects of Welfare Reform, lack of jobs and barriers to employment exist for many – so does the need for social support, which is why we hope that what we do makes as much sense to you as it does to us. 

Anyone can find themselves in a grapple with life; no one is immune from being down on their luck or facing struggle. But we like to think that where there is struggle, there is always hope, especially in the promise of the New Year. 

So why not start this New Year with a positive step, by looking back to the successes, large or small, that 2013 has brought us, and resolve to make positive social resolutions that help our community at large. 

I am realising one of my own resolutions in starting this blog. Throughout the year, I hope to write about affairs that are both of relevance to you, and close to my heart, so please keep re-visiting every week. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you.