High Life Highland Calls On Local Heroes As It Announces Partnership With Local Children's Charity

12th June 2023

High Life Highland is delighted to announce its new partnership with children's charity Safe Strong and Free.

The partnership announcement comes as Safe Strong and Free embarks on its 2023 Highland Heroes campaign, which aims to raise awareness for the work the Highland-registered charity undertakes across the Highlands and beyond.

Speaking about the new partnership Steve Walsh, High Life Highland’s Chief Executive said, "It is great news that High Life Highland is linking up with Safe Strong and Free. There is a great synergy between the work both our charities undertake across the Highlands."

Safe Strong and Free is a charity that aims to reduce the vulnerability of young children to abuse and assault. It does this by using interactive puppet workshops to teach the children strategies that will help them stay safe if they encounter bullying, an approach from a stranger or unwanted/inappropriate approaches or attention from an adult they know.

Steve Walsh continued, “High Life Highland places the highest priority on child protection in its location and during its activities. So, announcing the partnership at the start of Safe Strong and Free’s Highland Hero Week - just seems to be the perfect time to do so.”

Speaking about the new relationship, Kerry Lowe, Chief Officer with Safe Strong and Free said, “I am delighted to be working with High Life Highland at various locations throughout the Highlands.

“The partnership will see us working towards our respective teams promoting the work that Safe Strong and Free undertakes with our interactive puppet shows. We are hoping that these will be able to take place at High Life Highland Libraries offering sessions to children who may be home-schooled or who may have missed their own nursery of school session when the team has been in attendance.

“Bringing the initiative to a community location like a library seems a great outcome which also means we will be able to reach children we may not otherwise have been able to do so.”

High Life Highland is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No. SC407011 and is a registered Scottish charity No. SC042593.

High Life Highland will be entering into the spirit of Safe Strong and Free’s Highland Hero Week.

Staff are being invited to dress up as superheroes whilst at work, delivering activity sessions and supporting in promoting the work undertaken by Safe Strong and Free.

Steve Walsh concluded, “Our libraries will be looking to promote superhero books, and we are hoping that some of our sports and swimming teachers will have a bit of fun with the children and dress up during one of their sessions.

“And although it is outside the Highland Hero Week, we are delighted that Kerry and the team has agreed to unleash their heroes again at our free-to-enter ‘Get Set for Summer’ event at the Northern Meeting Park on Saturday 24 th June. It would be amazing to see some of the children, mums and dads enter into the spirit of things and come along on the day in their superhero
costumes.”

The partnership between High Life Highland and Safe Strong and Free is a demonstrative commitment by both charities to support the protection of children across the Highlands.