About Centred (Scotland)
Back in 1987, Birchwood (Inverness)—later known as Birchwood Highland—was established as a charity dedicated to supporting people experiencing long-term, impactful mental ill-health on their personal journey to recovery and a brighter future.
In 2022, we rebranded and became Centred (Scotland) to better reflect our mission and showcase the wholly person-centred approach that defines the care and support we provide.
Today, we are proud to be the largest mental health charity in the Scottish Highlands, delivering support across Inverness, Lochaber, Easter Ross, and Caithness—helping more people than any other organisation in the region.
We don’t just offer support; we deliver a model that is proven to work globally. We are leading the way in developing mental health support you can trust in the Highlands.
Our Mission
Our purpose is clear:
To empower individuals to live full, independent lives, regardless of their background or level of support needed.
To help people living with mental ill-health ditch the stigma and feel like valued members of their community.
Innovation and Impact
We’ve always been at the forefront of innovations in mental health support in the Highlands:
- Our Recovery Centre was the first residential support centre of its kind in Scotland, setting a new standard for person-centred care.
- Our Discovery College pioneered drop-in support for people facing mental health challenges, substance misuse, and addiction. It was the first of its kind to exist in the region.
We continue to evolve and innovate, especially in rural areas, offering a growing range of personalised care and support services.
Our Approach
Everything we do is person-centred and recovery-focused. We help people rebuild confidence, improve health and wellbeing, and make positive lifestyle choices—so they can shine again.
At the heart of Centred is our amazing team of staff and peer supporters. Every member of our drop-in service team brings lived experience, a model known as peer support, backed by studies from the World Health Organization.
By employing support workers with lived experience, we are also creating meaningful employment opportunities within the community.
We invest in our people because we know they are key to delivering exceptional support. Many have been with us for years, making a lasting difference in thousands of lives.
Listening and Learning
We can engage with individuals who may not connect with clinical or formal services, often reaching people earlier, before they reach crisis point. We couldn’t stay at the forefront of mental health support without listening. We actively seek feedback from staff and service users and involve them in shaping our services wherever possible.
Community Support and Funding
Our dedicated community support teams work across the Highlands in some of the most remote and isolated areas.
While our community services receive statutory funding, our Discovery College drop-in support service does not. This has become a vital service for many people and now helps over 100 people every week in Inverness and Caithness. We rely on donations and fundraising to keep it running—so anyone facing mental ill-health, substance misuse, or addiction can access the help they need, when they need it.
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