THE show-house in South Kessock has proved highly successful since it opened last August and vacant properties have gone down in the eight streets, thanks to this initiative. However, to help the house pay its way it is now being put to good use by various bodies.

Lynda Lockwood, who looks after Young Tenants locally, is hoping to run classes in such life skills as cooking, budgeting, DIY and benefit entitlement. And health worker Pam Gascoigne is planning parenting classes.

Inverness New Start, the Moray House-based charity which helps support new tenants referred to them by social services, doctors and so forth has opened an outreach office in the master bedroom.
Now they have three members of staff at Craigton Avenue - Tracey Macfarlane, who lives in Madras Street, Marie Mackay and Mandy Nutt.

New Start is a growing concern and receives considerable help from local churches.
They lend support to those who, for one reason or another, may not have been able to maintain a tenancy in the past, giving practical assistance in helping people to be independent.

Besides helping people with filling in forms and helping them receive their entitlements they can also give practical help with bedding, kitchen ware etc.

New Start is always open to receiving donations of such items to help in their work.