Welcome to Wells Street

Jeff walks his dog and pet puffins.

First of all, let’s get you on the map. We’re at the fashionable Bohemian end of town, across the road from Aldi and next door to the dental practice. We’re also a twenty second walk from the River Ness and, in the past few months, we’ve been looking across the water as yet another new hotel takes shape. Yes, this is Inverness, the Highland Capital and we’re smack in the middle of this ever-growing city. Well, almost.

We’re at 31-33 Wells Street and we inhabit a couple of attic offices above the HCVF TV studios. Our neighbours along the corridor work for the Salvation Army resettlement department. Don’t get us confused with that empty shop along the street with the word ‘Wellbeing’ above the window. They were offering herbal medicines and massages. We don’t, so don’t ask. What we do offer is community transport for Inverness and Health Walks across the inner Moray Firth area. Both services are provided by volunteer drivers and volunteer walk leaders. Volunteering, you see, is what we’re all about. We love our volunteers. Couldn’t exist without them, frankly.

We also love our grant providers: NHS Highland, The Highland Council, Paths for All, Bank of Scotland Foundation…and the organisations like Highland Cross and Anderson Clark who have funded the two Berlingo cars that literally keep our transport service on the road. When I say “we” I mean the five of us who work, mostly part-time, from those aforementioned attic offices above the street. There’s Fiona, Kate, Hayley and Nicola and I’ll be telling you more about them and what they do in the coming weeks. If they let me.

Me? I’m Jeff. Supposedly the boss of this crack team. I also make the coffee and empty the bins when reminded. I’m also a terrible gossip, so come back soon and I’ll prove it.

Thanks Team Bean

News filters through about the latest local business to support our Valued Volunteer scheme. The self-styled ‘Team Bean’ led by Kevin and Heather (not forgetting Monkey) at the Inverness Coffee Roasting Company have donated a generous prize for one lucky driver or walk leader: six months worth of your favourite coffee. We’re now working out a way to pick a winner, but having rejected the notion of a walking and driving race around Inverness, I think we’ve settled on some kind of Christmas raffle.

We’re really grateful to all the local business who are helping us thank our volunteers and we’re hoping a few more will be joiining our scheme at the start of the new year. You can get all the details on our Valued Volunteer page on this website.