Last weekend Isobel and I travelled to Skye to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. Alongside the walks, Talisker and food, we visited Columba 1400, an inspirational social enterprise located in Staffin. Columba 1400’s core purpose is “to release the potential of young people who have weathered tough times.” They do this via week long residential programmes that develop latent leadership skills in the stunning surroundings of northern Skye. I encourage everyone to visit their website to discover more - http://www.columba1400.com/
Douglas Anderson, who sits on the Saltire Fellowship Advisory Board, introduced me to the work of Columba 1400 during our networking dinner in Stirling earlier this year. Columba 1400 was founded by Norman Drummond, but I’m sure he’d be the first to stress that its success is a result of the committed and passionate team who deliver the programmes, the active board of directors and the backroom staff. The centre had an aura of positivity and support that you find only in organisations that are aligned from boardroom to coalface to customer.
The title of this blog has nothing to do with Talisker (still trying hard to match Orkney’s Highland Park). The Spirit of Success is the title of a book written by Norman Drummond. It echoes a lot of the lessons Karen Ayas shared with us during our time at Babson College. Its premise is that we need to engage our hearts as well as our heads to realise our full potential; and it argues that if we do so we will “discover the things in life which make us feel whole, excited, creative and motivated. In touch with our humanity, we will become better leaders too – more inspirational, more visionary, more understanding.”
There’s a 20 page report that details how Columba 1400’s programmes deliver cost effective societal benefits. But that’s for the head. For the heart there’s the testimony of a Columban Graduate - “Columba 1400 lifted the grey and allowed me to see in colour again"
This sounds like a very worthwhile cause. Despite the poverty and hardship throughout the globe we still have some major problems on our own doorstep. I'll check it out.
As an aside, I'll try to bring a bottle of The Arran Malt in December, I think I've found a real gem to rival Highland P and I'll expect an unbiased review!
I wasn’t aware of Arran whisky. It’s great to see a vibrant young Scottish company taking on the big multinationals. I'm looking forward to discovering how Scotland’s newest whisky distillery compares with Scotland’s most northerly whisky distillery. I’ll bring a bottle of HP.
The Arran Malt guys have a couple of Burns’ poems on their site. I’d forgotten about this one, but it’s a beauty:
Here's a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair?
Wha kens, before his life may end,
What his share may be o' care?
Then catch the moments as they fly,
And use them as ye ought:
Believe me, happiness is shy,
And comes not aye when sought.
Looking forward to catching up at the GlobalScot conference in a few weeks.
Martyn, I visited Columba 1400 about a month ago when I was up in Skye (working with Sitekit who are based there). Douglas very kindly made a few introductions for me also; as did Campbell (MD of Sitekit).
I mentioned it to friends on facebook but didn't think to mention here, I don't know why because its an amazing place and an amazing charity.
Jackie, the manager took me round the facility for 2 hrs and her passion for these children is palpable. I had tears in my eyes talking to her. Not just because I'm a bit softy, that's a given but it really moved me how these people struggled every year looking for funding for such an evidentially worthy cause.
It has only strengthened my desire to get involved with a charity when we complete the Saltire programme. Charities are full of passionate, strong people, but are they full of business people??
p.s. loved the poem, I hope to hear it from you in person at the conference, if Burn's night in Boston is anything to go, you'll blow everyone away with your talent!
Lx