The charity, formerly known as Highland Children & Young People’s Forum, has rebranded after more than 20 years.

A Highland charity has unveiled its revamped name and purpose as it looks to continue work supporting children have their voices heard. 

Inspiring Young Voices is the new name for the respected Highland charity formerly known as Highland Children & Young People’s Forum, created more than 20 years ago by the parents and carers of children with additional support needs.

While its name has changed, the charity’s purpose remains the same - to enable all children and young people, in particular those with additional support needs, to be listened to where it matters and to be taken seriously when they talk about what matters to them.

Inspiring Young Voices will advise them on ensuring that their human rights are respected, help them to increase opportunities and to improve their quality of life, and to hold people to account.

The charity’s current projects include Inspire Highland, which brings together groups of children and young people who are facing challenges in their lives, both in person and via digital communications, to promote their rights, participation and inclusion.

They recently hit the news with their Eye Am Vibrantly Visible event in Inverness city centre, highlighting challenges for visually impaired people.

The Chat4Change project aims to provide new mechanisms for children and young people in Highland to contribute to policy making and have dialogue with policy makers.

And the charity’s exciting new Digital Project will help and support children and young people with their self-management using safe social media platforms for them to interact, providing access to online mentors and developing the use of Virtual Reality as a way of working with them.

Inspiring Young Voices is now looking to recruit an energetic, capable and experienced individual to the new post of chief officer to lead the organisation and develop and implement its plans for the future.

Chair of Inspiring Young Voices, Norman MacAskill, said: “New Year is a time of new beginnings and that is certainly true for our charity.

“With a change of name, a renewed vision and strategic plan, and a range of new projects, Inspiring Young Voices is entering an exciting phase.

“We are looking to a bright future that builds on the work of those who founded this powerful wee charity, and the staff and trustees who have built it into the respected organisation it is today.

“We have set a course for Inspiring Young Voices and we are now looking for a new Chief Officer to lead the work of the charity and deliver our strategic objectives for the next three years.”

The charity’s new website is at www.inspiringyoungvoices.org.