Huge congratulations to the Special Needs Action Project (SNAP)! They’ve been named the official charity partner for the 2025 Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards. This incredible recognition will boost their vital work with young people across the region. How will this partnership amplify their mission and impact more lives?

The Special Needs Action Project (SNAP) has been proudly designated as the charity partner for the prestigious 2025 Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards (HITA), marking a significant milestone for an organisation deeply embedded in community welfare across the region. This partnership elevates SNAP’s profile, bringing crucial attention to its invaluable work supporting young people with additional support needs and their families.

For nearly three decades, SNAP has stood as a beacon of hope and practical assistance within Highland communities. Established in Inverness in 1996, the charity’s enduring mission is to foster confidence, independence, and lasting friendships among young individuals facing additional challenges, while simultaneously offering much-needed respite to dedicated parents and carers.

SNAP’s comprehensive range of services includes engaging after-school clubs, enriching holiday schemes, stimulating weekend activities, and inclusive community outings. These programs are meticulously designed to create an environment where young people can thrive, develop essential life skills, and participate fully in their community, ensuring a holistic approach to their development and wellbeing.

The charity has demonstrated remarkable growth and adaptability, consistently evolving its offerings to meet the dynamic needs of its community. In just the past two years, SNAP has nearly doubled its operational scale, introducing vital new services such as a dedicated parent-and-toddler group and tailored day services for young adults, further extending its reach and impact.

Currently, SNAP provides regular support to over 170 young people, spanning all ages from infants and toddlers to its longest-standing participant, who first joined the charity upon its inception in 1996. Despite its wide-ranging influence and indispensable role in the Highlands, the organisation operates without statutory funding, relying entirely on fundraising efforts, grants, and generous donations to sustain its specialized services and maintain affordable family fees.

The Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards are renowned for celebrating excellence within the region’s vibrant tourism and hospitality sectors. Each year, these esteemed awards honour individuals, businesses, and organisations that consistently deliver exceptional visitor experiences, with winners in most categories advancing to the Scottish Thistle Awards National Final in November 2025.

Dawn Walker, SNAP’s chief officer, expressed profound gratitude for the recognition, highlighting its dual benefit: not only will it assist in raising vital funds, but it will also spotlight the unique needs and immense potential of the children and young people they serve. She emphasized that collaborating with HITA will forge more opportunities and create a lasting positive difference for families throughout the Highlands.

The HITA board carefully selected SNAP due to its significant and enduring community impact, its unwavering dedication to inclusion and wellbeing, and its strong alignment with the core values championed by the awards: dedication, community spirit, and a commitment to making a positive difference. Through the tireless efforts of its staff and volunteers, SNAP ensures that young people with additional needs can access life-enriching opportunities, regardless of their location.

Callum Ross, HITA chairperson, reiterated that the Awards embody excellence, commitment, and community spirit – qualities SNAP exemplifies daily. He noted that SNAP’s dedication to improving lives mirrors the values celebrated in tourism, expressing delight in highlighting their incredible work and assisting in fundraising to ensure its vital continuation. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness.