About Us

Partnerships for Wellbeing (PFW) is an Inverness-based charity dedicated to improving health, wellbeing and social connection across communities in Inverness and the wider Highlands. Established in 2004, the charity was founded with a clear and practical mission: to help people live healthier, more connected lives, with Health Walks and Community transport at the heart of that original vision. While PFW has supported local people for more than two decades, it is in the past four years that the organisation has experienced its most significant period of growth and visibility

Our beginnings

From the outset, Partnerships for Wellbeing recognised the power of simple, accessible activity to improve health and wellbeing. Health Walks—short, supported walks designed to be welcoming, inclusive and sociable—were central to the charity’s early work and remain so today. These walks help people build confidence, improve physical health and reduce isolation, particularly among older adults and those living with long-term health conditions. That founding belief—that wellbeing grows through movement, connection and community—continues to shape everything we do.

For many years, PFW operated on a modest scale, delivering important services with limited resources. As the charity emerged from the tail end of the Covid lockdown, it remained relatively small, with an annual income of around £100,000, a community transport service made up of just two non-wheelchair-accessible cars, and a tiny attic office on Wells Street. Demand for services was growing, but capacity and visibility were constrained.

Growth through teamwork

The transformation of Partnerships for Wellbeing over the past four years has been driven by teamwork. A dedicated team of seven part-time staff work collaboratively to plan, deliver and develop services, often working flexibly across roles. The staff team is supported by an engaged and forward-thinking Board of Trustees – all volunteers - whose trust and encouragement have allowed the organisation to be ambitious while maintaining strong governance and accountability.

Vital to PFW’s success is the extraordinary contribution of all our volunteers. Today, almost 150 volunteers support the charity in a wide range of roles, including volunteer drivers, passenger assistants, walk leaders and trustees. Their time, compassion and local knowledge form the backbone of our work.

Volunteer drivers and passenger assistants help people reach medical appointments, social activities and community events, often offering reassurance and friendly conversation along the way. Walk leaders give their time week after week to ensure walks are safe, inclusive and enjoyable. Trustees bring experience and oversight, helping guide the charity’s direction while keeping its values firmly at the centre of decision-making.

Expanding our reach

This collective effort has delivered clear and measurable results. PFW’s annual income has trebled to around £300,000, providing financial resilience and enabling longer-term planning. That growth has been supported by an increasingly diverse range of income sources, including grants from NHS Highland, Highland Council, Walking Scotland, and a wide variety of charitable trusts and foundations such as the People’s Postcode Trust, National Lottery and Bank of Scotland Foundation. This diversity strengthens our sustainability and allows us to respond flexibly to community need.

Our community transport service has grown from two basic vehicles to a fleet of seven accessible cars and minibuses significantly improving access for people across Inverness where there are few alternative options for older adults with mobility challenges.

Our health walks project Health Walks—central to our original mission—was impacted by the covid lockdown but has seen a steady recovery since then. We now organise weekly Health Walks at 13 locations across the Highlands, supporting people to stay active, spend time outdoors and connect with others in a friendly, supportive environment.

Alongside our core programmes, PFW delivers initiatives designed to reduce loneliness and social isolation. The Friendship Bus provides supported group outings that help people build confidence and friendships, while the Cheery Book Club creates relaxed, welcoming spaces for conversation and shared enjoyment.

Celebrating inclusion and visibility

PFW also delivers the award-winning Festival of Walking & Wheeling, a flagship event celebrating accessible outdoor activity for people of all abilities. The festival brings together partners, participants and communities, and helps showcase Inverness as a city that values inclusion, accessibility and active living.

As the charity has grown, visibility and trust have become increasingly important. PFW has invested in strong, welcoming branding to ensure people recognise and feel confident engaging with our services. Our colourful logo is now a familiar sight on vehicles, publications and online platforms. Alongside it sits our specially commissioned “puffin partners” trademark.

Puffins were deliberately chosen as our mascot. These iconic Highland birds are known for forming long-term bonds and returning to the same nesting sites year after year. For PFW, puffins symbolise the importance of long-term partnerships—between staff and volunteers, service users and communities, and the many organisations we work with across the Highlands. The puffin partners soften what might otherwise feel like a corporate image, reinforcing our friendly, people-first ethos.

Telling our story

Storytelling plays a vital role in how we share our impact. PFW produces a growing collection of online videos that show the real difference our work makes in people’s lives. Created in-house by our team, these films have a professional look and feel, combining emotional, human-centred storytelling with drone footage reminds us how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful part of Scotland.

Some videos feature familiar faces from broadcasting, reflecting the support of friends and allies who help us reach wider audiences. However, the focus always remains on the lived experiences of the people who use our services, our volunteers and our staff. These films help audiences understand not just what we do, but why it matters.

A base for the future

Our move, in 2024, from a tiny attic office to modern premises at Cradlehall Business Park marks an important milestone. The new base provides space for staff collaboration, volunteer coordination and training, as well as ample parking for our growing fleet of community transport vehicles. It supports both our day-to-day work and our ambitions for the future.

Looking ahead

After more than 20years of service—and especially following four years of rapid growth—Partnerships for Wellbeing remains rooted in the same belief that inspired its creation in 2004: that wellbeing is built through movement, connection and community. With the continued commitment of our staff, trustees, volunteers and partners, we are proud to play a vital and growing role in supporting healthier, more connected lives across Inverness and the Highlands.