Our Impact
DAY1 exists to empower young people to discover their potential and develop the skills they need to progress into further education, training or employment. In the Scottish Highlands, there is a critical need for the support that we offer young people, with data from the Annual Participation Measure revealing that 6.1% of 16–19-year-olds in the Scottish Highlands classifying as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). This figure rises to 11.6% for the most deprived areas, where DAY1 is most active.
DAY1 is a respected and trusted youth charity in the Scottish Highlands, and we have been recognised for the critical work that we do in preventing young people from falling into NEET status. This subsequently has positive economic and societal benefits, helping to decrease unemployment rates, improve physical / mental health, reduce local poverty levels and reinforce a ‘community glue’ where young people are encouraged to thrive.
Our programmes have consistently achieved significant outcomes, with 94% of our DAY1 graduates having entered employment, education or training at the end of their year-long programme. Five years after graduating from their programme, 89% of participants remain in a positive, sustainable destination, which is a true testament to the care and commitment of our DAY1 team towards every young person we support.
In addition to the success rates of our programmes and the positive feedback that we receive from both young people and our volunteers, DAY1 has received the following awards and recognition for our work:
- Winner Scottish National Youth Agency Charity of the Year award in 2009
- Attained one of three national places on the first Scottish National Entrepreneurial Exchange third sector growth programme in 2010
- Received the Queens Award for Voluntary Services in 2014
- DAY1 Apprentice awarded Foundation Apprentice of the Year in 2021
- Welcomed a Royal visit from Prince William and Princess Kate in November 2023
As a charity who is committed to social and environmental sustainability, we are continuously looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact. Part of our plan to grow our services involves ensuring that environmental sustainability is engrained across all our activities and operations. We have already made progress by:
- Converting our go-karts at Inverness Kart Raceway to 100% electric in 2024 which is saving 32 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
- Installing solar panels at Inverness Kart Raceway
