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Highland Cross Latest News |
Highland Cross 2027 - Saturday 19 June 2027 |
22 June 2026
Highland Cross 2026 took place on Saturday 20th
of June. 779 competitors started the event, with 767 completing the
course and 12 retirements. Full provisional results are available
here.
The following are statements from the charities
that are to benefit from Highland Cross 2026:
Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team SCIO
Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team SCIO is a
registered charity established in 1971. Our purpose is to save lives
and to provide relief to those in need through the provision of a
voluntary mountain rescue service, primarily in Ross and Cromarty
and Inverness-shire. The team consists of around 40 unpaid
volunteers. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to
help anyone in difficulty in the mountains and elsewhere in an area
spanning more than 2,600 square miles.
The number, type, duration, and complexity of callout that we
respond to differs between years with no two years being the same.
Those needing our assistance can be of any age, local, or from
further afield. We respond to a wide variety of incidents including
some involving the most vulnerable in our communities and those
caused by extreme weather events.
In 2025, we responded to 33 incidents and gave 1759 hours of
volunteer time on rescues. Our volunteers also gave more than 4000
hours to attend team training.
We currently rely on four 4x4 off-road vehicles, based throughout
the team’s area in Dingwall, Ullapool, Mellon Charles and Cannich to
safely transport our volunteers, their personal kit, stretchers,
first aid equipment and specialist rescue kit to and from callouts.
Our oldest off-road vehicle is scheduled for replacement. We plan to
base the new vehicle in Dingwall which provides ease of access to
east and west locations as well as inland glens. Once funds are in
place, an order for the new vehicle will be placed without delay.
Glenurquhart Care Project
The Glenurquhart Care Project is a dedicated charity serving older
and vulnerable individuals across the Glen Urquhart, Strathglass,
Kiltarlity, and Beauly communities. Our centre provides essential
services that enhance quality of life, including nutritious meals,
opportunities for social interaction, domestic support such as
cleaning, laundry, hygiene assistance, and meal deliveries. For
many, these services are a lifeline - helping to combat isolation
and maintain dignity and independence.
A vital part of our work is ensuring that those
without transport can access the centre. Thanks to the incredible
generosity of the Highland Cross 2022 organisers, we were able to
purchase a minibus which truly transformed our ability to reach
people who might otherwise go days without meaningful social
contact. We remain deeply grateful for this support, which made a
profound difference to our organisation and the lives of those we
serve.
Growing demand for our services means we are
currently struggling to collect all those who wish to attend the
centre. We are seeking funding to purchase an additional vehicle,
which would allow us to reach more individuals and reduce the
feelings of isolation experienced by elderly members in rural areas
with no access to reliable public transport.
This additional vehicle would benefit more than
90 local people who rely on our centre for connection, nourishment,
and care. It would also enable us to expand our domestic support
services, which have seen a significant increase in demand recently.
By providing these services in people’s homes, we help them remain
independent for longer, reducing pressure on the wider health and
social care systems.
Your support would help us continue our mission
of ensuring that no one in our community feels forgotten or alone.
Isobel Fraser Home
The home’s founder, Isobel Fraser, was a woman known for her great
humanity, imagination and keen awareness of the needs of others,
providing care for the elderly and infirm of Inverness in 1899. This
philosophy has continued in the purpose-built listed building in
Crown area of Inverness since 1938. We remain to be an independent,
charity run home, providing exceptional person-centred care, love
and trust, and ensuring that all residents in our Isobel Fraser
family are care for to the highest standards.
We are looking for support to be able to purchase a minibus for the
home. This would open various doors for the residents, allowing them
to be part of the community again. It would help us to be able to
take the residents out to allow them to continue with a live outside
the walls of Isobel Fraser, making memories and enjoyment in
Inverness and the wider area. We would use the minibus to ensure
that residents get out and about, allowing them to continue to be
part of the community of Inverness by going to various events in
supporting other local charities. It would also allow us to continue
with our annual “residents Holiday”, allowing us to transport our
residents to the holiday destination. We use taxis currently to
support us to take the residents to hospital appointments, this
becomes costly for the residents; with the use of our own minibus
this would drastically reduce this cost for the residents also.
Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers
The Skye and Lochalsh Community Care Forum SCIO is a registered
charity, it established the Skye and Lochalsh Young Carer service in
2000.
The service supports young carers from 5 to 18 years of age who are
at risk of underachieving as a result of providing care and support
for a family member. These young carers in our community are
geographically, financially and/or socially disadvantaged.
We provide opportunities for young carers to be
children and young adults first. Through weekly support group
activities and regular respite breaks they are able to put aside
their worries and responsibilities and focus on fun and new
experiences in a supportive environment.
Through skill development activities which link
into practical experience on the respite breaks we promote personal
safety, team working, confidence building and ambition. To ensure no
young carer is disadvantaged by geography or financial restrictions
we cover all transport and activity costs. We tailor our service
provision to meet the needs of individual young carers; some need
regular one to one support for respite and skill development
activities due to their own difficulties/chronic illness/disability
or condition.
Having a new minibus in will increase reliability
of our services and maximise opportunities for young people in Skye
and Lochalsh. This minibus will significantly reduce our existing
running costs which will help to make our service more sustainable
in the longer term.
Highland Cross 2025 - Highland Cross reaches over £6.6million!
The figure raised in 2025 from Highland Cross participants is
£358,443!
On 27 November 2025, the 5 principal charities received
presentations:
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Badenoch and Strathspey Community Connexions – received funding for
an adapted minibus
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Gateway HHT – received funding for a 8 seater people carrier
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Rag, Tag and Textile – received funding for a minibus
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Skye and Lochalsh Mental Health Association – received funding for a
minibus
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New Start Highland - received funding for a van
In addition to the primary causes, the participants’ success will
also allow some smaller grants to be distributed to charities across
Highland over the next month.
The Organisers would once again like to thank competitors, sponsors
and volunteers for their continued support of Highland Cross.
Photography
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Highland Cross