Our History

The word ‘Calman’ means dove in Gaelic, and reflects the organisation’s aspiration to enable young people to settle in a place they can call home, participating in their community, achieving their best.

Calman Trust was formed in 1998 as a response of local people to the challenges faced by young people aged 16-25 in Highland who experience difficulties when they leave the family home, including homelessness when they run out of options.  

Difficulties at this important stage can damage the young person’s chances long into the future, and seeing the negative impact on young people of debt, homelessness, isolation or breakdown at school, work, or home, our commitment is to enable young people to learn to manage what happens and avoid total breakdown.  A continuing feature of all our work is therefore to offer solutions as early as possible, so that the young person can become an independent young adult, able to manage their challenges, and knowing where to go if they need help. 

Since 2010 we have operated the Café Artysans social enterprise, and added the Ness Soaps Social Enterprise in 2014.  In these Enterprises, young people can experience the world of work for themselves and develop the skills that employers are looking for. Moreover, every penny made is re-invested in our work with young people.