Win a Young People’s Leadership Academy for Your School We are delighted to share a fantastic opportunity for schools across Scotland. The Hunter Foundation has launched a national competition inviting Scottish school pupils – both primary and secondary – to share their boldest ideas for Scotland’s future through their ‘If I Ruled Scotland’ competition. The challenge? [...]
Earlier this year, we were delighted to welcome a group of student leaders from Texas Christian University (TCU) who travelled over 4,000 miles to the Isle of Skye to take part our Values-Based Leadership Academy. They were inspiring to be alongside as we witnessed their growth, determination, and teamwork throughout the experience. In a recent blog [...]
We are proud to see Columba 1400 recognised throughout a new independent report, commissioned by The Scottish Government, evaluating the impact of the Clackmannanshire Family Wellbeing Partnership (FWP).The report concludes that the wellbeing of individuals and families in Clackmannanshire has improved as a result of the work underway across the Council and with partners. The impacts include [...]
Written by Marie Clare Tully, Chief Executive, Columba 1400 At Columba 1400, our core purpose is to enable young people, especially those from tough realities, and the key adults in their lives to lead lives of purpose, meaning and contribution. Our approach is through values-based leadership, our belief in the potential of each and every young [...]
On a beautiful sunny day in June, we gathered in Staffin to celebrate 25 years of Columba 1400 and the vibrant life of our purpose-built Community and International Leadership Centre. It was a day filled with joy, inspiration and deep connection with our local and wider community. The celebration brought together past supporters, trustees, graduates, members [...]
Celebrating 25 Years of Transformational Leadership: On a sunny evening filled with warmth, reflection, and celebration, Columba 1400 marked a major milestone – 25 years of transformational work alongside young people and the key adults in their lives – at a special gathering hosted by our Patron, HRH The Princess Royal at the Palace of Holyroodhouse [...]
This week on Radio Skye, listeners were invited into the heart of Columba 1400 – through powerful interviews with our founder Norman Drummond, Chief Executive Marie Clare Tully, Katie Mackay and Andrew Whitefield, two graduates of our Young People’s Leadership Academies (YPLA) and Mairi MacDonald, one of our original steering group members. Each conversation shared not [...]
A blog written by our Chief Executive, Marie Clare Tully: At Columba 1400, we often say: the most important person is the next young person to cross our threshold – no matter how old that young person is. This June, we marked 25 years of being alongside young people and the key adults in their lives. [...]
On Tuesday 3rd June 2025, we celebrated 25 years since the doors of our Purpose-Built Community and International Leadership Centre in Staffin on the Isle of Skye were opened by HRH The Princess Royal. For 25 years, Columba 1400 has walked alongside young people from tough realities, and the key adults in their lives, helping them [...]
This year, Columba 1400 turns 25. To celebrate a quarter-century of empowering young people across Scotland, our team is stepping up – literally. We’ll be walking the full length of the spectacular, rugged Trotternish Ridge on the Isle of Skye: 37km of steep ascents, exposed ridgelines, and 2,417 metres of climbing. This two-day expedition is no [...]
