Columba 1400

09/06/2026

21/05/2026

The Columba 1400 Cafe's new opening hours will be:

Monday - Thursday
10am - 4pm

We look forward to seeing you within these times!

09/03/2026

When Parvathy Othagatt won The Hunter Foundation 'If I Ruled Scotland ' competition, she also won a Columba 1400 Young People's Leadership Academy for pupils from her school, Hyndland Secondary School.

16 young people from the school (including Parvathy) were selected to take part and having completed Phase One at their school, today they are on their way to our purpose-built Community and International Leadership Centre in Staffin on the Isle of Skye.

We cannot wait to welcome them for a week where they'll explore their own leadership, build their confidence and start a journey of transformation 😁

08/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the women who help shape the Columba 1400 community – from the young women and key adults who take part in our leadership experiences, to our team, partners and mentors who support them along the way.

At Columba 1400 we believe leadership begins with values – and every day we see young women and key adults stepping forward with courage, empathy and a strong sense of purpose.

Through our approach to values-based leadership, we aim to create the space and confidence for them to recognise their own potential and the difference they can make in their communities.

Today is a moment to celebrate progress, recognise those who lead with values, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders.

13/02/2026

We are delighted to share that, thanks to support from The Scottish Government and match funding from The Hunter Foundation, we will be delivering 20 new fully funded Head Teachers’ Leadership Academies.

This investment means 280 more Head Teachers and Deputy Head Teachers from Additional Support Needs, Virtual Heads, Early Years, Primary and Secondary schools in Scotland can now take part in our values-based leadership experience without worrying about cost – helping more school leaders to lead with clarity, confidence and purpose.

Since 2000, Columba 1400 has supported over 1,700 Head Teachers and Deputy Head Teachers to build stronger school communities where both staff and young people can thrive.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:

“As a former teacher, I have seen first-hand the pivotal role that head teachers and deputy heads have at the heart of schools and across the wider community.

“They help drive up standards in classrooms, and this has resulted in clear improvements in attainment nationally and better futures for children and young people. They also provide invaluable support to teachers and staff in their schools, improving the working environment and ensuring everyone feels valued and able to be at their best in the classroom.

“The Head Teacher Leadership Academies are a proven success, and I know that participation will ensure heads and deputy heads will get the time and support to reflect on their values and strengthen leadership, enabling them to create lasting change in their schools and communities.

“This investment is part of the Scottish Government’s wider support for the teaching profession, which also includes the recently launched ‘Teaching Makes People’ recruitment campaign.”

Sir Tom Hunter said:

“School leaders are the secret sauce to Scotland’s future, enabling the next generation to flourish and that’s precisely why we should invest in their values-based leadership.

“The results are phenomenal and that’s why I’d like to see every head and deputy head teacher in Scotland go through the Columba 1400 Head Teacher Leadership Academies.”

We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and the continued belief in the power of Columba 1400 and our approach to values-based leadership.

We invite school leaders to join our waiting list for the newly funded academies here: https://form.jotform.com/252784591080361

28/01/2026

Leading a school is complex, demanding and often isolating. Our Head Teachers’ Leadership Academy supports senior leaders to build confidence, connections and realise that they already have it within them to be inspirational leaders.

“I would not hesitate to recommend coming onto the Columba 1400 Head Teachers’ Leadership Academy. It has been an absolutely inspirational experience. It has made me reflect; it has made me realise that I am good enough. It has made me really look forward to the future, which a few days ago I really did not think would be possible.”

Our Head Teachers Leadership Academy is for senior leaders from across early years, primary, secondary, and additional support needs. Add your name to our waiting list here: https://form.jotform.com/252784591080361

27/01/2026

At just 18, Travis is already making a difference as a Primary Early Years Support Assistant in Dundee – supporting children with additional needs and championing others in his community.

As a care-experienced young person, Travis took part in a Columba 1400 Young People’s Leadership Academy that helped him find confidence, purpose and belief in himself. Today, he’s using those same values to lead, support and inspire others.

Read Travis’s story and discover how Columba 1400’s approach to values-based leadership can transform lives.

👉 https://columba1400.com/portfolio-items/traviss-story-it-completely-changed-my-life/

18/12/2025

Our latest case study shares the story of five young people from Levenmouth Academy whose confidence, leadership and sense of purpose grew through a Columba 1400 Young People’s Leadership Academy – and took them all the way to Zimbabwe!

From stepping outside their comfort zones on Skye to raising funds and working at local schools in Victoria Falls, they showed focus, creativity and awareness.

This is how our approach to values-based leadership leads to lasting and transformative change – for the young people themselves and for the communities they live in... and beyond!

👉 Read the full story: https://columba1400.com/portfolio-items/from-skye-to-zimbabwe-leadership-service-and-lasting-change/

17/12/2025

As we approach the Christmas and New Year period, we want to say thank you to everyone who has been alongside Columba 1400 throughout the course of this year, and indeed, every one of these past 25 years.

Through Columba 1400, young people and the key adults in their lives are given the space to ‘step back’ from the noise of everyday life, to reflect, reconnect and discover who they are and who they might yet become. The core of what we do is a symbol of trust, hope and belonging for Scotland and beyond.

Our work is underpinned by our Columban core values, our Columba 1400 founding principles and the simple but powerful belief that real lasting change happens when good people come together, one on one, one by one, and then in partnerships.

As we look towards the New Year, we remain highly hopeful.

Hopeful because of our young people and the key adults in their lives whom we meet on our Leadership Academies.

Hopeful because of the communities we work alongside.

Hopeful because of the people who kindly support us.

From all of us at Columba 1400, we wish you much peace at Christmas and all good wishes for an inspired and inspiring New Year ✨

15/12/2025

The Columba 1400 Cafe’s last week of 2025 has arrived…

Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout the year, it has been lovely seeing so many familiar faces and new ones too! 🥰

We will be open today, Monday 15th December until Friday 19th December, 10am - 4pm serving our delicious lunch menu below, and then we will be CLOSED until 2026 🎄🌟

As always we will be using January for maintenance and staff training, we will post on our socials as soon as we have a date for the Columba 1400 Cafe reopening in 2026. ✨

Wishing you all a cosy and happy time over the festivities with your loved ones, from all of the team at Columba 1400! 💞