We are Care and Learning Alliance (CALA),  a leading Highland charity with over 40 years’ experience supporting children, families, and communities. Our charitable mission is to empower families by providing high-quality, accessible childcare, early learning, and family support services across the Highlands and Moray, with members and partners in other parts of Scotland.

Children, families, and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Through a one-door approach, we deliver a broad range of Childhood Practice and Family Support services, creating nurturing environments that support children’s wellbeing and development while strengthening families and communities through collaboration, care, and innovation.

Founded in 1972 and evolving into CALA in 2006, we have grown into a multi-stranded organisation and are now the largest childcare and family membership organisation delivering universal services in the Highlands. Guided by an experienced Board and senior leadership team, and working closely with local authorities and partners, we are committed to continuous improvement, high standards, and ensuring we get it right for every child and family.

We work in partnership to advocate for a strong rural lens that recognises the uniqueness of our rural and islands communities and the need to work differently and flexibly here. This has led to us championing and developing innovative models of delivery to help inform and influence policy and strategy across Scotland, highlighting the vital role of childcare, play and family support as key infrastructure for thriving and sustainable communities.

We deliver high-quality services that nurture and support children and families. Children, families and our team are at the heart of all we do