Princess Anne is backing a new initiative

Speaking ahead of the launch of the Columba 1400 Foundation in the Easterhouse area of Glasgow, the Princess Royal said the charity is aiming to help ensure individuals are more than "numbers on a board".

The charity aims to develop the talents and leadership skills of people in deprived communities.

A centre has been established which will be linked to Columba 1400's headquarters, on the Isle of Skye, where courses are held aimed at developing people's potential.

There is an ambience of hospitality about the west coast of Scotland which automatically helps people who arrive on the shores Princess Anne

The Princess told The Herald newspaper that she became the charity's patron five years ago when she was approached by Church of Scotland minister Norman Drummond.

At that stage, the project was little more than an idea.

She said: "A question that I always used to get asked was, should charities exist in areas where statutory authorities provide everything?

"You need organisations like Columba 1400 to be at the front end, reminding us that we are dealing with individual people, not just numbers on a board.

"The really inspired leaders are those who find the key. Columba 1400 has proved it's never too late to find the key and if people have had a difficult time in the past, Columba 1400 gives them the chance."

The princess said Skye provides the ideal setting for the charity's courses.

She said: "There is an ambience of hospitality about the west coast of Scotland which automatically helps people who arrive on the shores.