CALA chief executive attends opening of Brora nursery's new outdoor classroom and praises community for supporting the project
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A DAY care centre for children in East Sutherland has officially opened its new outdoor learning classroom and garden space.
Local resident Sandy Crawford, representing the project’s funders, and five-year-old Zak Mackay, who attends the centre, performed the opening ceremony at Sutherland Stepping Stones in Brora yesterday by jointly cutting a ribbon.
Run by the Care and Learning Alliance (CALA), Stepping Stones provides day care and out-of-school care for up to 30 children aged from 0 to 16.
CALA, which has charitable status, operates 24 nurseries and after-school clubs across the Highlands.
A £9000 grant for the new wooden structure was awarded from Kilbraur Wind Farm Community Benefit Trust – Mr Crawford is a former trustee and was the first point of contact during the project planning.
Brora civil engineering contractor Edward Mackay Contractor provided materials for the classroom foundation free of charge and brothers Gordon and Euan Mackay provided the machinery and skills to prepare the area.
Local volunteers Warren and Zander Henegan, Jay Arey, John Duncan and Alan Cameron laid the foundations.
Warren Henegan and Jay Arey then took holidays from their day jobs to build the cabin and complete the project.
CALA chief executive Jaci Douglas was at the opening ceremony along with CALA head of services Debbie Campbell and Brora Primary School head teacher Dawn McKenzie.
Ms Douglas praised the community and individual volunteers for the support shown to the centre to ensure the project was completed.
She said: “It has been an absolutely fantastic community effort.
“First we approached the wind farm community benefit trust who so kindly gave us funding to build this beautiful outdoor classroom.
“Then we went to Edward Mackay Contractor who gave us a donation to build and construct it. Families involved in the centre and friends gave up their holidays to help build it.”
Ms Douglas added: “It is going to be a great resource for Stepping Stones."
