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Lairg crofter sets up rural skills training centre


By Caroline McMorran

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A new training facility is set to open in Sutherland offering young people the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills needed for a career in land based industries.

Youth development officer Cara Cameron is establishing the rural skills training centre at her croft at Achfrish, Shinness, near Lairg.

Lochview Rural Training has been backed with £25,000 funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise in addition to £5000 support from FirstPort which offers start-up funding to entrepreneurs with a business idea that addresses social, environmental or community needs.

Mrs Cameron, the former manager of Lairg and District Learning Centre, said she had felt compelled to set up the facility because of the high numbers of young people forced to leave the county in search of training and employment opportunities.

She said: “It’s scary to look at statistics and see how many young people move away from Sutherland. We are losing so many people because we are not providing them with any opportunities to gain experience in rural skills and the land based sector.”

She believes that Sutherland is the ideal location for a rural skills training unit because of the rural nature of the county, its hills, crofts and peatland; and the increasing importance placed on land management projects - such as peatland restoration - due to climate change.

She added that she was “pulling on all her years of experience” to set up Lochview Rural Training.

As well as a degree in agriculture she has a Masters in Organic Farming and is the local area assessor for the Crofting Commission. She runs a flock of Cheviot sheep at her croft and also has cattle, horses, chicken's and large black pigs - a critically endangered species.

Mrs Cameron said lockdown and furlough from her Kinlochbervie based youth development job had given her the chance to progress her new venture.

“I made up a business plan and sent it to various organisations,” she said. “I thought people would say ‘Yes, it’s a great idea, but …..However, the ‘but’ never came; instead it was when are you starting?”

Planning consent has already been granted for a larch, clad unit to be erected at the Achfrish croft. The building is being assembled off-site and delivery is expected shortly. It will have the capacity to accommodate 12 students at the required social distance measures.

Mrs Cameron is currently trying to “pull everything together” and is setting up links with local schools, land managers and estate owners as well as crofters, in addition to establishing a web and social media presence.

She has been in contact with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and working in partnership with Farmer Jones Academy to offer courses in SQA Rural Skills and National Progression Award in crofting.

“We can also do tailor made packages for schools,” she said. “It is about trying to get as many young people in the area to think about some form of land based industry as a career.”

A social enterprise, Lochview Rural Training will also be running adult classes in crofting as well as developing an agritourism business, offering croft experience days when visitors will be able to see a traditional croft and learn about the heritage of crofting.

It is hoped that an income stream from this side of the business will eventually subsidise the cost of training places for young people.

Other plans include setting up a Crofting Club and establishing a crofting mentoring scheme whereby veteran crofters take on apprentices.

Mrs Cameron hopes to be fully operational at the start of the next academic year and would welcome donations and sponsorship. For further information visit www.lochviewruraltraining.co.uk or email: info@lochviewruraltraining.co.uk


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