New Sutherland rural skills training facility takes off
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Ten youngsters have spent the summer learning about crofting at a newly launched Sutherland rural skills training facility.
Lochview Rural Training opened its doors at the start of the school summer holiday and its first initiative was a Summer Croft Club for local children aged seven to11.
The course was oversubscribed with more than 42 names put forward for 10 places.
Those fortunate enough to secure a place have spent Friday afternoons at Lochview for the last five weeks learning all about crofting.
A registered charity, the facility has been established by youth development officer Cara Cameron, the former manager of Lairg and District Learning Centre, at her croft at Achfrish, by Lairg.
She felt compelled to set up the unit because of the high numbers of young people forced to leave the county in search of rural skills training.
Her new enterprise has been supported by a £25,000 award from Highlands and Islands Enterprise in addition to £5,000 support from FirstPort, which offers start-up funding to entrepreneurs with a business idea that addresses social, environmental or community need.
The centre is based in a large, larch clad unit erected at the croft.
The first batch of young students have been given an understanding of the basics of crofting and have learned about different livestock and their care, including piglets, baby pygmy goats and chickens.
They also took part in various crafts such as making horse shoes and a willow dome for hens.
Lairg learning Centre took part in one of the summer sessions, helping to construct raised vegetable beds.
In addition to the summer club, Mrs Cameron has run well attended crofting experience sessions, giving small groups an insight into work on the croft and crofting heritage.
“The response from both locals and tourist has been just phenomenal,” she said. “We are absolutely snowed under.”
Two adults have been recruited to assist with the club and experience days and also helping out are two teenage volunteers who are looking into a land based career.
The summer croft club finished last Friday and a new programme is about to start – a Young Crofter Club aimed at those in the 11-17 age range. The course has 10 places which are already fully booked.
“This course will be more technical because of the older age range,” said Mrs Cameron, “Participants will be studying topics such as soil science and animal health and welfare. It’s going to be a programme that will just run. We’ll see how it goes and will develop it as it goes on.
“Once a month we’ll bring bringing in an expert such as a vet or an equine specialist or farrier to give a talk.”
Funding towards the costs of running both the Summer Croft Club and Young Crofters Club as well as purchasing specialised equipment such as soil sample kits, has been forthcoming from Lairg Wind Farm Community Fund.
Mrs Cameron is keen to encourage local high schools to make use of the training facility, and has been in contact with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and is working in partnership with Farmer Jones Academy to offer courses in SQA Rural Skills and the National Progression Award in crofting.
However, she said that while schools were enthusiastic, they did not have the budget to pay for training.
“We are trying to generate income from various initiatives, such as our crofting experience sessions, to subsidise training places for high school pupils," she said.
