Fun and educational activities for childrens’ school holidays at our popular “holiday club” more…
Get involved and help support our valuable work, either as a financial supporter or as someone with traditional skills to pass on to the next generation more…
Use our space for your meeting or event in an inspiring rural location close to Nevis Range Mountain Chairlift. Forest walks, bike hire and cafe nearby more…
Evening courses and lectures for adults are held during the autumn / winter. Topics include cookery / crafts / local history / country life / wildlife more…
Rural skills projects with schools during term e.g. “seed to supper” more…
Learn
Introduction by Isabel Campbell MBE Founder member and now one of our Trustees
LOCHABER RURAL EDUCATION TRUST was formed as a charity in 2001 but education visits began in 1978. That was the year when Primary two pupils in Banavie School first visited Isabel Campbell’s croft to learn about animals, agriculture and heritage. Since then Playgroups, Nurseries and Primary Schools have continued to use our outdoor learning resource annually resulting in Isabel and her daughter Linda taking a week off work in May each year to meet the demand for visits. Lambing time is always a favourite with the children.
Isabel’s vision to build a rural complex for the Lochaber community in 1996 also included the building of an outdoor classroom. The vision was to preserve our rural skills and crofting heritage by education and recreation. The centre would cater for all ages and abilities and provide a meeting place where young and old could socialise and learn from each other.
Successful grant applications resulted in the Rural Education Centre being built and opened in April, 2005. Since then thousands of children and adults have taken part in the many activities organised by the Trust. For the first three years the centre was run by an Education Officer who was paid by grant funding. Unfortunately we have received no funding to cover the costs of an Education Officer since and we now run totally on volunteers.
Each year over 1,000 children as well as adults receive valuable experience by taking part in activities. Special courses are organised for children with learning difficulties and those in wheelchairs.
The Trust is grateful to the Highland Council and the Robertson Trust for their invaluable support
