Minister for Learning Dr Alasdair Allan meets next generation of Scotland�s crofters

18th January 2013

Crofting Connections, a unique crofting project for children and young people in the Highlands and Islands, will launch its second phase Plockton High School today (Friday 18 January). 2013

The launch event will be addressed by Minister for Learning Dr Alasdair Allan and attended by pupils, teachers, crofters, MSPs and representatives from the Crofting Commission and the Scottish Crofting Federation.

The acclaimed Plockton Music School will be performing a selection of traditional music at the launch event and Margaret Bennett, story-teller, musician and folklorist, patron of Crofting Connections will provide the closing address.

Crofting Connections is a project run by Soil Association Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Crofting Federation. The project enables children and young people living in crofting communities throughout the Highlands and Islands to learn about crofting past, present and future. It aims to increase children�s and young peoples� understanding of the connections between crofting, food, health and the environment.

The second phase of Crofting Connections, which is funded by the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Heritage Lottery Fund, will run for three years and extend the geographical coverage of the project in the crofting counties.

Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning said: "Crofting has had a key role in the development of the Highland economy and its identity over a number of centuries. It�s also a way of life, and it is important that the younger generation learn about how crofting has influenced Highland life as part of a broad education, as well as fostering a potential new generation of crofters for the future.

"Curriculum For Excellence is the perfect framework for delivering this fantastic project and with a food element to it, Crofting Connections will help to ensure that every pupil in Scotland has the opportunity to learn more about the food journey from plough to plate.�

Laura Stewart, Director Soil Association Scotland, said: �In the Year of Natural Scotland, we are delighted to be working with our partners to continue to build on the success of Crofting Connections. We look forward to supporting more young people to learn about the contribution of crofting and the crofting counties to Scotland�s natural heritage. The second phase of this unique project will also help to create stronger partnerships in local communities, between schools and community-owned crofting estates, crofting landlords, social enterprises and local businesses.�

Rachael McCormack, Director of Strengthening Communities with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), said: �Crofting Connections is a very welcome project which will help young people take up crofting opportunities, or return to their communities after college or university. Rural communities across Scotland need to attract and retain people, and it is important to develop new ways to help these places become more resilient and sustainable. Crofting is an intrinsic part of the Highlands and Islands economy, and this initiative will complement HIE's role to support crofting communities.�

Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chairman of The Highland Council�s Adult & Children�s Services Committee, said: �We are delighted to be hosting the launch of the second phase of the Crofting Connections programme. The first phase captured the interest and imagination of staff and pupils across a wide range of primary and secondary schools in Highland. The programme introduces pupils to historical, social, cultural and environmental topics in a context that they all recognise and leads them on to inter-disciplinary work that addresses matters such as sustainability, employment, land management and the importance of their cultural heritage. It is a very good programme.�

Gaelic
Ministear airson Ionnsachadh, Dr. Alasdair Allan a� coinneachadh ri ginealach �r de chroitearan an Alba

Th�id an ath ph�irt den phr�iseact croitearachd �Ceanglaichean Croitearachd� airson clann agus daoine �ga anns a� Gh�idhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan, a chur air bhog air Dihaoine (18mh Faoilleach) aig �rd-sgoil a� Phluic.

Bi Dr. Alasadair Allan, Ministear airson Ionnsachadh, c�mhla ri sgoilearan, tidsearan, croitearan, buill P�rlamaid agus riochdairean bho Coimisean na Croitearachd agus Caidreachas Croitearachd na h-Alba an l�thair air an latha.

Bi ce�l ann bho Sgoil Ci�il na G�idhealtachd agus bi Mairead Bennett, sgeulaiche, neach-ci�il agus rannsaiche dualchais a� cur cr�och air an tachartas mar p�tran a� phr�iseact.

Tha a� phr�iseact Ceanglaichean Croitearachd air a� ruith le Comann na h-�ireach ann am com-p�irteachas leis an Caidreachas Croitearachd na h-Alba. Tha a� phr�iseact a� toirt cothrom do chlann agus do dhaoine �ga a tha a� fuireach anns na coimhearsnachdan tro a� Gh�idhealtachd �s nan Eilean (HIE) gus ionnsachadh mu eachraidh, na tha a� tachairt an dr�sta agus na thachras anns an �m ri teachd ann an croitearachd. Tha a� phr�iseact ag amas air tuigse a thoirt seachad air na ceanglaichean eadar croitearachd, biadh, sl�inte agus an �rainneachd.

Bi an d�rna ph�irt de Ceanglaichean Croitearachd, air a mhaoineachadh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba, Iomairt na G�idhealtachd �s nan Eilean agus Maoin Dualchas a' Chrannchur N�iseanta a� ruith airson tr� bliadhna agus air a� leudachadh airson barrachd sg�rean croitearachd a thoirt a-staigh dhan phr�iseact.

Thuirt Dr. Alasdair Allan, Ministear airson Ionnsachadh: �Tha croitearachd air a bhith na ph�irt chudromach ann a� leasachadh eaconamaidh agus �omaigh na G�idhealtachd thairis air n linntean. �Se d�igh-beatha a th�ann agus tha e cudromach gun ionnsaich an ath ghinealach mu dheidhinn mar a tha buaidh air a bhith aig croitearachd air a� Gh�idhealtachd, mar ph�irt den foghlam nas leathainn a bharrachd air ginealach �r de chroitearan a bhrosnachadh.

� Tha Curraicealam airson S�r-mhathais na dh�igh mhath gus am pr�iseact seo a� libhrigeadh agus le biadh mar ph�irt dheth, cuidichidh Ceanglaichean Croitearachd a h-uile sgoilear ann an Alba cothrom barrachd fhaighinn a-mach mun turas a bhitheas biadh a� gabhail bho talamh gu b�rd�

Thuirt Laura Stiuibhart, Sti�iriche Comann na h-�ireach: �Anns a� Bhliadhna Alba N�darrach, tha sinn toilichte a bhith ag obair c�mhla ri buidhnean eile airson togail air soirbheas aig Ceanglaichean Croitearachd. Tha sinn a� coimhead air adhart le bhith a� toirt taic do daoine �ga gus ionnsachadh mu dheidhinn an ceangal eadar croitearachd agus na sg�rean croitearachd ri dualchas n�dar na h-Alba. Mar ph�irt den phr�iseact th�id ceanglaichean nas l�idir a chruthachadh eadar coimhearsnachdan ionadail, eadar sgoiltean, oighreachdan air an sheilbh le coimhearsnachdan, luchd-seilbh croitearachd, iomairtean s�isealta agus gn�omhachasan ionadail.

Thuirt Raoinaid NicCaramaig, Sti�iriche Neartachadh Coimhearsnachdan aig HIE: �Tha sinn a� cur f�ilte air am pr�iseact Ceanglaichean Croitearachd , a bheireas cothrom do dhaoine �ga croitearachd a thoirt suas neo tilleadh air ais dha na coimhearsnachdan as d�idh a bhith aig colaiste neo aig an Oilthigh. Feumaidh coimhearsnachdan d�thchail air feadh Alba daoine a th�ladh agus a chumail agus tha e cudromach gun t�id d�ighean �ra a chruthachadh airson agus gum bi na �iteachan sin nas seasmhachd agus nas l�idir. Tha croitearachd na ph�irt cudromach anns na eaconamaidh aig a� Gh�idhealtachd �s nan Eilean agus tha an iomairt seo a� cur ris na tha HIE a� d�anamh airson taic a thoirt do coimhearsnachdan.�

Thuirt Comhairliche Alasdair Christie, Cathraiche Comataidh Seirbheisean airson Inbhich is Clann aig Comhairle na G�idhealtachd: �Tha sinn air leth toilichte gu bheil an darna ph�irt den phr�iseact �Ceanglaichean Croitearachd� ga chur air bhog. Ghlac a� chiad ph�irt den phr�iseact uidh agus mac-meanmainn na tidsearan agus na sgoilearan anns na bun-sgoiltean agus �rd-sgoiltean tarsaing na G�idhealtachd. Tha am pr�iseact a� toirt cuspairean leithid eachraidh, cuspairean s�isealta, cultarail agus �rainneachail ann an d�igh a tha iad ag aithneachadh agus a� leantainn air gu cuspairean eile mar seasmhachd, obair, riaghladh talamh agus cho cudromach sa tha an dualchas cultarail. �Se pr�iseact uabhasach math a th�ann.�