The Highland Council today (Monday) announced Morrison Construction as an Event Partner to the Highland Promise – An Gealladh Mòr – the year long programme of activity being run in schools throughout the Highlands as part of Highland 2007.

The Highland Promise is a unique programme that provides each of the 29 Community School Groups (secondary plus feeder primaries) in the Highlands with a budget of approximately £20,000 and a menu of more than 100 activity options.  Following input from pupils, each school group selects from the menu and allocates its budget against their chosen activities.

The exciting range of activities on offer have been drawn from Highland 2007’s six cultural strands – arts, heritage, sport, science, environment and language – and is provided by a mix of both national agencies and local providers.  Activities young people can be involved in include finding a star to help establish the Highland Constellation; creating recyclable fashion and showing it off; hands-on 15m bridge-building and creating a fantasy environmentally friendly design for their home.

Councillor Alison Magee, convener of The Highland Council and chair of Highland 2007, said: “We are delighted to welcome Morrison Construction as a partner to The Highland Promise.  Their support for will help to ensure every young person within the Highland Council area will have access to a range of cultural activities they may not otherwise have had the chance to experience.  This is a hugely important programme and we are very proud to be able to offer our young people such unique opportunities.”

Donald McLachlan, operations director of Morrison Construction, said:  “We at Morrison are more usually associated with the construction of new education facilities or programmes of improvement works, such as those carried out here at Merkinch Primary School, which enhance the fabric of our Highland community.  So we are delighted to announce today our support for this important pupil-centred school’s initiative.  Educational, creative and leisure activities improve young people’s skills, confidence and self-esteem.  All young people across the Highlands deserve the best possible opportunities to enjoy what their region has to offer and to support them in achieving their full potential.”

Sheena Morrison, Head Teacher at Merkinch Primary School, said: “Morrison Construction have recently completed the fabulous new nursery facility at the school and we are delighted to now see them investing in the Highland Promise.  This initiative offers our pupils an exciting range of unique opportunities.  We have already enjoyed creating a ceramic wall with hand painted tiles and we are looking forward to future projects working with the Edinburgh International Science Festival and the Institute of Civil Engineers.” 

The Highland Promise is currently funded by the Scottish Executive, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Leader+ and LifeScan Scotland.  The additional support from Morrison Construction now takes the total programme budget beyond £500,000 and will directly enhance the range and quality of opportunities available to youngsters across the region.

GAELIC VERSION 

Luchd-togail a’ Mhoireastanaich nan co-luchd-pàirt ann an clàr a’ Gheallaidh Mhòir

Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air innse an-diugh (Diluain) gu bheil Luchd-togail a’ Mhoireastanaich nan co-luchd-pàirt ann an clàr a’ Gheallaidh Mhoir – clàr a ruitheas fad bliadhna ann an sgoiltean air feadh na Gàidhealtachd mar phàirt de Bhliadhna na Gàidhealtachd 2007.

Se clàr sònraichte a th’anns a’Ghealladh Mhòr, agus tha e a’ toirt do gach fhear dhen naoi sgoil fichead air Ghàidhealachd (an dà chuid àrd-sgoiltean agus bun-sgoiltean nan buidheannan coimhearsnachd) buidseat de mu £20,000 agus roighinn de chòrr ‘s 100 gniomhan bho‘m faod iad taghadh.

Le cuir a-steach bhon chloinn, taghaidh gach buidheann sgoile bhon a’ chlàr agus sònraichidh iad am buidseat a-rèir na gniomhan a tha iad air a thaghadh.

Tha na gniomhan a th’air a bhi air an taghadh air an tarraing bho gach fear dhe na sia cuspairean a th’aig a’ Ghàidhealtachd 2007 – ealan, dualchas, spòrs, àrainneachd agus cànan – agus air a sholarachadh le measgachadh de bhuidheannan, nàiseanta agus ionadail. A-measg nan gniomhan anns an urrainn òganaich a dhol a’ sàs, tha a bhi a’ lorg an Gigleachan Gàidhealach, a’ cruthachadh fasan ath-chruthachail agus ga lìbhrigeadh; a bhi a’ togail dhrochaid anns am bi coig meatar deug, agus dealbhachadh de dhachaigh a bhitheas math dhan àrainneachd.

Thuirt Alison Magee, Neach-gairm Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Cathraiche a’ Ghàidhealtachd 2007, “The sinn toilichte luchd-togail a’ Mhoireastanaich fhailteachadh mar co-luchd-phàirt ann an clàr a’ Gheallaidh Mhòir. Cuidichidh an taic-san deanadh cinnteach gum bi cothrom aig a h-uile duine òg taobh a-staigh chriochan Chomhairle na Gaidhealtachd brath a ghabhil air sgaoileadh fharsaing de ghniomhan cultaireil nach b’urrainn a bhi aca air dhòigh sam bi eile. Se clàr air leth cudthromach a tha seo agus tha sinn moiteil gun urrainn dhuinn na h-uidhir a chothroman sònraichte a thoirt do ar n-òigridh”.

Thuirt Dòmhnall Mac Lachlainn, Stiuiriche Obraichean aig Luchd-togail a’ Mhoireastanaich: “Sa bhitheantas tha sinn air ar faicinn mar fheadhainn a tha a’ togail ghoireasan ùra aig sgoiltean agus a’ cuir ri luach ar coimhearsnachd Gàidhealach. Marsin, tha sinn air leth toilichte ar taic a nochdadh an-diugh airson an clàr seo do chloinn. Tha goireasan cuir-seachad ag àrdachadh sgilean, misneachd agus fèin-spèis dhaoine òga. Tha òigridh air feadh na Gàidhealtachd airidh air na cothroman ‘s fheàrr anns a’ sgìre aca agus air taic ann a bhi a’ co-lionadh an comasan”.

Thuirt Sìne Mhoireastan, Ceannard Sgoil Mhargaidh na h-Innse, “Tha luchd-togail a’ Mhoireastanaich air crioch a chuir air togalach miorbhaileach sgoil-àraich ùr a seo agus tha sinn air leth toilichte am faicinn a-nise a’sàs a’ Ghealladh Mhòr. Tha seo a’ tabhann farsaingeachd de chothroman air leth do chlann-sgoile. Tha sinn, mu thràth, air balla ceramic le leacagan air am peantadh le laimh a chruthachadh agus tha odhail oirnn a bhi ag obrachadh comhla ri Fèis Shaidheans Eadar-Nàiseanta Dhun Eideann agus le Institiud nan Innlearan Shiobhalta”.

Tha an Gealladh Mòr an-dràsta air a mhaoineachadh le Riaghaltas na h-Alba, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ‘s nan Eilean, Leader+ agus Lifescan Alba. Tha am maoineachadh a bharrachd bho Luchd-togail a’ Mhoireastanaich a’ toirt am buidseat uile gu leir thairis air £500,000 agus bheir e leasachadh mòr air farsainngeachd agus air deagh-ghnè nan cothroman a th’ann do dh’òigridh air feadh na roinne.