BCHS students launch community food larder for families
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STUDENTS at Buckie Community High School (BCHS) have launched– a community larder to help tackle food poverty.
The move is a long term sustainable community project based on pledges made at the school as part of the response to COP26.
Run by the Raising Attainment Team and the PE department in conjunction with the Buckie Community Kindness Group aims to help families that are in need or at crisis point
Driving the project forward are S6 Leadership students Choire Ward, Paris McKerral, Ellie Powrie, Kaylah Grant Fielding, Catie Carter, Caris Beth Whittle, Lori Lappin, Tyler Aitken, Alyssa Allen, Toni Smith and Teghan Graham.
PT Raising Attainment Stewart Clelland said: "As part of their course the Leadership group have to take ownership of projects and show a range of leadership skills.
"The group will be operating the community larder during their free periods twice on Mondays – 11am-12 noon and 2.30pm-3.30pm.
"We've been working on COP26 in school and as part of that we've been looking at food sustainability and the poverty and food gaps. Creating the community larder is a way of helping to address those issues locally.
"The Leadership group also wanted to give something back to the community and help families in crisis in the lead up to Christmas.
"We've been working with Buckie Kindness Group to source food as well as the Co-op, Tesco and Moray Food Plus. Members of the group will be reaching out to other local businesses.
"The community larder is something which will run every year, with a new cohort of pupils coming up to take over.
"This is a community school so it's very important that it's open to and supports the community."
To access the community larder, enter via the main entrance and turn left to head to group room 2. Pre-filled bags of food will be available though those attending are encouraged to bring their own bags if possible.
The group's efforts were praised by education committee chairwoman and local councillor Sonya Warren.
"I'm delighted to see the community larder project launched, it's a cause very close to my own heart," she continued.
"It's great to see these young people realising the benefits of a community larder and help families suffering from food insecurity and hardship. This is especially important at a time of rising costs and changes to Universal Credit which are hitting many families hard.
"It's great to see a community school supporting the community."
The launch of the community larder was part of a busy period at BCHS considering and responding to the many climate change issues being raised at COP 26.
The geography department made up a series of daily activities for junior classes each day, with information available each day about COP26 highlighting a Climate Hero and giving students the chance to participate in a BCHS COP26 challenge. Staff also encouraged discussion around these challenges and Climate Heroes in classes.
In what was a busy week in the geography department staff, with the help of prefects on duty, were encouraging students to make a climate pledge as a long-term commitment to work towards Climate Action.
The science department took part in litter picks with junior classes, with the support of the Buckie Roots group who are doing an excellent job of keeping the local community tidy. BCHS also have an Environmental Science Eco-Committee looking and the school's waste and recycling.
Across the school there was a focus on 'cultural sustainability', which has to do with maintaining cultural beliefs, cultural practices, heritage conservation and attempts to answer the question of whether or not any given cultures will exist in the context of the future. Looking at this area of Learning for Sustainability (LfS), there was been a focus on the diversity of Scotland's history, culture and heritage, as well as engaging with other cultures and traditions around the world.
To this end, a new Level 5 qualification is being delivered – Scottish Studies – across several departments. Representing local traditions, the Cullen Sea School brought their new St Ayles Skiff to display for curious students last Wednesday.
Over in the PE department an Active Travel Week saw students urged to cycle, walk, skate or scoot to school.
