Buckie High School community larder team lauded by parliament

A GROUP of senior Buckie Community High School (BCHS) students who have banded together to help some of the most vulnerable people in the local area are to be honoured by the Scottish Parliament.

The community larder project aims to tackle food poverty and their sterling efforts since being launched in November have caught the eye of Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam, who has lodged a motion at Holyrood lauding their efforts.

Run by the Raising Attainment Team and the PE department in conjunction with the Buckie Community Kindness Group it is a long term sustainable community project based on pledges made at the school as part of the response to COP26. The students involved are studying for a Level 6 Leadership qualification as part of which they have to take responsibility for and run a project.

PT Raising Attainment Stewart Clelland said the project team had been left stunned by the unexpected honour.

He said: "The team are all really, really happy about this and it's great to see their hard work being recognised in this way.

"None of us expected anything like this and it's wonderful to see what they're doing being appreciated on a wider stage. We never dreamt we'd have this much success so soon.

"It was very kind of Karen to do this and we've got copies of the letter she sent us telling us about the motion up in the school."

Since its launch the larder has received generous support from the local community and are keen to reach out to those who may benefit from the project.

"We've had an amazing response from the community since we launched, people have been very generous," Mr Clelland continued.

"We've had donations from different groups and business, such as Purple nightclub, the Co-op and Buckie Kindness Group, plus from individuals as well, which we're very grateful for," Mr Clelland continued.

"We're looking for more people to come forward to make use of the larder and we're reaching out to various groups in the community to see if we can help.

"One of the things we're doing is reaching out to local care homes and providing them with food hampers.

"Nothing is wasted – anything we have leftover is given to the Special Education Department for their compost heap.

"We're always grateful for donations, which can be left at the school reception."

The students operate the community larder during their free periods twice on Mondays – 11am-12 noon and 2.30pm-3.30pm.

BCHS rector Neil Johnson congratulated the community larder team on their parliamentary honour and said their work embodied many of the school's core values.

He commented: "I am delighted that the recent introduction of a community larder has received this recognition at Holyrood.

"Some of the senior pupils have been very keen to support local food banks, and setting up one of our own was a natural extension from this. Mr Clelland has worked hard to support the pupils in setting this up and together they are really embodying part of our values – that we care for each other.

"Well done to all of them!"

Commending the BCHS community larder team, Ms Adam said: “I am delighted to have lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament exemplifying the phenomenal work of Stewart Clelland and all the students at Buckie High School who were involved in the community larder project.

“Stewart and the students at Buckie have been nothing short of inspiring in supporting members of the community, meanwhile learning invaluable organisational skills as part of their educational journey.

“Empathy is one of the most important attributes a person can have, and Stewart and the students at Buckie have went above and beyond in displaying they have exactly that.

“This motion is a small token of gratitude from me to say thank you, and give the recognition that is so well deserved to everyone involved.”

There was praise from Moray Council education committee chairwoman and local councillor Sonya Warren.

"I was delighted to hear the news that Karen had lodged a parliamentary motion commending the BCHS community larder team.

"It is thoroughly deserved and I'm very proud of them for what they have achieved in such a short space of time.

"Seeing the school and the young people concerned recognised for their hard work on behalf of others is wonderful – they are an example to us all, especially at this time of year."

Ms Adam's motion to the parliament reads: "That the parliament commends the pupils and staff of Buckie High School who were involved in the community larder project; understands that as part of the project, pupils collected donations from around the local community, which they sorted, organised and distributed to people in need in the local community; welcomes what it sees as the educational benefits of this project, including developing organisational skills, and teaching empathy and a sense of community, and congratulates everyone involved in this fantastic initiative.