2020 Aberdeenshire Grant Awards
The £9,000 in outdoor education grants that the Jo Walters Trust gave to organisations in Aberdeenshire in 2020 nearly all have a very similar theme; putting in place materials and spaces for children to be able to spend more time learning outdoors. We are thrilled to see these projects taking shape, and delighted that one of the schools is Jo’s former primary school, Alford Primary.
- Bracoden Primary School: £1,000 to buy the equipment for them to start a forest school in a local woodland, including fire lighting equipment, tarpaulin to provide a sheltered area, various tools, safety equipment, cooking equipment, hand washing station, first aid equipment, den building/construction equipment and nature observational equipment. Read their lovely report here.
- Denis Law Legacy Trust: £2,000 to build on their existing successful Streetsport project. Streetsport provides free, outdoor, weekday/evening, sports/creative activities for young people (8-18 years) in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, resulting in a significant reduction in youth annoyance in the area. This funding will support an additional session in another community in Aberdeenshire, identified by police as in need of intervention.
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Boddam Primary School: £2,000 to buy waterproof clothing and tools to equip their new outdoor classroom so the children can use it all year round
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Strathburn Park Playgroup & Twos Group: £1,000 to turn a piece of derelict ground at Garioch Sports Centre into a fun outdoor space so the children at the nursery can spend more time outdoors in a stimulating environment. The grant will pay for things such as raised beds, tools, gloves, seeds and a mud kitchen.
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Alford Primary Parent Council: £2,000 to improve the 'weather-resistance' and seasonal capacity of their new outdoor learning programme, opening it up to all ages throughout most of the year. Using both their playground areas and adjoining woodland, the funding will allow them to create different sheltered learning areas, suitable for all age ranges using weather proof clothing and flexible, movable shelters. As this is Jo’s former school we were particularly delighted to be able to fund something so very worthwhile in her name. The school has put together a wonderful report including some great feedback from pupils which you can read here.
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Aboyne Primary School: £1,000 to build an outdoor calm space, comprising outdoor classroom, sensory trail and garden that can be used by pupils and staff alike.