Lairg and District Learning Centre welcomed two new members of staff in April 2024

Sarah Forrest has joined as the new manager and Heather Bruce as Project Officer for the Highland Community Waste Partnership.

 

Sarah previously managed the Learning Centre’s Seasons of Change, a Keep Scotland Beautiful Climate Challenge funded project.  She has extensive experience in the arts and education with 20 years at the BBC as a researcher in the Arts and Science Central Research Unit and a role at Middlesex University on a BSc programme, looking after quality assurance, learning and the student experience. “I’m delighted to be returning to the Learning Centre and look forward to delivering interesting, new, and exciting classes and workshops, as well as continuing with currently funded projects. It’s a challenging time for charities, but with such a strong and passionate team I’m confident we can continue to provide fantastic learning  opportunities in the heart of our community”.

 

Heather was the founder of The Rusty Coo Gift & Eco Shop and the Lairg Community Markets in Lairg. Both were set up as a way of promoting local exchange and encouraging more traffic through our beautiful area. Having dedicated the last 5 years to these causes, she also sought to promote the use of eco-friendly products in the area, thus reducing waste and enabling locals to try eco products that may have been out of their reach previously. She also makes children’s clothing for a living, and has been teaching others to sew through the Learning Centre. “I’m very happy to have been given the opportunity to work for the Highland Community Waste Project, it is a project very close to my heart which I am delighted to be able to share with others.”