Into New Digital Realms!

2026 sees us accelerating into the digital age!
We are thrilled to announce that our organisation has recently been awarded a Digital Inclusion grant for £18k from the Scottish Government.

Led by our trusted Digital Tutor, these sessions are designed to help around 200 older adults feel more confident using technology.
We will focus on simple, practical tools that make life easier—from online banking and shopping to library services.

In conjunction with this award, we’re also delighted to have a Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI) grant active from April 2026 onwards, which will focus on the use of a range of apps like Google Lens, Merlin Bird Recognition, Banking, and Games.

We can’t wait to get out there!

Funding for 2025

Funding for 2025

Thanks to several funding streams dedicated to improving mental health and well-being in our area, we’ve had a busy year expanding our offerings by introducing new mindful activities like Restorative Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong to our schedule. These complement our wide range of popular workshops, which include:

  • Cooking and woodworking for adults and families
  • Fermenting and foraging classes
  • Walking sessions for health
  • Mosaic making and storytelling
  • Wool crafts in partnership with Highland Wool CiC
  • Orienteering and talks

We’ve been fortunate to offer all of these alongside our staple workshops in Sewing, Gaelic, IT, Pottery, and Art classes.

It’s been so wonderful seeing both new and returning students join our workshops this year. While most of our current funding is set to end in March 2026, we are committed to continuing to offer a varied program wherever possible.

~Team LDLC

Beautiful Mosaics created by local learners!

**UPDATE: You can currently see these on display at Ferrycroft Visitor Centre until October**

We’re absolutely thrilled to showcase the wonderful mosaics created in our recent workshops! These impressive pieces were brought to life through the efforts of Sally Purdy, who collaborated with enthusiastic students from Brora Learning Zone and right here at the Lairg Learning Centre. Using a variety of recycled materials, the participants designed and carefully assembled these unique artworks.

A big thank you to Sally Purdy for her guidance and to all the students for their hard work and imaginative contributions. These beautiful mosaics are a fantastic achievement and a great example of what can be accomplished through learning and teamwork. Well done to all! (Photos below)

Wrapping up 2024

As we approach the festive season, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the fantastic year we’ve had Lairg and District Learning Centre. It’s been a busy and inspiring time, filled with learning, creativity, and connection – all made possible by our wonderful tutors, dedicated students, and the community we serve.

A Year of Amazing Workshops

This year, we’ve continued to offer a wide range of workshops and classes, each aimed at bringing something special to the local community. From the rich melodies of Gaelic song, language, and myth, to the hands-on creativity in our Maker’s Space, there’s been something for everyone.

Our family cooking classes have brought people together around the table, learning new skills and sharing recipes, while our writing and art classes have nurtured creativity in all its forms. Sowing and growing workshops have given our community the chance to get their hands dirty in the garden, whilst our craft and sewing classes are always popular… And let’s not forget the woodworking and pottery classes, both of which have been incredibly popular. With Robert Aitken’s film making course, there really has been something for everyone.

We’re so grateful to all of our talented tutors who have made these sessions happen. A big thank you to all of our tutors over this year!

The Centre will be CLOSED at the end of the day on THURS 19th DECEMBER -MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL FROM THE TEAM AT LAIRG & DISTRICT LEARNING CENTRE!

New funding opens the way for ‘Flight Path’ project to get off the ground

Friday 23rd August 2024

Lairg and District Learning Centre, along with 8 other centres throughout Scotland, are delighted to have been awarded a grant from the Scottish Government’s £272k Climate Engagement Fund (CEF).

The fund has been set up to increase Climate Change awareness and action in local communities through various activities such as community workshops, podcasts and green festivals, which will be supported from the latest round of Scottish Government funding.

We will use the funding from CEF to launch a new project which will raise awareness about the impact of climate change on the migratory patterns and behaviours of birds.
These will be held at the Lairg & District Learning Centre, as well as other local hubs arounds Sutherland. Participants will be able to explore the various ways in which changing environmental conditions, such as temperature shifts and habitat loss, are affecting the ability of birds to navigate their traditional migration routes.

Through a combination of creative writing workshops, lectures, immersive walks and various mediums of art, we hope that attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how climate change is altering the behaviour and distribution of bird species worldwide. We also intend to run a few local side projects to encourage families and youngsters to take an interest in the feathered friends that surround us.

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

Photo - LDLC. Sarah Forrest (r), Heather Bruce (l) 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.”