Inverness College UHI Early Learning and Childcare Centre awarded Green Flag
The Early Learning Childcare Centre at Inverness College UHI has been awarded the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag Award by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Environmentally conscious staff, parents and children at the centre formed an eco-committee and implemented an action plan which includes measures to make the centre more environmentally friendly, its processes more sustainable and improve education around climate change and where food comes from.
The centre has been working with Tesco and the Hospitality Department at Inverness College UHI to promote healthy eating and the Farm to Fork journey, which has included talks from organisations including the Inverness Beekeepers Association.
The centre has its own composter and water butt and children are encouraged to recycle, take part in litter picks and participate in green activities like fruit and vegetable growing. They also have their own private woodland play area at the Scottish School of Forestry at Balloch and are encouraged to play outside and explore the environment, while staff are in the process of receiving forest school training to greater utilise this space.
The Green Flag Award will be officially unveiled on Thursday 29th March, when members of the eco-committee have been invited to attend for a small tea party celebration with the children.
Professor Chris O’Neil, principal of Inverness College UHI, said: “This has been a long-held ambition of the Early Learning and Childcare Centre so I’m absolutely delighted for everyone involved. It’s a wonderful achievement and shows our commitment to becoming more sustainable and our eagerness to influence children at a young age to become environmentally aware. This ethos is something we encourage in our students too and as a college and university we are committed to becoming more sustainable. As well as banning plastic straws, all our plates, cups, sleeves, lids and cutlery are compostable and we encourage staff and students to use their own cups in our café and restaurant by offering money off hot beverages. We all have to do our bit to protect the environment and this is just the start for Inverness College UHI.”
Eco-Schools Scotland aims to make environmental awareness and action an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of all schools, for both pupils and for staff. It also provides a framework to engage the wider school community in action and support aligned with the purposes of Curriculum for Excellence and Learning for Sustainability.
Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Congratulations to the Eco-Committee and children and staff at the Early Learning and Childcare Centre at Inverness College UHI, who worked so hard to achieve the Green Flag Award. Keep Scotland Beautiful is committed to supporting all our children and young people to develop the capacities, skills and attributes required for learning, living and working in a changing environment and world.”
The Early Learning and Childcare Centre at Inverness College UHI is open to students, staff and members of the public. It’s open Monday to Friday, 8.15am to 5.15pm, term time only. For further information about the centre, telephone 01463 711 176 or email ICChildcare.Centre.ic@uhi.ac.uk.