The Queensberry Initiative

The Queensberry Initiative is a school and community undertaking, linking Wallace Hall Academy, its cluster primaries in Mid-Nithsdale, local businesses and third sector enterprises and the Queensberry Estate, a local country estate with extensive outdoor opportunities.

This all began back in 2008, with the Parent Council looking for a way to support pupils in making better connections with their local communities, increase their employability and improve their health and well-being by getting them outside, making use of the opportunities on offer for the ‘outdoor classroom’ at Queensberry Estate. A Strategic Group was formed in September 08. Clear aims were agreed:

Working with the community and businesses to support and challenge all the students Ensuring that all students are ready for work Providing vocational opportunities Making students more aware of rural opportunities Making use of the 'outside' classroom

Since then a Development Officer was appointed in December 08 and the Initiative now has a full-time Project Worker and a Cluster Support Worker.

Funding has been successfully secured from a variety of sources including Dumfries and Galloway Determined to Succeed and Fairer Scotland Funds, LEADER, the Holywood Trust and Keir Community Council. We are very grateful for their support.

Leanne Peoples has been keeping a blog of her activities since joining the Initiative in November 2009. Follow the link to get a flavour of some of the Queensberry Initiative activities being undertaken this week.