Children in Gartcosh help open village's brand-new play area
The £115,000 revamp was led by North Lanarkshire Council's Community Partnership Team.
Children in Gartcosh have given their seal of approval to a brand-new play area, opened just beside Lochside and Blades Court in the village.
The £115,000 revamp was led by North Lanarkshire Council's Community Partnership Team, with pupils from St Barbara's and Gartcosh primary schools playing a key role.
When asked what they'd like included the children came up with the ideas that shaped the final design - from climbing frames to splash-proof drainage.
After a round of consultation sessions, their wish list was turned into a full spec for the new site.
Pupils even got creative with a "design-a-sign" competition, adding their own stamp to the park's signage.
Councillor Geraldine Woods, convener of communities, said: 'This fantastic new facility is a great new resource for families and children.
"It's brilliant to see just how involved the pupils were, and their excitement about the park says it all.'
The project was funded through the council's Local Development Programme and the Scottish Government's Play Park Renewal Fund.
To mark the grand opening, children from both schools were treated to goody bags by contractor Kompan before running off to give the new equipment a very thorough test.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
'Hard work and dedication' at the heart of Edinburgh schools
A softball to kick things off: what are the strengths of city education? How are schools able to use the unique resources available in Edinburgh– the universities and colleges, the proximity of the Scottish Government, major industry partners–to expand offerings to students? We are incredibly lucky to have the rich cultural and historical resources that Edinburgh offers available to us and encourage our primary and secondary schools to access the unique learning experiences the city provides, to support the school curriculum. Schools are actively encouraged to make the most of the unique resources on their doorsteps, including visits to the various museums and galleries. Schools also make the most of Edinburgh being a festival city, with many or our young people experiencing visits to world-class performances and experiences. Edinburgh is home to many prominent education institutions, and we partner with a number of the cities Universities and Colleges to support our learners in both their everyday learning and through a number of partnerships that provide our young people with access to college courses and career opportunities. What is the biggest challenge facing Edinburgh schools? In line with the national trend in this area, we are seeing a growth in need across our schools and settings. We support staff in our schools to address the ever-changing societal challenges that teachers and school staff encounter, including poverty, mental health, the role of technology, and meeting the individual needs of learners. In tandem with this, we are continuing to improve outcomes for learners across the board, and this remains a key priority for us. We want to sustain the positive improvements we're already seeing across our schools and settings. How is the city addressing capacity in its schools, and how will new build and expansion projects affect students and families? We have a team of officers who monitor and review capacity in our schools, with primary and secondary school roll projections reported every year to the Education, Children and Families Committee. This includes details of any school building projects underway or being planned to manage any projected increases in capacity. At present we don't have concerns around capacity in our primary or secondary schools. Compared to 2024, there has been no significant change to the number of s1 or p1 learners registered to start inAugust 2025. In our primary schools, our school rolls projections suggest a gradual citywide decline in school rolls until around 2029, this is consistent with birth rate data for the city. At some schools where capacity issues have been highlighted, we have renewal works underway or planned including at Newcraighall and Frogston primary schools. Some of our secondary schools are already undergoing major renewal projects including Wester Hailes High School, Liberton High School and Trinity Academy. A brand new Currie High School is nearing completion. Officers are monitoring the impact that the change in VAT status of independent schools might have, but the data currently available does not suggest that a high number of pupils have or intend to transfer from the independent sector to the Council's schools. The attainment gap is a major policy talking point nationally, and I know that local authorities are taking steps to address inequalities locally. What is your assessment of the attainment gap in Edinburgh schools and how are you working to close it? We are committed to offering the highest quality education, starting in our early years settings and continuing through the Broad General Education curriculum phase, which runs from early years at age 3 through primary school and up to S3, and into the senior phase. From the very start of a child's education, we aim to develop successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors We are focused on narrowing the gap between the most and least disadvantaged learners in Edinburgh and recent figures show that the attainment of leavers has improved across most measures in the national benchmarks. One of the ways we are narrowing the gap in Edinburgh is through our curriculum pathways work, which, in line with themes emerging from various education reform papers, is to provide inclusive, relevant and equitable learning opportunities using a place-based approach. We are doing this by offering learners the opportunity to experience a varied, dynamic, and engaging school day, where they see the relevance of their learning in relation to real-world career opportunities. We are optimising partnerships with colleges, universities and local employers to offer a curriculum that meets the needs of learners today. This includes our roofing, construction and stone carving pathway designed for senior phase learners to develop workplace-ready skills, enabling them to gain qualifications and to make informed choices about life beyond school. Read more Analysis of recent SQA exam results has shown a narrowing in the attainment gap between the most and least advantaged pupils in our schools. We also saw the number of passes in National Progression Awards increased by 17%, the measures of performance for pupils taking National 5 and Higher courses either increased or maintained when compared to both 2023 and 2019 performance. In the Broad General Education, the performance in numeracy is improving and the gap is narrowing, in literacy, the performance is in line with that of 2022-23. This is all down to the hard work of our young people, the dedication of our staff, and the support of parents and carers. Edinburgh is home to the first school to implement a strict mobile phone policy. Do you support the approach and have any plans or guidance for other headteachers across the city? I am pleased that two Edinburgh secondary schools have led the way in introducing a fully mobile-phone-free school environment. Research shows the positive impact that a phone-free environment can have on children and young people and the learning environment, both in the immediate and medium to long term. It has been widely reported that a reduction in phone use for a young person can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, in school and at home, and encourages a healthier approach to managing screen time. With mobile phones in classroom settings increasingly competing with teachers for the attention of learners, restricting access to mobile phones during the school day is only a positive step forward. Scottish Government guidance empowers head teachers to make a decision on the mobile phone policy that is right for their learners and their school community as a whole. Two Edinburgh secondary schools, Portobello and Queensferry High Schools, are a few weeks into piloting a phone-free approach to the school, with young people required to store their phone in a lockable pouch during the school day. The leadership teams at these two high school made the decision to pilot this policy following extensive research and engagement with their school community, with research showing that families in their communities broadly welcomed the introduction of this policy. Both schools will pilot and evaluate over the next two-year period. Implementing a pilot of this nature is requires work and not every school in the city is in a position to do this. The market for private schools in Edinburgh is famous, and from the outside, education is often seen through the lens of how many young people attend private schools in the city. What is the impact of this on City schools? Edinburgh is unique, with a higher proportion of children attending an independent school compared to other areas. From the initial point of hearing about the introduction of VAT on independent school fees, we have been strategically planning for any potential impact, including monitoring enquiries and applications for places in our schools. We have always and continue to work closely with colleagues in the private school sector in Edinburgh. We have capacity in our primary and secondary schools to accommodate learners in Edinburgh moving from the independent sector into our schools. We are ready to give all children and young people living in Edinburgh the very best start in life, regardless of where a child's school journey may have started or what part of their school journey they are approach to placing requests remains the same as it was before. We will continue to apply existing placing policy to all placing requests.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
50 years of Glasgow charity's 'vital work' celebrated
The charity's first site, Somerset Place, served as a refuge for young women facing homelessness - one of the first of its kind. Today, the charity reaches across the nation, operating 29 services across ten local authorities, which include sheltered accommodation for young people, addiction recovery centres, and a range of social housing. With a rising housing crisis and more than 6,000 people waiting for homes in Glasgow, charity bosses say the need is greater than ever. Blue Triangle CEO Gary Meek (L) with Bailie Eva Murray and BT Chairman Jonathon McNaughton (Image: Alasdair Watson) Blue Triangle CEO Gary Meek said: 'We started with one service here in Glasgow and we've expanded because the need has grown. But our focus has always been the same - helping people who are struggling to get the support and stability they need to move forward. 'This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our compassionate team who go above and beyond every day to support people through some of the most difficult times in their lives. 'We're proud of our history but more importantly, we're focused on the future and how we keep stepping up to meet the needs of communities across Scotland.' Read more: "Urgent and targeted": charities call for council action on homelessness 'Can't cope': Two thirds of homeless children in housing emergency digs are refugees 'Boils the blood': 30,000 demand women-only Scots homeless refuge as deaths rise Currently, the charity helps more than 400 people every day through outreach and services, and plans to use a £5m investment from the Scottish Government to purchase more properties and expand their work. Meek added: 'Homelessness isn't just about housing, it's about people. If we want to tackle this crisis, we need more than bricks and mortar. We need services that recognise the complexity of people's lives, and we need to keep listening to those who've been through it. That's the only way we build lasting change.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
West Lothian organisation receives funding from Scottish Government to continue climate change actions
Projects range from community growing initiatives and local energy solutions to flood prevention West Lothian Climate Action Network (WLCAN) received funding £170,985 to support local grassroots climate projects this year. The organisation is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy, and educate the public about climate change. Projects range from community growing initiatives and local energy solutions to flood prevention and repair workshops. The investment, which is part of the Scottish Government's commitment to tackling the climate emergency through community-led action, is being used by WLCAN to fund new projects this year, or develop ongoing ones. Among the projects to benefit are, Artlink Boghall, who are developing a community garden at Boghall in Bathgate. Gardening and cooking projects support the aim of growing more food in the community. WLCAN funds are also helping Broxburn and Uphall Growers to trial the use of electro-culture in vegetable beds at Strathbrock Community Garden, they hope to use the science to increase yields. Ruth Plevin and Gordon Leckie from River Almond Action Group also receive funding from WLCAN to distribute water butts, allowing residents to divert rainwater, which relieves pressure on the drainage system and helps combat flooding after heavy rainfall. Donald Stavert, Treasurer and a Director at WLCAN, said: 'We are delighted to have been awarded funding for another year of community climate action in West Lothian. We will be in every area of the district this year talking to the community and working actively with all our 80 member organisations on their development – exciting times.' Angela Constance MSP for Almond Valley, welcomed the funding boost for WLCAN, saying: 'This £170,985 investment is fantastic news for West Lothian and a huge step forward for our communities. "The West Lothian Climate Action Hub is doing outstanding work by bringing people together to tackle the climate emergency in ways that really matter locally – whether that's through food growing, reducing waste, or exploring low-carbon energy solutions. 'It's about recognising that real change happens when people are supported to take action in their own communities. With climate change continuing to be one of the biggest challenges of our time, local leadership is just as important as national ambition—and I'm proud to see the Scottish Government backing both.'
