£600,000 Investment in Buckie Community Facility

An investment of more than £600,000 is being made in Buckie’s Lady Cathcart Community Centre with a complete refurbishment of the ground floor.

The investment is part of the Scottish Government’s expansion of early learning provision currently being rolled out across Scotland.

The refurbishment will include a new heating system and state-of-the-art early learning and childcare facilities, which could allow a standalone nursery at Lady Cathcart to operate on a flexible basis all year round.

The refurbishment of the nursery at Lady Cathcart starts a programme of works that will increase the flexibility of early learning and childcare on offer in Buckie, with the potential for the facility to open for 10 hours a day all year round if the demand exists.

The expansion of funded hours, which increases for three and four year olds and eligible two year olds from 600 hours a year to 1,140 hours a year by 2020, means nursery provision in Moray will be transformed into a more affordable option for many families.

Consultations with existing staff and organisations currently using the building commenced last autumn, resulting in alternative arrangements being offered in the locality.

Following the investment announcement, Corporate Director for Education and Social Care, Laurence Findlay, said:

“This is a huge investment for Buckie where existing early learning and childcare facilities have been at capacity for some time.

“Refurbishing the nursery at Lady Cathcart and having an additional provision in Buckie will allow all nurseries in the area to continue to deliver the quality early learning experience we want for our children.

“We are at an exciting juncture for this sector and the opportunity to provide another standalone nursery in Buckie will be of great benefit to many children for years to come.”

Work is expected to begin by the end of February and be completed in time for the start of the August 2018 term.