Aberdeenshire schools supported by £200k improvement fund
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Two schools in Aberdeenshire – Meldrum Academy in Oldmeldrum and Laurencekirk Primary School – have been awarded a share of £200,000 to support progressive equality and inclusion projects.
It is part of the 2023/24 School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF).
Administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), on behalf of the Scottish Government, the fund supports creative and innovative projects within the school library sector in Scotland.
Available to all state-run nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools with a library, this year’s funding priority was given to applications which focused on supporting anti-racism and racial equality.
The £200,000 2023/24 SLIF has been allocated to a total of 21 initiatives across 13 local authority areas in Scotland, including two in Aberdeenshire.
Meldrum Academy’s Tackling Discrimination and Fostering Empathy project seeks to address an increase in discriminatory language and attitudes among pupils through reading and discussion. Building on previous anti-racism projects, pupils will be tasked with reading a book that raises these issues, before creating a video which depicts their thoughts and learnings.
Laurencekirk Primary School will develop a creative, inclusive space in its library through the Inclusive Wellbeing, Creation and Stories initiative to promote positive mental health and wellbeing through a range of activities.
This brings the total investment from the Scottish Government to £1.7 million over the lifetime of SLIF, playing an important role in helping school library services achieve the key aims of Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools: A National Strategy for School Libraries in Scotland 2018-2023 – the strategic document for the development of school libraries in Scotland.
Congratulating the successful applicants, Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, said: “School libraries play a key role in our efforts to further boost literacy and continue improving attainment, but they are also places where positive values can be developed and celebrated.
“Projects supported by this funding will help young people to understand the harmful consequences of racism and ensure they feel empowered to challenge discrimination.
“Scotland’s school libraries are a vital resource, and all children should have access to the opportunities they provide. This funding will help ensure that young people from all backgrounds feel the full benefits.”
Available to all state-run nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools with a library, this year’s fund has been shared across 13 local authority areas, from Dumfries and Galloway to Aberdeen City.
SLIC accepts up to two individual approaches per local authority and an unlimited number of collaborative applications to ensure equal opportunities across Scotland, with priority for the 2023/24 funding given to project applications focusing on supporting anti-racism and equality.
Pamela Tulloch, chief executive of SLIC, said: “School libraries play a key role in accelerating education and learning, and ensuring every young person has the chance to fulfil their full potential by enabling access to information and creative opportunities.
“Each child, school and local authority is different, with differing priorities, and therefore funding programmes like SLIF help to improve and expand the tailored services school libraries can provide.
"That’s why it’s great to see Scotland’s school library services being proactive with their approaches with strong applications coming in from schools eager to further develop these resources.
“We’re particularly proud to award support to those advocating for anti-racism and anti-discrimination through this year’s fund, with many projects aiming to increase access and support for pupils who may experience barriers to learning, including those with Additional Support Needs (ASN) and pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL).
“Involving children and young people, and their families, in defining the school library service creates a flexible space for reflection and conversation where learning and creativity are encouraged in a nurturing environment. We look forward to seeing these initiatives come to life.”
Visit scottishlibraries.org/funding/the-school-library-improvement-fund for more information on The School Library Improvement Fund.
